Standard · $69.99
The full game: campaign, Horde Siege and Versus. Digital or disc. Plays from October 6.
Launch · checked Oct 5, 2026
Launch guide
Pre-install, Early Access and launch times, what each edition gets you, and whether your PC can run it.
When you can play
Everything unlocks at the same moment worldwide: 8:00 a.m. Pacific, which is 15:00 UTC. Once the page loads, your own time zone appears next to each date.
| Date | What happens | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 29 | Pre-install opens8:00 a.m. PT · 15:00 UTC | Anyone who pre-ordered, plus Game Pass members |
| Oct 1 | Early Access starts8:00 a.m. PT · 15:00 UTC | Premium Edition, Premium Upgrade and Collector's Edition |
| Oct 6 | Worldwide launch8:00 a.m. PT · 15:00 UTC | Standard Edition, Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
Source: Xbox Wire, "Gears of War: E-Day Has Gone Gold", September 17 ↗. The game went gold that day, so the launch build is finished.
Editions and what's in them
Premium · $99.99
- Early Access from October 1 (up to five days early)
- Emergence Customization Pack at launch: Death's Rendezvous Marcus skin, Bloodied Hunter Tai skin, two poses, two weapon skin sets, a banner, emblem and icon
- Four more seasonal customization packs as they release
- 1,000 Iron (the paid currency)
- Bravo Squad Signature Weapon Pack, for the campaign only
Premium Edition Upgrade
Adds everything Premium has, including Early Access, to a copy of the game you already have.
Collector's Edition
A 15-inch statue of Marcus and Dom, a metal replica of Carlos Santiago's COG tags, an art print, a SteelBook by Luke Preece and a note from the studio, plus the game and the Premium upgrade. Xbox Series X gets a disc; Steam gets a code. It was a limited run. If your statue arrived damaged, see Help.
Pre-order bonus
Every edition ordered before 7:59 a.m. PT on October 6 comes with the Exfil Dom Legendary character skin and the Exfil Legendary weapon skin set. The skin is for Dom in Horde Siege and Versus, and the weapon set works on every eligible weapon in those modes. Digital orders get them automatically. Physical orders may come with a code, depending on the store.
Source: The Coalition, editions and pre-order bonus ↗. Prices are US list prices.
Game Pass and platforms
- Game Pass: included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass from October 6. Game Pass doesn't include Early Access.
- Xbox Play Anywhere: buying on the Xbox store gets you the game on both Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC.
- Steam: a separate purchase from the Xbox store version.
- Online on Xbox: online campaign co-op, Horde Siege and Versus need a Game Pass subscription that includes online multiplayer.
- Split-screen: two-player split-screen is console only.
- Cloud gaming: Xbox Wire lists cloud play through Game Pass Ultimate and GeForce NOW (Xbox Wire, October 1 ↗).
- Console performance: Microsoft lists 4K and up to 60 fps across the campaign and multiplayer on a compatible display.
PC requirements
Two hard requirements: the game must be installed on an SSD, and your graphics card needs hardware ray tracing. Cards without it aren't supported.
| Minimum | Recommended | Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | 1080p, 60 fps, Medium | 1440p, 60+ fps, High | 4K, 60+ fps, Ultra |
| GPU | RTX 2060, RTX 5050, RX 6600 or RX 9060 | RTX 3060 Ti, RTX 5060, RX 6700 XT or RX 9060 XT | RTX 5070 Ti or RX 7900 XT |
| CPU | Ryzen 5 2600X, Core i5-10400 or Core i7-6850K | Ryzen 5 5600 or Core i5-11600K | Ryzen 7 7800X3D or Core i7-14700K |
| Video memory | 6 GB | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| RAM | 12 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 115 GB SSD | 115 GB SSD | 115 GB SSD |
| Windows | Windows 10 64-bit 22H2 (build 19045.7291) | Windows 11 64-bit (25H2) or newer | Not listed |
The chart's frame rates assume an upscaler is on (DLSS, FSR, TSR or XeSS). The PC version supports DLSS 4.5, FSR 4 and XeSS 3, hardware ray-traced reflections, shadows and global illumination, HDR, ultrawide monitors and a built-in benchmark with advanced settings. Nvidia is the PC partner, and the game also uses RTX Mega Geometry.
Source: the launch spec chart in Xbox Wire, September 17 ↗. The chart's third minimum CPU has a misprinted model number; Steam's store page lists it as an Intel Core i7-6850K, and also lists DirectX 12, a broadband connection and a Windows-compatible audio device. The Ultra column is only in the Xbox Wire chart.
On Steam
- Accounts: a Microsoft account is required and you must accept the Microsoft Services Agreement. Easy Anti-Cheat is used. Optional account linking carries your progress with roaming saves and lets you send cross-platform invites.
- Controllers: full controller support, including Xbox controllers and DualSense (USB only).
- Handheld: the store page says the game is optimized for handheld play on Steam Deck, Xbox Ally X and Xbox Ally. Steam's own Steam Deck compatibility rating read "Unknown" on October 5.
- Display and extras: ultrawide (21:9 and 32:9) in gameplay and menus, uncapped frame rates on capable hardware, borderless, exclusive and windowed modes, Frame Generation and Multi Frame Generation on supported hardware, Variable Rate Shading, and keyboard-and-mouse and controller remapping.
- Premium Edition: sold on Steam as Advance Access, which was on at this check.
Launch-week checklist
- Pre-install from September 29 so the download is done before unlock time.
- On PC, install to an SSD and update your graphics driver before the 1st or the 6th.
- Run the built-in benchmark once to pick a preset instead of guessing.
- Do Boot Camp. It's a short course on the new movement, and completing it is also an achievement.
- If you played the beta, check your inventory: beta challenge rewards carry over.
- Playing online on Xbox? Make sure your Game Pass tier includes online multiplayer.