Gears Of War: E-Day Open Beta: Start Dates And How To Get In Early

Gears Of War: E-Day's big showing at the https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-showcase-2026-all-the-biggest-announcements-so-far/" id="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-showcase-2026-all-the-biggest-announcements-so-far/">Xbox Games Showcase was primarily focused on single-player, but the game will have a multiplayer mode, too.

While more details on multiplayer are being saved for later, Microsoft did confirm that an open beta for the multiplayer element is coming this August.

Here's everything we know.

Gears of War: E-Day releases on October 6 for Xbox Series X|S and PC. A PS5 version was reportedly going to happen, but https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-e-day-ps5-version-canceled-report-says/" id="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-e-day-ps5-version-canceled-report-says/">got canceled as part of Microsoft's renewed focus on exclusives.

Also at the Xbox Games Showcase, Microsoft confirmed that E-Day will https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-e-day-includes-the-chainsaw-lancers-origin-story/" id="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-e-day-includes-the-chainsaw-lancers-origin-story/">reveal the origin of the chainsaw-fitted Lancer and include https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-e-day-looks-mobility-focused-and-dont-worry-theres-a-chainsaw/" id="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-e-day-looks-mobility-focused-and-dont-worry-theres-a-chainsaw/">new mobility features. 

When is the Gears of War: E-Day open beta?

Gears of War: E-Day will have multiple open beta weekends, beginning August 6.

A https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/gears-of-war-e-day-multiplayer-beta/9NHLZS3G6D8H/0010" id="https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/gears-of-war-e-day-multiplayer-beta/9NHLZS3G6D8H/0010">product page on Xbox.com for the multiplayer beta confirms there will be two weekends for the beta.

How to get into the Gears of War: E-Day open beta

The Gears of War: E-Day beta is an open beta, so anyone can access it.

However, people who preorder Gears of War: E-Day can access the first weekend early.

This applies to preordering any version of the game.

Alternatively, Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass subscribers can get in early as a perk of their membership.

More specifically, https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/gears-of-war-e-day-multiplayer-beta/9NHLZS3G6D8H/0010" id="https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/gears-of-war-e-day-multiplayer-beta/9NHLZS3G6D8H/0010">early access will be August 6-10, so you need to preorder or subscribe to Game Pass to play then.

A second weekend will follow sometime later.

You can preorder Gears of War: E-Day now.

What's in the Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer beta?

Unfortunately, that's something we don't know yet.

Microsoft has not shared any details about the content of the multiplayer beta, but it's expected to have a sampling of the game's maps and modes to give players a taste of what to expect when the game releases in October.