The Gears of War: E-Day beta was scheduled as two weekends in August 2026, and both windows have passed. The official announcement did not confirm another beta, so a future test is Not officially confirmed yet. The original Open Beta offered early access and a later weekend open to all players on eligible platforms.
What happened in the beta
The official schedule listed an early access weekend from August 6 at 12 p.m. PT to August 10 at 10 a.m. PT, followed by an open weekend from August 13 at 12 p.m. PT to August 17 at 10 a.m. PT. Those windows are in the past. The announcement said beta content would be the same each weekend.
| Window | Who could enter | Officially listed schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Early Access | Players who pre-ordered on Xbox Series X|S or Steam, and Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass members | Aug 6, 12 p.m. PT – Aug 10, 10 a.m. PT |
| Open Beta | All players on eligible platforms, regardless of pre-order status | Aug 13, 12 p.m. PT – Aug 17, 10 a.m. PT |
The Xbox announcement described the Open Beta as available to players on Xbox Series X|S and PC. The source material does not specify whether another beta is planned or list dates for one.
What players could try
The beta featured Horde Siege, a PvE mode, and 4v4 Versus. The Xbox announcement described Horde Siege as a 12-player experience; the Steam announcement described it as a mode where multiple squads fight across new maps set in Kalona. Beta content was only a subset of the planned launch content.
Players could also complete challenges to unlock rewards for the beta and have them in their inventory at launch. The published requirements were:
- Reach Player Level 20 for the Epic Blast Damage Mags Character Skin.
- Extract from Horde Siege 8 times on Infantry difficulty or higher for the Rare Crush the Bug Weapon Skin Set.
- Get 25 headshots for the Crush the Bug Banner.
- Perform 10 revives for the Crush the Bug Emblem.
- Perform 5 Prototype Lancer chainsaw executions for the Crush the Bug Icon.
- Launch the Multiplayer Beta for the Open Beta Medal and First in the Fight Title.
How to check whether another beta is planned
Check the official Gears of War news page
Look for a new announcement with beta dates and eligibility. The past schedule does not establish a future test.
Read the announcement for your platform
Confirm the listed platform and access requirements in that announcement. The earlier beta had separate early access and open windows.
Use only the new dates and instructions
Both dates in the table above have passed. If no new beta announcement is available, another Gears of War: E-Day beta remains Not officially confirmed yet.
Frequently asked questions
Not officially confirmed yet. The available official beta announcement gives dates for the August 2026 weekends but does not confirm another beta.
No. Its listed window ended on August 17, 2026 at 10 a.m. PT.
No. The second weekend was open to all players on eligible platforms, regardless of pre-order status. Early Access had separate eligibility requirements.