The Gears of War: E-Day beta isn't just a chance to get hands-on with one of the biggest Xbox console exclusives in years. The Coalition is rewarding every player who shows up with six exclusive cosmetics that carry over directly to the full game at launch. None of them offer a gameplay advantage, but they will mark you as someone who was there from the start.
What beta rewards are available in Gears of War: E-Day?
There are six rewards in total, spread across both beta weekends. They cover character skins, weapon skins, banners, emblems, icons, and a title. The rarest item in the set is the Epic Blast Damage Mags Character Skin, which requires hitting Player Level 20. The second most demanding unlock is the Rare Crush the Bug Weapon Skin Set, tied to a Horde Siege extraction challenge.
Here's the full list of rewards:
- Epic Blast Damage Mags Character Skin
- Rare Crush the Bug Weapon Skin Set
- Crush the Bug Banner
- Crush the Bug Emblem
- Crush the Bug Icon
- Open Beta Medal & First in the Fight Title
Mags skin unlock screen
How do you unlock every Gears of War: E-Day beta reward?
Each reward has its own specific condition. One of them requires nothing more than launching the multiplayer beta, while the others ask for varying degrees of effort.
The Open Beta Medal and First in the Fight Title is the easiest unlock by a significant margin. Simply load into the multiplayer beta and both rewards are yours. Everything else requires active play.
Horde Siege extraction result
Which rewards take the most time?
Realistically, Player Level 20 and 8 Horde Siege extractions on Infantry difficulty or higher are where most of your time investment goes. Reaching Level 20 means consistent play across the beta period, not just a single session. The Horde Siege extractions require you to survive each run through to a successful extract rather than dying out, so the difficulty floor of Infantry matters.
The remaining three challenges sit in the middle ground. 25 Headshots will accumulate naturally across standard multiplayer matches if you play aggressively. 10 Revives rewards players who stick close to their squad and prioritize teammates over solo kills. The 5 Prototype Lancer Chainsaw Executions is the one that requires deliberate effort since it demands getting close to downed or vulnerable enemies with a specific weapon.
Prototype Lancer execution prompt
How long does the beta run?
The beta spans two separate weekends, giving players a combined eight days to work through all six unlock conditions. That's a reasonable window even for players who can only commit a few hours per session. The Level 20 grind is the one to start immediately since it benefits most from spreading play across the full beta period rather than cramming it into one sitting.
Are the rewards worth grinding for?
The Rare Crush the Bug Weapon Skin Set is the standout item for collectors. Weapon skin sets at the Rare tier tend to be the kind of thing that gets noticed in lobbies, and earning it through Horde Siege means it carries a visible story behind it. The Epic Blast Damage Mags Character Skin is the headline reward, requiring the most sustained effort and landing at the highest rarity tier in the set.
Since none of these rewards will be available after the beta closes, the window to earn them is fixed. Players who want to show up at launch with a full set of beta-exclusive cosmetics need to be deliberate about tracking their progress across both weekends.
For more strategies and tips on the game, the Gears of War: E-Day guides collection has you covered as more content drops ahead of launch. If you're new to the shooter games genre or returning after a long break, the beta is also a solid reintroduction to the cover-based combat the series built its reputation on.