The August 2026 Xbox Game Pass wave announced by Xbox Wire is led by Gears of War: E-Day, whose open beta begins on August 6, 2026. Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers, as well as players who pre-ordered the game, can participate. Cricket 26 and Date Everything! complete the selection with sports simulation and branching narrative gameplay.
Who can access the Gears of War: E-Day beta?
Early access is available to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, PC Game Pass subscribers and players who pre-ordered Gears of War: E-Day. On PC, PC Game Pass is enough to participate. On console, the announced access comes through Ultimate or a pre-order.
The full game launches on October 6, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, cloud and Steam, according to official Gears of War page. Further announcements are available through the latest video game news.
Which Game Pass plan covers the beta?
Ultimate is listed at €20.99 per month in France. It includes eligible day-one releases, the console and PC catalogs, cloud gaming and online console multiplayer.
PC Game Pass costs €12.99 per month and provides beta access on PC. The announced console access does not apply to this plan; it is reserved for Ultimate subscribers and players who pre-ordered the game.
Game Pass Premium is also listed at €12.99 per month, while Essential costs €8.99 per month. The official communication does not reserve early beta access for either plan.
Three games with very different profiles
Gears of War: E-Day focuses its beta on multiplayer. Xbox has presented Versus, a competitive 4v4 mode, and Horde Siege, which supports up to twelve players in co-op.
Cricket 26 includes a manager career, an expanded Ashes mode, Pro Team and a creation academy. Its subscription access lets players discover the simulation before deciding whether to buy it.
Date Everything! turns household objects into characters. It features 100 voiced characters, branching stories and multiple endings for each relationship.
Date Everything! prices and catalog conditions
The French Xbox listing for Date Everything! shows the standard edition at €29.99. The Lavish Edition costs €34.99 and includes the Lavish additional content. The catalog should be checked before buying.
Cricket 26 is presented with career, creation and competition modes. Its listing mentions Xbox Play Anywhere, Xbox Series X|S, PC, cloud and handheld devices. Some cloud uses display a purchase-required notice.
For Gears, pre-ordering provides cosmetic bonuses and early beta access. The full game will be available in Ultimate and PC Game Pass at launch, according to the published information.
Gears leads the wave, while two smaller releases widen the choice
The selection is defined by its contrast. Gears of War: E-Day is built around multiplayer shooting, with 4v4 Versus and Horde Siege for up to twelve players. Cricket 26 targets sports-simulation fans, while Date Everything! offers branching narrative play. The available information does not include an earlier build or direct demonstration, so it is too early to assess precisely how Gears has evolved from a previous entry.
The beta’s timing gives Gears the strongest immediate pull: it arrives before the October 6 launch and is available to several clearly identified categories of players. Cricket 26 and Date Everything! make the wave more varied, but the practical value still depends on local catalog inclusion, cloud availability, platforms and subscription tier.
Platforms and schedule
The Gears beta covers the Xbox ecosystem and PC. The final game is planned for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, cloud and Steam. Cloud access depends on the subscription tier and region.
Cricket 26 is announced for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, cloud and handheld devices. Date Everything! is coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, cloud and handheld devices. Availability may vary by plan and country.
The open beta begins on August 6, 2026, while the full launch is scheduled for October 6, 2026. Times and regional availability may vary by platform.
Players can compare the new releases with the news section and find more selections in our gaming articles.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Gears of War: E-Day open beta begin?
Early access begins on August 6, 2026 for Ultimate, PC Game Pass and players who pre-ordered the game.
Which subscription allows beta access on PC?
PC Game Pass provides access to the beta on PC. Its French price is listed at €12.99 per month.
How much does Game Pass Ultimate cost in France?
Xbox lists Ultimate at €20.99 per month in France.
When does the full Gears of War: E-Day game release?
The full release is scheduled for October 6, 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, cloud and Steam.
To keep following the story, also see our article on Gears of War: E-Day revealing its two multiplayer modes and our article on Xbox preparing 25 playable games for gamescom 2026, with.
Verified sources
These links can be used to verify the key information used in this article.
- news.xbox.com: Xbox Wire, official publication dated 2026-08-04: announcement of the Xbox Game Pass wave featuring Gears of War: E-Day Open Beta, Cricket 26, Date Everything! and other additions.
- xbox.com: Xbox France, official listing consulted on 2026-08-04: verified prices of €20.99/month for Ultimate, €12.99/month for PC Game Pass, €12.99/month for Premium and €8.99/month for Essential.
- gearsofwar.com: Gears of War, official page consulted on 2026-08-04: early access to the open beta from 2026-08-06, pre-order bonuses and announced platforms for Gears of War: E-Day.
- xbox.com: Xbox France, official Date Everything! listing consulted on 2026-08-04: catalog price of €29.99 for the standard edition, €34.99 for the Lavish Edition and compatibility with Xbox, PC, cloud and handheld devices.
