Gears of War 4 Launches October 11th, Xbox One Open Beta Curb Stomps Later This Month

gears of war 4 beta
If you’re a fan of the Gears of War franchise, you’ll be glad to know that the next installment in the popular franchise is set to launch this fall — specifically, October 11th. Gears of War 4 made its debut way back at E3 2015, so it’s nice to finally see the finish line in sight.

The Gears of War 4 story, which takes place over the course of 24 hours, focuses on the travails of Marcus Fenix’s son, JD Fenix, and a“next generation of Gears heroes.” Developer The Coalition is going old school by bringing back some of the charm of the original Gears of War.

“Harkening back to the dark and intense roots of the original classic, fans can expect a familiar, yet distinct evolution of gameplay, including brutal and intimate action, a heart-pounding campaign, genre-defining multiplayer and stunning visuals powered by Unreal Engine 4,” writes The Coalition Community Director Adam Fletcher.

So what can we expect from Gears of War 4 other than more blood, guts and action? Well, The Coalition is looking to revamp the multiplayer aspects of the game, an area that was “under-served” according to studio head Rod Fergusson in a wide-ranging interview with Entertainment Weekly.

“What that means is that multiplayer has been greater served by our design team and our resources to make sure we’re doing the right things,” said Fergusson. “I think it should be pretty exciting for people. I wanted to try some new modes, new maps, new weapons, all the usual fun stuff.”

If you want to get an early taste of Gears of War 4, you’re in luck. Those that have already played Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on the Xbox One or a Windows 10 computer will be able to take part in the Xbox One early beta beginning April 18th. All Xbox Live Gold members will have access to the open beta one week later on April 25th.