During my visit to L.A. for Summer Game Fest 2025, I took a detour to Xbox where I previewed several games exhibited at their showcase event, such as the upcoming enhancement by The Coalition, titled Gears of War: Revitalized.
Not only did I have a double treat, but I also had the opportunity to test out some fresh equipment during the event. The Coalition showcased gaming history by setting up demo stations for Gears of War: Reloaded on an array of devices such as the Xbox Series X, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 Pro.
Among all options presented, it was the setup featuring Gears operating on the forthcoming ROG Xbox Alliance X that caught my attention the most.
Upon grasping this gadget, I’m promptly aware of its substantial nature. It exudes a sense of robustness and durability. Although it might not be as portable as an imagined Nintendo Switch 2, it doesn’t weigh so much that it interferes with gameplay.
Commencing with the initial chapter of Gears of War: Reloaded, the visual appeal is striking. Enhanced resolution, refined textures, and improved particle effects give it a far more stunning presentation than I had anticipated, considering my recollections of the almost decade-old Gears of War: Ultimate Edition.
While navigating the renowned level of the game that resembles a prison, I closely monitored the frame rate counter. Despite the chaos caused by numerous explosions and visual effects on the screen, it consistently remained above 75 frames per second (FPS), and during calmer moments, it often surpassed 90 FPS for extended periods.
Kate Rayner, who serves as Studio Technical Director at The Coalition, shared with me that their team put in a lot of effort to optimize Gears of War: Reloaded for the upcoming partner devices. Specifically, the ROG Xbox Ally X smoothly operates Gears of War: Reloaded on High settings, while the majority of settings for the ROG Xbox Ally are set at Medium.
Additionally, I found myself thoroughly amazed by the device’s Impulse Triggers and bumpers. Playing games such as Gears of War became an intuitive experience, offering fantastic response as I fired off rounds with the Hammerburst and consistently executed active reloads.
Indeed, there seems to be an unspoken concern regarding the cost of the upcoming devices, specifically the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally. At present, Microsoft hasn’t disclosed their prices. However, given the current market price of around $800 USD for the normal ROG Ally X, it’s unlikely we’ll see a significant decrease in cost for this customized version.
The Coalition is determined to deliver top-notch technology, ensuring that whether you’re a fan of classic PC gaming or console gaming, Gears of War: Reloaded promises to offer a fantastic experience across all platforms.
Rayner emphasized the need for maintaining a consistent 120 FPS rate for multiplayer games on both the Xbox Series S and Series X. This implies that even those using the less powerful Series S will experience significant enhancements while playing online with their friends.
On the PlayStation 5 Pro, The Coalition employs PSSR (PlayStation Store Streaming Resolution) to achieve a higher resolution compared to the standard PlayStation 5, thus improving the overall visual quality.
Despite this, it seems like Gears of War: Reloaded is being marketed as a key game for the Xbox Companion systems, and it has undeniably left a strong impact thus far.
Due to my brief experience with the game set at its highest difficulty (which usually takes just a few minutes to complete), I’m still not fully proficient with the software aspects. Streamlining the user experience is crucial, and if this device can serve as a symbol of an easier, more harmonious Xbox Play Anywhere era, then I will definitely pay attention.
I’d love to join some matches of Gears of War: Reloaded’s multiplayer mode too, especially during the upcoming beta testing session starting on June 13.
As we approach 2026, when Gears of War: E-Day is set to launch, I find myself immersed in anticipation and eager to observe The Coalition’s progress on this upcoming project. My attention will be focused on their development process throughout next year, particularly on how seamlessly the game runs on the Xbox Ally platform.
The action-packed game “Gears of War: Reloaded” is set to be released on the Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC via Steam and Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, and PlayStation 5 on August 26, 2025.
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2025-06-10 18:09