Gears of War: Reloaded – Reviving a Classic with a 4K Chainsaw

For those of us who still remember the first time a hulking Locust Drone burst through the floorboards back in 2006, the announcement of Gears of War: Reloaded felt like a shot of adrenaline straight from a Lancer chainsaw. The Coalition is bringing Marcus Fenix’s original adventure back on August 26, 2025, but this isn’t just a straight port – it’s a full‑blown remaster built in Unreal Engine 5 with modern hardware in mind.

Whether you play on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC or via Xbox Cloud Gaming, there’s a good chance this is going to be the definitive way to experience the first Gears campaign. As a veteran COG soldier and long‑time fan of the series, I’ve put together everything you need to know before jumping back into the fray.

Marcus Fenix overlooks a crumbling cathedral courtyard in Gears of War: Reloaded

Release Date & Platforms

Gears of War: Reloaded launches worldwide on 26 August 2025. Xbox announced the date as part of its summer showcase, noting that this remaster arrives just shy of the original game’s 20th anniversary.

It will be available on Xbox Series X| S, PC and, surprisingly, PlayStation 5. The Coalition promises cross‑play and cross‑progression across all three platforms, and Xbox Game Pass subscribers can jump in on day one without paying extra. For the first time ever, you’ll even be able to chainsaw Locusts on a Sony console.

A Proper Remaster, Not a Remake

In its announcement, Xbox and developer The Coalition made clear that Reloaded is a remaster of the original 2006 game rather than a from‑the‑ground‑up remake. That means you’ll be reliving Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad’s desperate fight to save humanity from the Locust Horde in the same storyline, but with up‑to‑date visuals and quality‑of‑life tweaks.

All post‑launch content — including the bonus fifth act from Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, additional multiplayer maps, characters and weapon skins — is included, making this the definitive way to experience the first Gears.

Visual & Technical Upgrades

Reloaded takes full advantage of modern hardware. The art team rebuilt every texture in 4K, introduced real‑time reflections and dynamic shadows, and added HDR and Dolby Vision support.

The campaign now runs at a smooth 60 fps, while Versus multiplayer can hit 120 fps on Xbox Series X| S. On PC you get ultrawide monitor support, a benchmark mode, variable refresh rate, plus AMD FSR 3.1 and NVIDIA DLSS 3.5 super resolution options to squeeze out every frame.

4K textures, HDR, real‑time reflections and improved shadows.
60 fps story; 120 fps multiplayer on Xbox Series X| S.
Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos support for cinematic sound and visuals.
Near‑instant loading thanks to SSDs.
Cross‑play and cross‑progression across Xbox, PC and PS5.
PC extras: ultrawide support, variable refresh rate, FSR 3.1 and DLSS 3.5.

Multiplayer & Co‑op

Gears of War isn’t just about chainsawing through the campaign. Reloaded brings back the same cooperative and competitive modes fans remember but with modern touches. The story can be played solo or with a partner via online or split‑screen co‑op, and the beloved Horde mode is included.

Competitive Versus supports up to eight players and runs at 120 fps, with cross‑play across Xbox, PC and PS5 so you can squad up regardless of platform. Cross‑progression means all your unlocks travel with you wherever you play. Pre‑order customers even get access to two multiplayer betas (13‑15 June and 20‑22 June) to help tune the experience.

Two Gears soldiers flee from a giant Locust beast in Gears of War: Reloaded

Price, Editions & Pre-Order Perks

Gears of War: Reloaded retails for $39.99, making it a budget-friendly way to revisit the fight against the Locust. Since it’s classed as a remaster rather than a remake, all content from the original 2006 release and the Ultimate Edition is included at that single price – there’s no season pass or paid DLC to worry about.

Players who already own the Ultimate Edition on Xbox or PC and purchased it before 5 May 2025 automatically get a free upgrade to the Reloaded edition. Everyone else gets the full package for the same cost across Xbox Series X|S, PC and PS5.

Pre‑orders aren’t mandatory, but they do grant access to two multiplayer betas in June (13‑15 June and 20‑22 June). Those sessions let you test the reworked Versus suite and provide feedback before launch. There aren’t any special editions with statues or steelbooks to worry about, which is refreshing – just one affordable package that focuses on the game itself.

Should You Return to Sera?

As a long‑time Gears fan, I was sceptical about yet another re‑release, but Reloaded hits the sweet spot between nostalgia and modern sensibilities. The campaign still packs the punch that put the original on the map, the improved visuals and audio make it feel cinematic again, and the addition of cross‑platform multiplayer means your squad can span consoles and PCs. At $39.99 it’s hard to argue with the value – especially when there’s a free upgrade for Ultimate Edition owners.

If you’ve never played Gears, this is the definitive way to experience Marcus Fenix’s debut; if you have, the buttery‑smooth frame rate and convenience features make returning to Sera feel like coming home. Grab your Lancer and see you in the trenches.