You can play Gears of War Reloaded early, and here's how

Want to join the Gears of War Reloaded beta? Though the remake of the iconic cover shooter isn't officially launching until August, you can get your hands on some of the multiplayer modes ahead of time if you take part in the Gears of War Reloaded beta.

Featuring lancers, longshots, and shotguns, you can relive the multiplayer game experience that helped defined shooters for years to come. There are some stipulations to get into the Gears of War Reloaded beta, but for long-time fans, you should have no problem fulfilling the requirements. Here's what you need to get into the Gears of War Reloaded beta, including when you can participate in it, and what it entails.

How to join the Gears of War Reloaded beta

There are three ways to gain access to the Gears of War Reloaded beta:

• Own a digital copy of Gears of War Reloaded.
• Pre-order a digital copy of Gears of War Reloaded.
• Have an active PC Game Pass subscription.

Microsoft has been sending messages to people who own Gears of War Ultimate Edition with a free code for Reloaded, playable on Xbox X/S and PC. It's worth checking your messages using the Xbox app to find out if you've been sent a code. Redeeming the code gives you a digital copy of Gears of War Reloaded, making you eligible to participate in the beta.

While you can purchase a physical copy of Gears of War Reloaded, doing so will not grant you access to the beta. Instead, you'll have to buy the game directly from a digital storefront like Steam, Microsoft Store, or PlayStation Store. If you opt for this route, this counts as a pre-order, allowing you to play the multiplayer beta. Finally, if you have an active PC Game Pass subscription, you're able to join the beta by searching for the game via the Xbox app.

Gears of War Reloaded beta dates

Here are the time and dates for the Gears of War Reloaded beta:

• Friday, June 13 (12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm BST) - Sunday, June 15 (12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm BST)
• Friday, June 20 (12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm BST) - Sunday, June 22 (12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm BST)

The first beta weekend features Team Deathmatch on Gold Rush, Raven Down, and Gridlock. The second weekend adds the King of the Hill game mode on Canals to the mix, with the Team Deathmatch map pool expanding with the additions of Courtyard and War Machine.

That's all there is to know about the Gears of War Reloaded beta. If you're excited about the upcoming game, head on over to our Gears of War Reloaded release date guide to find out about all the upgrades coming to the remake.