Xbox opened the multiplayer beta for Gears of War: E-Day on Wednesday, giving players a second run at the game roughly six weeks before its October 6 release. The beta runs through August 17 and includes 4v4 Versus PvP and 12 player Horde Siege modes, according to GameFragger.

The prequel, developed by The Coalition, is set on the day the Locust Horde first attacked humanity, an event Gears lore calls Emergence Day. It ships October 6 for Xbox Series X and Windows PC. A PlayStation 5 version was ruled out earlier this year, Polygon reported.

Alongside the beta, Xbox unveiled a limited edition controller built around the game’s Emergence Day theme. The $89.99 controller is available for preorder now, featuring a 3D molded top case with cracked asphalt detailing, glowing red accents, and the series’ Crimson Omen symbol at its center.

Starting September 30, players will also be able to design their own version through Xbox Design Lab, using artwork from illustrator Luke Preece built around a skull and crossed Lancers motif, referencing the franchise’s signature weapon. Xbox is separately partnering with accessory maker 8BitDo on a matching wireless charging dock for the controller line.

Polygon, which previewed the game in late July, described it as recognizably more Gears of War, for better and worse, with the series’ chainsaw bayonet combat against the Locust largely unchanged. The studio has leaned on that familiarity rather than reinventing the formula for the prequel.

The open beta gives Xbox and Steam players their second hands on look at E-Day since a limited test run last week, with developers using player feedback to adjust the game before launch. Xbox has not said whether a third test is planned before the October release.

Anticipation has built steadily since the game’s reveal, with the franchise’s core fan base treating the beta windows as an early verdict on whether E-Day can live up to the original trilogy that built the series’ reputation. Xbox has leaned into that history throughout the marketing push, tying the controller design and the game’s opening chapter to the same founding moment in Gears lore.