“Wait, a Gears game on PlayStation?” That’s the headline, and it still feels a little surreal. Gears of War: Reloaded—a ground-up remaster of the 2006 classic—launches today on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, marking the franchise’s first appearance on a PlayStation console. Price lands at $39.99, with day-one Game Pass access on the Xbox side and a few modern niceties that make the old Lancer feel new again.
If you’re wondering what’s actually changed, the broad strokes are clear: sharper presentation and smoother play. The PS5 listing calls out 4K assets, HDR, VRR, Dolby Atmos, and “up to 120 FPS” in multiplayer (you’ll need capable displays and the usual online sub for console). That combo may not be revolutionary in 2025, but it’s the difference between “nostalgia trip” and “this still cooks.”
On the platform side, Xbox is doing a little bit of “thank you” housekeeping. If you bought Gears of War: Ultimate Edition digitally before May 5, you’re eligible for a free upgrade to Reloaded. And if you’re a Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass member, Reloaded is simply there—no extra purchase. It’s a tidy way to bring long-timers back while lowering the fence for anyone curious on PC.
Now to the question that decides whether your friends actually play together: cross-play. Reloaded supports cross-play across all available platforms, with the usual in-game toggle and account linking. Expect cross-progression too, so you’re not punished for swapping boxes. In practical terms, it means fuller lobbies for Horde nights and a healthier matchmaking pool long after the launch glow fades.
If you’re new to Gears, the pitch hasn’t changed because it didn’t need to. It’s still sticky cover, meaty recoil, and chainsaw diplomacy, wrapped around Delta Squad’s boots-on-the-ground war story. What does shift is pacing: higher frame rates make roadie-runs and snap-to-cover reads feel closer to how your brain times them, and loading shaves are noticeable when you bounce between acts or wipe a Horde wave. Early write-ups suggest the remaster hits the balance most of us wanted—modern feel, original soul.
A few practical notes if you’re diving in today:
- Frame-rate first. If your screen supports it, run Performance and VRR; the trading-paint feel of Gnasher fights benefits more from frames than extra sparkle. (PS5 listing: up to 120 FPS in multiplayer.)
- Audio mix matters. Bump SFX over music—footfalls and reload ticks carry fights when the screen gets busy.
- Cross-play etiquette. Use platform-agnostic voice (in-game or Discord) and expect a patch or two to sand down launch-day hiccups.
Should you replay in 2025? If you’ve never touched Gears, this is the cleanest on-ramp—no caveats. If you have and you’re here for co-op, cross-play plus high frame rates is a strong nudge. If you wanted a radical re-imagining, this isn’t that; Reloaded appears to be a faithful remaster, not a creative shake-up, and that’s likely by design.
Launch logistics, at a glance
- Date/price: Out today, $39.99. Game Pass on day one (Xbox/PC). Free upgrade for qualifying Ultimate Edition digital owners.
- Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam; Xbox PC; cloud on Xbox).
- Tech targets: 4K assets, HDR, VRR, Dolby Atmos; up to 120 FPS in multiplayer (display/subscription requirements apply).
- Cross-play / progression: Supported across platforms.
- Global unlock times: Staggered by region (e.g., 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET / 4 PM BST).
The bigger picture is the milestone itself. Seeing a Gears logo on a PlayStation Store page would’ve sounded like fan fiction a few years back. Today it’s just… normal. That may suggest more series crossing the aisle when it makes sense, especially for legacy entries with a fresh coat of paint and an audience waiting on the other side. For now, it’s enough that Marcus and Dom finally made the trip—and that the Lancer still sings.