‘Gears Of War 4’ Release Date Bumped Up, Xbox One Exclusive Now Coming In Fall

The behind-the-scenes machinations of Gears of War 4 has resulted in a favorable updated release date for the Xbox One exclusive. The next installment of the third-person shooter received a passing mention of a new release window during a tournament livestream over the weekend.

Gears of War 4 was originally announced with a holiday 2016 release date. During a Twitch livestream of the Gears of War Pro League Finals on Sunday, producer Rod Fergusson mentioned the release date for the Xbox One exclusive is now “Fall 2016.” The same release date was also mentioned in the 2016 line-up of Xbox One exclusives previously covered by the Inquisitr.

What’s the difference between Holiday and Fall? “Holiday” typically translates to a November release just ahead of Thanksgiving and the mad rush for Black Friday. Fall would be the general time between the end of September and mid-December when Winter starts. It is believed if the Coalition development team is now using “Fall” term over “Holiday,” then Gears of War 4 will be out sooner in October or late September.

If true, an earlier release date could work out well for Gears of War 4. November has become the playground of multi-platform heavy hitters such as Call of Duty from Activision and Battlefront from Electronic Arts. Rise of the Tomb Raider attempted a November release and was lost in the shuffle as an Xbox One exclusive that had to compete against the releases of Black Ops 3, Fallout 4, and Star Wars: Battlefront in the span of eleven days. It ultimately sold more than a million copies, according to Microsoft, but could have possibly done better in an October release timeframe.

The Gears of War franchise is capable of holding its own against any game franchise, but the console exclusivity, combined with a new developer and the disappointing performance of Gears of War: Judgment, doesn’t leave it in as strong a place as when Gears of War 3 released to more than three million copies in the first week.

Regardless of the reason, it is good to see Gears of War 4 not delayed. Release date announcements as of late are either for the first planned release date or a delay announcement to the release date. Getting a good game out is important, but multiple pushbacks of the same title can be frustrating.

The desire for Gears of War on the Xbox One is definitely there. The backwards compatible Xbox 360 releases have proven to be extremely popular. Fergusson revealed that four of the nine most popular backwards compatible games were Gears of War titles (via DualShockers). That would be Gears of War, 2, 3, and Judgment.

Gears of War fans can still enjoy the Gears of War: Ultimate Edition and the backwards compatible games but won’t have to wait long to get their tasted of Gears of War 4. Microsoft confirmed that a multiplayer beta for the game will arrive in the spring.

Details on the Gears of War 4 multiplayer beta are scarce for the moment. What is confirmed is those that purchased the Gears of War: Ultimate Edition are guaranteed to get in. Presumably, beta keys will become available through various news outlets and promotions as well as opening up to all Xbox One owners at some point.

What month do you think Gears of War will release this fall? September, October, or could it still hit November? Sound off in the comments below.

[Image via The Coalition]