Gears 5 Release Date, Beta Tests, More Details Confirmed

We're coming up on three years since the last game in the Gears of War series, but the next entry--Gears 5--is now quickly approaching. More details on Gears 5 were announced recently, and the most notable detail is when we can finally play it. Developer The Coalition and Microsoft have revealed that Gears 5's release date is set for September 10. If you're a Game Pass Ultimate member, however, you'll be able to play four days early, getting you access on Xbox One and PC on September 6. Ultimate subscribers will also get access to the Ultimate edition of the game.

Gears of War fans will also have a couple of chances to try out Gears 5 ahead of its release. On July 19, The Coalition will launch a versus multiplayer test that includes a new competitive game type called Arcade. Access to the full game will vary slightly based on how you obtain access to the game; that's detailed in full below.

The focus of Gears 5's presentation during the recent Xbox press conference was on the new Escape Mode, which Microsoft describes as "an aggressive, high-stakes, three-player co-op mode featuring a suicide squad that must work together to take out enemy hives from within." A squad of Gears was shown infiltrating a ship and fighting their way through hostile forces. Fergusson described it as a three-player co-op experience with couch co-op. A map builder tool will be available for Escape that allows you to create and share your own levels.

Those who pre-order Gears 5 or play it by September 16 will get another bonus: a Terminator: Dark Fate character pack, which will add the Terminator T-800 Endoskeleton and Sarah Connor as playable characters in multiplayer.

That certainly wasn't all Microsoft revealed during its press conference. The company also showcased a new trailer for Cyberpunk 2077, which surprisingly features Keanu Reeves. We also got a look at Ninja Theory's new game, Bleeding Edge, as well as the first details on the new Xbox Scarlett next-gen console.

Here's the full release slate for Gears 5, as outlined by The Coalition:

Gears 5 for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscribers (Digital)

• Play on September 6, 2019
• Ultimate Edition Character Pack
• 30 Days of Boost

Gears 5 Ultimate Edition (Digital)

• Play on September 6, 2019
• Ultimate Edition Character Pack
• 30 Days of Boost

Gears 5 Ultimate Edition (Physical)

• Play on September 6, 2019
• Ultimate Edition Character Pack
• 30 Days of Boost
• Exclusive Steelbook
• Gears 5 Sticker Sheet

Gears 5 for Game Pass Subscribers

• Play on September 10, 2019

Gears 5 (Physical or Digital)

• Play on September 10, 2019