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Gears of War: Reloaded was offered free to people who bought the digital version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition before 16:00 UTC on May 5, 2025. Simply owning Ultimate Edition is not enough: purchases after that deadline and physical-only copies do not meet Xbox’s stated terms.
Who qualified for the free Gears of War: Reloaded upgrade?
Xbox tied the offer to a qualifying digital purchase made before the exact cutoff: 16:00 UTC on May 5, 2025. Xbox said it would send eligible accounts a code by direct message before Reloaded launched. The game launched on August 26, 2025. Xbox’s announcement sets out the offer and cutoff.
| What you have | Does it meet the free-upgrade terms? |
|---|---|
| Digital Ultimate Edition purchased before 16:00 UTC on May 5, 2025 | Yes. Xbox said eligible accounts would receive a code by direct message before launch. |
| Digital Ultimate Edition purchased at or after the cutoff | No. The stated offer was limited to purchases made before the cutoff. |
| Physical Ultimate Edition copy only | No. Xbox’s stated qualifying purchase was digital. |
What if you bought Ultimate Edition after the cutoff?
A later purchase of Ultimate Edition does not qualify for the free code under Xbox’s announcement. Buying it now—or having bought it after the deadline—does not change the offer’s cutoff.
Where to get Reloaded if you do not qualify
Reloaded launched on Xbox, PC, PlayStation 5 and Steam, with Xbox Cloud Gaming also announced. At launch, Xbox listed Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass as subscription access routes. Game catalogs and subscription terms can change, so check the listing and terms for your region before subscribing on the assumption that the game is included.
#1 Best Overall
- The Original, Remastered: Powered by Unreal Engine, Gears of War: Reloaded is a remaster of the blockbuster first Gears of War, now fully optimised for PlayStation 5.
- All Included: Gears of War: Reloaded delivers all post-launch content for the original title, including a bonus campaign act, multiplayer maps, plus characters and cosmetics, at no additional cost.
- Stunning Gameplay: The iconic original now looks and plays better than ever with no load times, 4K assets plus remastered textures, lighting, shadows and reflections, HDR, Dolby Atmos, Variable Refresh Rate as well as up to 120 FPS in multiplayer.*
- Cross Play: Supports cross-play across platforms, allowing you and your friends to squad-up, regardless of where you play.*
- Cross Progression: Jump from one platform to another and your campaign saves. Signing in with your Microsoft account is required for cross-progression.*
Xbox announced a launch suggested retail price of $39.99; that was the launch price, not a statement of today’s price. Check the Xbox Store listing for current regional pricing, platforms and availability.
What content is included?
The Xbox Store describes Reloaded as including Ultimate Edition’s post-launch content: a bonus campaign act, multiplayer maps, characters and cosmetics. The Xbox Wire launch article confirms the game’s release on August 26, 2025.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
- Listen up, soldier. The world is in ruin. The Locust Horde has risen. It’s Human vs Horde, and here’s your mission: Pick a side, build a powerful deck, and win the war. The fate of the world is in your hands!
- Experience the gritty gunplay of the video game in this official two-player card game. Take command of the COG forces or the Locust horde and seize control of the battlefield, one chapter at a time.
- Strategise your way through each chapter, bolstering your forces with classic characters like Marcus Fenix, General Raam, August “Cole Train” Cole, Dominic Santiago, and Damon Baird.
- Every battle counts. Whatever happens in each chapter will change what comes next, so you’d better be ready to dominate. The deck you build and decisions you make will change the way you play each campaign, making this a game you can reload time and time again.
- Whether you're a hardened vet or a grass-green rookie, get ready to take cover and lay down suppressive fire. Your enemies are trying to take the line, soldier. You’d better shove back hard.
Rank #3
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
Rank #2
![Gears of War Reloaded [AT-PEGI] (100% Uncut) (PS5)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/519r9dUB3IL._SL160_.jpg)
- German packaging. German instructions. Completely German playable.
- 4K resolution 60 FPS in the campaign 120 FPS in multiplayer mode
- High Dynamic Range (HDR) Dolby Vision and 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 3D Room Sound
- Variable refresh rate (VRR) 4K assets and re-mastered textures Enhanced visual post-processing effects
- Improved shadows and reflections Super resolution with improved anti-aliasing. No loading screens during campaign
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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