The PC beta for Gears of War: E-Day will require a graphics card with hardware ray tracing support, at least 12GB of RAM, and 80GB of free SSD storage.
The Coalition has published separate minimum and recommended specifications for the upcoming multiplayer test. These requirements apply only to the beta, so the final game may use different hardware targets when it launches on October 6.
At minimum, players will need an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 or RTX 3050, or an AMD Radeon RX 5600 or RX 6600. The recommended configuration raises the requirement to an RTX 3060 Ti or RTX 4060, or an AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT or RX 7600 XT.
The beta will use ray traced reflections, shadows, and global illumination. This means older graphics cards without dedicated ray tracing hardware may not run the game properly.
Gears of War: E-Day beta PC requirements
The minimum specification targets 1080p at 60 FPS using the Medium graphics preset. The recommended configuration targets 1440p at 60 FPS using High settings.
Both targets rely on an upscaling technology such as DLSS, FSR, XeSS, or TSR.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Ryzen 5 2600X, Core i7-6850K, or Core i5-10400 | Ryzen 5 5600 or Core i5-11600K |
| Graphics | RTX 3050, RTX 2060, RX 5600, or RX 6600 | RTX 4060, RTX 3060 Ti, RX 7600 XT, or RX 6700 XT |
| Memory | 12GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Storage | 80GB SSD | 80GB SSD |
| Operating system | Windows 10 or 11, version 22H2 or newer | Windows 10 or 11, version 22H2 or newer |
| Graphics preset | Medium | High |
| Performance target | 1080p at 60 FPS | 1440p at 60 FPS |
| Upscaling | DLSS, FSR, TSR, or XeSS | DLSS, FSR, TSR, or XeSS |
The required SSD suggests the game depends on faster asset streaming and loading. Traditional hard drives are not listed as supported.
Ray tracing is built into the visual design
Gears of War: E-Day will use hardware ray tracing for reflections, shadows, and global illumination during the beta.
These effects influence several parts of the image. Reflections can improve the appearance of metallic surfaces and wet environments, while ray traced shadows may provide more accurate lighting around characters and scenery. Global illumination helps light bounce more naturally across an environment.
| Ray traced feature | Expected visual effect |
|---|---|
| Reflections | More accurate reflected objects and lighting |
| Shadows | Better shape and placement of shadows |
| Global illumination | More natural indirect lighting |
| Hardware requirement | Graphics card with ray tracing support |
The lack of a non ray traced GPU in the minimum specification suggests that these effects may not be completely optional.
Older cards such as the GTX 10 and GTX 16 series may therefore be unable to run the beta, even if their conventional rendering performance appears sufficient.
The final game could offer different options, but The Coalition has not confirmed that yet.
Modern upscaling technologies will be supported
The beta will support Nvidia DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR 4, Intel XeSS 3.0, and Unreal Engine’s TSR.
These technologies render the game at a lower internal resolution and reconstruct the final image at a higher output resolution. This reduces GPU load while helping the game reach its 60 FPS performance targets.
| Upscaling option | Hardware or platform |
|---|---|
| DLSS 4.5 | Supported Nvidia RTX graphics cards |
| FSR 4 | Supported AMD graphics cards |
| XeSS 3.0 | Intel and compatible GPUs |
| TSR | Engine based option available across more hardware |
The listed 1080p and 1440p targets both assume that super resolution is enabled. Players looking for native resolution performance may need stronger hardware than the published specifications.
The game will also support HDR and ultrawide monitors on PC.
Beta includes Horde Siege and Versus multiplayer
The test will provide access to two multiplayer formats.
Horde Siege supports up to 12 players and will be available through level 10. The mode appears to combine cooperative defence, larger enemy waves, classes, and boss battles.
The beta will also include a four against four Versus mode with two maps and two game types.
| Beta content | Details |
|---|---|
| Horde Siege | Up to 12 players |
| Horde progression | Available through level 10 |
| Versus | Four against four |
| Versus maps | Two |
| Versus modes | Two |
| Player level cap | 50 |
| Classes | Full game classes available |
| Weapons | Full game weapon selection available |
All classes and weapons from the full release will be available to test. This should give players a wider view of the multiplayer progression and balance than a small restricted beta.
Progress will be capped at player level 50.
Two beta weekends are planned
The first beta weekend begins on August 6 at 12 PM Pacific Time and ends on August 10.
Access during this period is limited to players who preorder the game, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members, and PC Game Pass subscribers.
The second weekend begins on August 13 at 12 PM Pacific Time and ends on August 17. It will be open to all players on Xbox and PC without requiring a preorder.
| Beta period | Access | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| First weekend | Preorders, Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass | August 6 to August 10 |
| Second weekend | Open to all Xbox and PC players | August 13 to August 17 |
This structure gives paying customers and subscribers earlier access while still allowing the wider community to test the game one week later.
Beta rewards will carry into the full game
Players can unlock several cosmetic rewards by completing objectives during the beta. These items will become usable in the full release.
| Reward | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Epic Blast Damage Mags character skin | Reach player level 20 |
| Rare Crush the Bug weapon skin set | Extract from Horde Siege eight times on Infantry difficulty or higher |
| Crush the Bug banner | Earn 25 headshots |
| Crush the Bug emblem | Perform 10 revives |
| Crush the Bug icon | Complete five Prototype Lancer chainsaw executions |
| Open Beta medal and First in the Fight title | Launch the multiplayer beta |
The objectives cover basic participation, progression, teamwork, and combat performance.
The extraction requirement may take the most time because it asks players to successfully complete Horde Siege several times on a specified difficulty.
Full PC requirements may change before launch
The Coalition has stressed that these specifications apply only to the multiplayer beta.
The final game includes a full campaign and may require different processor, graphics, memory, or storage specifications. Further optimisation could also change the minimum targets before release.
The beta requirements already show that Gears of War: E-Day will be a demanding PC game. Mandatory SSD storage, hardware ray tracing, and upscaling based performance targets place it firmly within current generation hardware expectations.
Gears of War: E-Day launches on October 6 for Xbox Series X|S and PC. It will be available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on release day, with no PlayStation or Nintendo Switch version currently planned.
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