As the launch of Gears of War: E-Day approaches, excitement builds with the unveiling of gameplay footage showcasing one of its most intriguing new features. Recently, Xbox invited us to participate in a multiplayer preview session, allowing us to experience the innovative Horde Siege mode.
Gameplay Insights
This mode reimagines the classic Horde experience familiar to fans of the franchise. In this iteration, 12 players are divided into three distinct squads, each navigating the same map but pursuing their own unique objectives. While each team of four primarily focuses on its tasks, they occasionally catch glimpses of the other squads in action.
However, the gameplay is not without its surprises. Large-scale events, such as Boss Invasions, require squads to unite their efforts, creating a dynamic and cooperative atmosphere amidst the competitive gameplay.
The footage we captured features the ‘Blitz’ variation of Horde Siege mode, a condensed version that includes just a couple of objectives, all set against the backdrop of the visually stunning Golden Quarter map. This session was conducted on a PC with impressive specifications, including an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090, AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and 64GB DDR5 6000MHz RAM, all running at the ‘Ludicrous’ graphics preset.
Open Beta Details
For those eager to dive into the action, players who pre-order Gears of War: E-Day will gain early access to an open beta from August 6-10. A subsequent open beta weekend will be available later in the summer, allowing everyone the chance to join in the fun.
According to Xbox, the open beta will mirror the content from our preview session. Participants can expect one Horde Siege map—out of three available at launch—along with a level cap of 10 instead of the full game’s 30. Additionally, players will face two Invasion Bosses, as opposed to the four that will be featured in the complete release.
Versus play will also be included, offering two modes and two maps during the beta, while the full game promises four Versus modes and six maps at launch. During the open beta, players will have their levels capped at 50, but the full game will allow progression up to level 100, complete with four re-ups.
Gears of War: E-Day is set to launch on October 6 for Xbox Series X/S and PC, with availability through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Notably, the Premium Edition offers an enticing five days of early access, starting on October 1.
