We finally know what multiplayer looks like in Gears of War: E-Day, and while versus is making its expected return, the big surprise is Horde Siege, a new 12-player PvE mode that takes the familiar Horde formula and makes it much bigger.
Better yet, we won’t have to wait until Gears of War: E-Day launches in October to try it. The Coalition is holding a multiplayer beta starting August 6, 2026, giving players their first chance to see how the new Horde Siege mode actually plays. It’s also been quite some time since I’ve really jumped into a Gears of War game. With E-Day getting closer and now news of this beta, I’m pretty excited about getting back into it. Seriously, I can’t wait.
Check out the Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer reveal below.
What Is Horde Siege?
If you’ve played Horde in any of the previous Gears of War games, you already know the basic idea. You and your team fight off increasingly dangerous groups of Locust while doing your best not to get turned into chunky pieces of COG meat. Horde Siege takes that idea and blows it up considerably. Instead of four or five players holding down one location, Horde Siege supports up to 12 players, split into three squads of four. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
Those squads fight across much larger sections of Kalona, completing objectives, helping one another when needed, and dealing with some very large problems along the way. And when I say large problems, I mean things such as Brumaks and Corpsers showing up and ruining everyone’s day.
Players will also choose from four classes before heading into battle: Assault, Marksman, Medic, and Breacher. Each has its own strengths, loadout, abilities, and progression, giving players some flexibility in how they want to approach Horde Siege.
The Coalition isn’t completely throwing traditional Horde out, either. Horde Siege still includes wave-based combat while expanding the mode with larger environments, objectives, multiple squads, and bigger battles. This is easily the biggest change we’ve seen to Horde in quite some time, and having 12 players running around fighting the Locust at once sounds like it could get ridiculous in the best possible way.
When Is the Gears of War: E-Day Beta and How Do You Get Access?
The first Gears of War: E-Day beta period runs from August 6 through August 10, 2026, on Xbox Series X|S and PC, including Steam. Early access is available to anyone who pre-orders any edition of Gears of War: E-Day. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers will also be able to jump in starting August 6 without purchasing the game.
If you digitally pre-order the game, beta access will automatically be attached to your account. Those who purchase a physical edition from a participating retailer should receive a beta code. Don’t want to pre-order or subscribe to Game Pass? That’s fine, as a second Open Beta weekend runs from August 13 through August 17 and will be available to everyone.
Me? Oh, I pre-ordered the Gears of War: E-Day Collector’s Edition the day it was revived. Sure, I got smacked upside by head by the wife, but it was worth it. Chances are these are all sold out as well.
Versus Is Back, Too
Of course, Horde isn’t the only part of Gears of War multiplayer. Versus also returns with 4v4 competitive multiplayer and the cover-based combat the series is known for. The Coalition is bringing back that familiar Gears feel while incorporating E-Day’s updated movement and traversal systems.
For me, though, Horde Siege is easily the more interesting part of this beta. Twelve players, three squads, bigger maps, objectives, and massive Locust running around sounds like exactly what I want to try first. And after being away from Gears for as long as I have, this beta might be exactly what I need to get pulled back in.
Gears of War: E-Day launches October 6, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S and PC, including Steam. The game supports Xbox Play Anywhere and will be available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on day one.
