Gears of War: E-Day Open Beta Leads Xbox Game Pass August 2026 Lineup
Xbox Game Pass is launching a major feature in early August 2026 with the Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer open beta. The beta test is scheduled to run from August 6 through August 10, 2026, running from 12:00 pm PT to 10:00 am PT, and will be available to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, PC Game Pass subscribers, and players who pre-ordered E-Day on Xbox Series X|S or Steam.
The beta will provide early access to the game’s new Horde Siege PvE mode, which builds on the series’ traditional co-op wave survival gameplay by expanding it to larger settings and supporting more players. The E-Day beta is positioned as the standout highlight of Xbox Game Pass’s August 2026 releases.
Beyond E-Day, the first wave of August Game Pass additions includes several notable titles. Pokémon developer Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation arrives on day one, followed by the indie romance simulator Date Everything! on August 11. Sports enthusiasts can expect Cricket 26 on August 13, alongside the indie factory game Sandustry entering Game Preview. Other notable games joining the service during this period include the sequel Power Wash Simulator 2, open-world survival game Grounded 2, and the action roguelike Ball x Pit.