'Gears of War 4' release date, gameplay, features: Game beta officially kicks off

Xbox Newswire

The beta version of "Gears of War 4" has an early access deal for a purchase of the "Gears of War: Ultimate Edition." However, the early access ended this week. To date, the "Gears of War 4" beta is officially live to players, particularly to Xbox Live Gold members.

The closed beta runs until May 1, with a membership to the Xbox Live Gold program being the only requirement to join. The beta file, including the multiplayer client, is already available for download on the Xbox One. The client itself is expected to download and install for some time, as it weighs in at 7.03 GB.

Meanwhile, as the beta version got an early access program, so is the official release of "Gears of War 4." Although the game officially releases on October 11, hardcore players can get the chance to play the game ahead of their peers, and log in at least four days early.

Microsoft has just listed a "Gears of War 4: Ultimate Edition" on the Xbox Store. Aside from the bundle giving bonus items for players, the "Ultimate Edition" version includes early access to the game. This means that players who purchase the "Gears of War 4: Ultimate Edition" can play the game as early as October 7.

The "Ultimate Edition" bundle also includes the Season Pass for "Gears of War 4," suggesting that expansions are also planned for the new title. The bundle itself already contains expansion packs such as character skins, additional maps, and other in-game bonuses in weapons and gears.

"The Gears of War 4" is the latest installment in the franchise from The Coalition. However, instead of it being direct sequel, "Gears of War 4" features a new set of characters and a new plot. The new installment features JD Fenix, son of Marcus Fenix, the protagonist for the first trilogy.