Microsoft has announced a pleasant surprise for fans of the Gears of War franchise. Owners of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition may be entitled to receive a free copy of the upcoming Gears of War: Reloaded. This offer is being extended as a token of appreciation to long-time players of the series.
According to reports, eligible users will find a redemption code in their Xbox console messages. Those who have owned either the digital or potentially even the physical version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition are advised to check their Xbox account messages to see if they have received this offer. Microsoft’s message accompanying the free code reads as follows:
“As a thank you for being a Gears fan, we are offering owners of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (digital) a free code for Gears of War: Reloaded, playable on Xbox Series X|S and PC. Redeem on console or xbox.com/redeemcode, gather your squad, and get ready to crush the Locust on August 26th!”
Interestingly, some users on social media have reported receiving a code despite not owning a digital version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition. This suggests that Microsoft may be casting a wider net, possibly including players who own or have played a physical version of the game. However, no official confirmation has been provided on this point, so that that eligibility may vary.
Gears of War: Reloaded is a comprehensive remaster of the original Gears of War title released in 2006. Developed collaboratively by The Coalition, Sumo Digital, and Disbelief, the game is set to launch on August 26, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, Windows, and, for the first time, PlayStation 5. It also marks the debut of the Gears of War franchise on Steam and PlayStation platforms.
This remaster leverages the power of Unreal Engine to deliver enhanced visuals, including native 4K resolution at 60 FPS during the campaign and support for up to 120 FPS in multiplayer modes. All previously released content from Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, such as the bonus campaign act, additional multiplayer maps, characters, and cosmetics, will be included from day one at no extra charge.
The game offers features tailored to both newcomers and veteran players, such as a modernized control scheme alongside the classic control options. Players can enjoy the campaign in either split-screen or online cooperative mode. Competitive multiplayer benefits from cross-play and cross-progression functionality, enabling players to maintain their progress and game saves across Xbox consoles and PC, with sign-in via a Microsoft account required for cross-platform features.
On Xbox Series X|S, the game is optimized with remastered textures, improved lighting, reflections, HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos support. Multiplayer performance is designed to reach up to 120 FPS. The PC version includes additional enhancements such as ultra-wide display support, a benchmark mode, variable refresh rate compatibility, full mouse and keyboard support, controller remapping options, as well as support for AMD FSR 3.1 and NVIDIA DLSS 3.5 super resolution technologies.
