Gears of War: E-Day Open Beta Dates and Two-Phase Test Plan

The Coalition has confirmed that Gears of War: E-Day will include an open beta, letting players jump into its multiplayer for several days ahead of release. The studio says the testing will run in two phases, first targeting players who have early access and then expanding to the entire community.

In its latest promotion, the developer outlined how access will work for two groups. Players who reserve the game, or who are active subscribers to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass, will be able to enter the multiplayer tests first. After that initial window, the beta will open up so that anyone can download and play without needing a reservation.

Open beta dates for Gears of War: E-Day

Early access: August 6 to August 10
Open beta for everyone: August 13 to August 17

For early access, The Coalition specifies that you must reserve Gears of War: E-Day before the early period ends, or have an active subscription to either Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. Once the first phase finishes, the open beta will allow any player to download and test the multiplayer regardless of whether they bought the game.

During the beta sessions, testers will be able to try a significant portion of the multiplayer content the studio has recently shown. That includes the new cooperative mode Horde Siege, as well as a refreshed Versus, both positioned as key pillars of this entry’s multiplayer offering.

With the staggered rollout, Xbox and The Coalition are aiming to bring in as many players as possible to stress-test the servers, collect feedback, and refine the experience before launch. The open beta is set to be one of the most substantial testing opportunities for the franchise in recent years, giving players a chance to experience the latest multiplayer changes firsthand.