War resumes in Gears of War! Gears of War: Reloaded is available since August 26, 2025 in a 4K remastered version of the first opus in the famous franchise. Developed by The Coalition in partnership with Sumo Digital and Disbelief, and published by Xbox, the game is playable on PC, PS5, Xbox Series and Xbox Cloud Gaming (beta). This new edition marks the long-awaited return of the cult saga, as it approaches its twentieth anniversary, and confirms the importance of Gears of War in the history of video games.
Designed for today's consoles and PCs, this remaster offers a technical experience up to modern standards: 4K resolution, HDR, 3D spatial audio, Dolby Atmos and up to 120 frames per second in multiplayer. The campaign boasts 60 FPS fluidity with no loading times, guaranteeing enhanced immersion. The gameplay retains its emblematic mechanics, notably the use of the cover system and strategic confrontations, while being optimized for greater maneuverability and speed.
"14 years after the planet was invaded by monsters from the bowels of the earth, the world is in ruins. An inmate named Marcus Fenix - once left for dead - is freed by his best friend and former squad mate, Dominic Santiago. Outgunned and outgunned, Marcus and Dom must work together with the other members of Delta Troop to defeat the locusts and save humanity from extinction. Experience this legendary story in single-player, split-screen or online co-op. Experience PvP in a variety of breathtaking multiplayer modes".
With a campaign that can be played cooperatively in pairs, locally or online, and a competitive multiplayer mode for up to 8 players, Gears of War: Reloaded targets nostalgic fans of the series as well as new players. Full cross-play and cross-progression mean you can find your save games and play with friends, whatever the platform. Through this modernization, the game opens up its universe to a new generation of players, while respecting the spirit of the original.
Another highlight is that this edition includes all the content of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, enhanced by a bonus act for the campaign, additional maps and multiplayer modes, as well as a wide selection of characters and cosmetics to unlock. As Xbox explains:"As we approach the 20th anniversary of Gears of Wars in 2026, it's a chance to look back at all that this license represents: memorable stories, friendships made through play and unforgettable memories".
Our review of Gears of War Reloaded:
What are we to make of this new incarnation...? The game's core strengths are to be found again, with dynamic, if repetitive, combat phases, but the different environment each time helps to overcome potential boredom (which, incidentally, doesn't exist).
Gameplay-wise, it's ultra-complete, and everything more or less works: cover system behind scenery elements, position changes, blind shooting... Everything you'd expect from this type of game. On the other hand, we're not so keen on some of the mechanics, particularly the running, which is not at all practical for getting around. On the other hand, the strength of this opus lies in its co-op and multiplayer gameplay, which allows players to tackle the story mode as a group, for added fun.
Graphically speaking, even if we're not a big fan of the color palette or the very stereotyped character physics, the game is relatively well-made, fairly fluid (we played on Xbox Series) and works well. A more than welcome and fairly well-realized graphical overhaul (even if there's room for improvement), hinting at great things to come for future opuses, one of which is expected in 2026.
A game that would have deserved a better gameplay overhaul to be more up to date, but this "retro" feel also allows players who missed out on the game when it was released in the early 2000s to discover it in its original state, from every angle. A must-see for the curious and fans of the franchise.
Finally, true to its community, Xbox has announced that owners of the digital version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (purchased before 6pm on May 5, 2025) will receive Gears of War: Reloaded free of charge. The game will be available from the day of its release in Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, and is part of the Xbox Play Anywhere program. A way of saying thank you to long-standing fans, while giving new players the chance to discover a modernized classic.
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