The upcoming open beta for Gears of War: E-Day is set to offer players an early glimpse of the game before its official launch on October 6. Initially, the beta was intended to feature only the Horde mode, but following fan feedback, The Coalition has expanded the test to include the Versus PvP mode as well.
This update was confirmed through the official Gears of War account on X (formerly Twitter), where the developers announced that the Versus mode would be accessible during the beta weekends, complementing the existing Horde experience. The message emphasized responsiveness to community input: “We heard you. We acted. PvP Versus is coming to this weekend’s early access period for the Open Beta. Available for pre-download now.”
Open Beta Schedule and Access Details
The open beta is divided into two distinct phases. The first phase, launching on August 6 at 12 p.m. PT, is exclusive to players who have pre-ordered Gears of War: E-Day or hold Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscriptions. This initial weekend begins with Horde mode, followed by the addition of Versus mode starting on August 8, continuing through to August 10 at 10 a.m. PT.
The second phase opens up access to all players, regardless of pre-order status, running from August 13 at 12 p.m. PT until August 17 at 10 a.m. PT. Both weekends will feature identical content, ensuring that latecomers won’t miss any gameplay modes, only a portion of the available time. Participants who complete the challenges during these beta periods will be eligible to receive rewards when the full game launches.