After facing numerous issues, the Gears of War: Reloaded multiplayer beta was abruptly cut short last weekend, disappointing fans eager to test one of Xbox’s biggest exclusives now heading to PlayStation 5.
Originally set to run for a full weekend, the beta was suddenly pulled on Sunday, June 16, following a wave of server failures and player access problems that affected all platforms — Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PS5.
A Big Game With a Rocky Start
As one of Xbox’s most iconic franchises, the arrival of Gears of War: Reloaded on PlayStation marks a historic moment for Microsoft’s growing multiplatform strategy. The game is a current-gen remaster of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (2015), itself a remake of the original 2006 Xbox 360 classic.
With enhanced 4K visuals, 120FPS multiplayer, and full cross-platform support, Reloaded was supposed to give both new and longtime fans a polished experience — but instead, its first beta phase highlighted significant technical problems.
Server Issues Frustrate Players Across All Platforms
The multiplayer beta launched on June 13, and anticipation was sky-high. However, it didn’t take long before players began reporting problems:
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Matchmaking failures across platforms
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Complete lockout for some Xbox and PC users due to upgrade entitlement issues
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Overloaded servers causing widespread connection errors
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Beta access revoked suddenly mid-Sunday, without prior notice
The official Gears Twitter account confirmed the beta shutdown, citing “unexpected server issues impacting player experience” as the primary reason. Many players were left in the dark, as the announcement came after most were already struggling to connect.
What This Means for the Future
While beta tests are designed to identify problems, the severity of Gears of War: Reloaded’s technical issues has some fans questioning the game’s readiness for full release. This was also the franchise’s first-ever appearance on a PlayStation console, making the failed launch even more critical in terms of optics and fan reception.
There’s no word yet from The Coalition on when or if another beta will be scheduled, but developers have promised to “evaluate the situation” and “address core connectivity issues before launch.”
Gears of War: Reloaded still has the potential to be a major win for Xbox’s cross-platform approach. But this rocky beta weekend shows just how high the stakes are when legacy franchises step into new territory.
Stay tuned for further updates on the next test phase, possible delays, and new beta opportunities.