The original Gears of War is making a comeback—remastered, reloaded, and headed to more platforms than ever before. Gears of War: Reloaded launches August 26, 2025 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5, and Steam. It’ll also be part of Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on day one.
This isn’t just a visual upgrade. It’s a complete package with 4K support, up to 120 FPS, and cross-play across all platforms. Whether you’re revisiting Delta Squad’s fight against the Locust Horde or playing for the first time, Reloaded updates the 2006 original for today’s platforms.
Even better—if you already own the digital Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on Xbox, the remaster is free. No strings. Just a thank-you from The Coalition and Xbox.
Here’s everything you need to know about what’s included, how it plays, and why it matters.
What’s New in Gears of War: Reloaded
Gears of War: Reloaded brings the original 2006 game up to today’s standards with a full suite of technical and gameplay upgrades. Built by The Coalition in partnership with Sumo Interactive and Disbelief, this version includes all content from the Ultimate Edition—plus every post-launch DLC, map, and mode, all unlocked at no extra cost.
The remaster is optimized for modern hardware with native 4K visuals, 60 FPS in Campaign, and 120 FPS in Multiplayer. It also features high dynamic range, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, 3D spatial audio, and variable refresh rate support. Load times have been eliminated in Campaign mode, and the game now uses enhanced textures, better shadows, improved reflections, and refined anti-aliasing.
There are also platform-specific touches. Xbox Play Anywhere lets you move between console and PC, while cross-play and cross-progression work across all platforms, including PlayStation and Steam. If you sign in with a Microsoft account, you’ll unlock full cross-platform support—carry your progress, invite friends, and squad up no matter where you play.
The $39.99 USD price applies across all platforms, whether you’re new to the series or returning after a break. And if you bought the digital Ultimate Edition before May 5, you’ll get Reloaded for free.
Multiplayer and Co-op: Built for Shared Play
Whether you’re revisiting the Campaign or diving into Versus Multiplayer, Gears of War: Reloaded is built around teamwork. The Campaign supports two-player co-op, both online and split-screen. You can fight alongside a friend just like the original—only now with smoother performance and no load screens.
Multiplayer supports up to 8 people, with full cross-play between Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. That means you can team up—or go head-to-head—with friends no matter where they’re playing. You don’t even need a Microsoft account to join in, but signing in does unlock cross-progression and full cross-platform features like invites and synced progress.
All multiplayer content from the Ultimate Edition is included by default. That means access to every map, every mode, and a full lineup of characters and cosmetics to unlock through regular play.
Visuals and Performance: Rebuilt for Modern Hardware
Gears of War: Reloaded goes beyond a resolution bump. It’s been rebuilt to look and run like a game made today, without losing the feel of the original. Campaign runs at 4K and 60 FPS, while Multiplayer pushes up to 120 FPS for smoother action.
Visual upgrades include HDR, Dolby Vision, and 4K textures throughout. Shadows, reflections, and post-processing effects have all been reworked. Anti-aliasing has been improved, and the game supports variable refresh rate for smoother output on capable displays.
There’s no loading during Campaign. The action flows from moment to moment without interruption, whether you’re chainsawing through enemies or sprinting between cover. On top of that, spatial audio support and 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos help place sound more accurately. This will be useful when you’re trying to track movement in tight firefights.
Every version is tuned to its hardware. Xbox, PC, and PlayStation users get a tailored experience that balances visuals and performance while maintaining the core identity of Gears of War.
Release Details and Free Upgrade Info
Gears of War: Reloaded launches August 26, 2025, for $39.99 USD across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5, and Steam. It also arrives day one on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Cross-buy is supported through Xbox Play Anywhere, and cross-play spans all platforms. If you bought the digital version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition before 16:00 UTC on May 5, 2025, you’ll get Reloaded for free. Xbox will send eligible users a code before launch as a thank-you to longtime fans.
This upgrade includes all the improvements and content with no extra charge. This gives returning fans an easy path back and makes the game more accessible to new audiences.
Reloaded for a New Era
Gears of War: Reloaded feels like more than a remaster—it’s a modern revival of a game that helped define a generation. With updated visuals, performance improvements, and broad platform support, Reloaded offers both a welcome return for longtime fans and an easy entry point for newcomers.
The inclusion of cross-play, cross-progression, and cloud support shows how far things have come since 2006. Being able to play anywhere, with anyone, makes this release feel current without losing what made the original work.
I’ve always held the first two Gears games close. The cover shooting, the pacing, the tone—it all hit at the right time. Seeing Reloaded keep that same weighty movement while cleaning up the rough spots feels right. The smoother frame rate alone makes firefights more satisfying.
Are you planning to squad up in Gears of War: Reloaded this August? Let us know your favourite Gears memory in the comments.
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