Xbox is now sending free Gears of War: Reloaded codes to Ultimate Edition owners, letting longtime fans play the new release at no extra cost.
If you’ve been a loyal Gears of War fan and grabbed the Ultimate Edition digitally, Xbox just handed you a pretty great surprise. Microsoft has officially started sending out free codes for Gears of War: Reloaded to anyone who bought Gears of War: Ultimate Edition before May 5, 2025. These codes let players jump into Reloaded on Xbox Series X|S or PC when it launches on August 26.
This isn’t just some random giveaway. Earlier this year, Xbox announced that anyone who owned the digital Ultimate Edition would get Reloaded at no extra cost as a thank you for sticking with the franchise. Now, fans are seeing these codes land right in their Xbox inboxes, which makes the wait for August a little more exciting.
Gears of War: Reloaded Free For Ultimate Edition Owners
To qualify, you needed to have bought Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (digital version only) before 16:00 UTC on May 5. Microsoft is sending these codes directly to eligible Xbox accounts via message, so keep an eye on your notifications if you think you should be on the list. Once you get your code, you can redeem it on your console or on the official website, and then you’re all set for launch day.
The message you receive from Xbox can be found below:
“As a thank you for being a Gears fan, we’re offering owners of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (digital) a free code for Gears of War: Reloaded, playable on Xbox Series X|S and PC. Redeem on console or xbox.com/redeemcode, gather your squad, and get ready to crush the Locust on August 26th!”
But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Ahead of the full launch, Xbox is rolling out a multiplayer beta for Gears of War: Reloaded. The beta kicks off on June 13 and runs over two weekends, first from June 13 to 15, and then again from June 20 to 22.
During these tests, players will get to try out modes like Team Deathmatch and King of the Hill on classic maps including Gridlock, Raven Down, and Gold Rush. The second weekend adds even more maps and content, giving fans a good taste of what’s coming.
To join the beta, you either need to be a Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscriber, own the old Ultimate Edition, or pre-order Reloaded on any platform. Plus, the beta supports full crossplay, so you can team up with friends on Xbox, PC, or even PlayStation.
With all these perks and the multiplayer beta just around the corner, it’s a great time to be a Gears fan. If you think you qualify, check your messages, claim your code, and get ready for the beta.
