The Gears of War E-Day open beta went live today at 12PM PT, and unlike last week’s early access period, this one requires nothing. No Game Pass subscription, no pre-order, no purchase of any kind. Anyone can download it and play through Sunday at 10AM PT.
Two modes are included: Horde Siege, a new 12-player cooperative mode where squads hold out against waves of Locust, and 4v4 Versus in the series’ established competitive format. The content is identical to what early access players got last week, and any progress or rewards earned during this open weekend carry over to the full launch on October 6.
If you’re on the fence about buying the game in October, this is the cleanest opportunity to test it first. Early impressions from last week were mixed but largely positive, the new movement system has drawn the most discussion, with some players calling it a meaningful evolution and others saying it makes the game feel less grounded than previous entries. Five days is enough time to form your own opinion before the pre-order window closes.