Get ready for the ultimate jump-in / jump-out Gears 5 Versus experience in Arcade, featuring Heroes with distinct playstyles that let you play your way more than ever before. Learn more about Arcade: https://Gears5.com/Arcade Subscribe to Xbox Game Pass and be one of the first to play in the Versus Tech Test on July 19th. Access is also available through digital pre-orders and physical pre-orders at participating retailers. https://Gears5.com/TechTest
Info on the brand new Arcade mode:
The Tech Test features 5 heroes* to choose from in Arcade Deathmatch:
Hunter – Kait / Swarm Hunter
- Passive: Increased Movement Speed
- Bounty: Execute for an additional Skull
- Loadout: Hammerburst, Talon Autopistol, Smoke Grenade
- Upgrades: Boltok, Incendiary Grenades, Torque Bow
Kait and the Swarm Hunter are versatile characters thanks to their fast movement and vision-blocking smoke grenades.
Their weapons let them catch enemies off guard at range before relocating to avoid being targeted by opponents, or by executing fast flanks on unsuspecting enemies with Incendiaries and Talon.
Support – JD / Swarm Drone
- Passive: Spot enemies who damage you. Enemies you spot reward health to killer.
- Bounty: Multi-kill for an additional Skull.
- Loadout: Lancer, Snub Pistol, Flashbangs
- Upgrades: 3 Random Weapon upgrade slots of varying quality
JD and the Drone are the backbone of any team, providing critical healing to teammates who kill any opponents you mark while supporting from a distance with his sturdy loadout.
While their weapon upgrades are randomized, this gives JD and the Drone more versatility as they move between supporting fights and taking out enemies. Plus, who doesn't love a little surprise sometimes? This hero character is recommended for new players to give the best variety of power weapons.
Heavy – Del / Scion
- Passive: Receive Stim(Extra health above the normal maximum) for Kills
- Bounty: Multi-kill for an additional Skull
- Loadout: Hammerburst, Talon Autopistol
- Upgrades: Buzzkill, Mulcher, RL-4 Salvo
If you're all about the big guns, Del or the Scion is the hero for you.
While Heavy Weapons make this a slower paced hero than others, their passive ability adds additional health (known as Stim) every time they get a kill. This helps them survive when exposing themselves to engage with Heavy Weapons.
CQB – Marcus / Swarm Grenadier
- Passive: Cover slide speed and distance increased
- Bounty: Execute for an additional Skull
- Loadout: Enforcer, Snub Pistol, Smoke Grenade
- Upgrades: Shock Grenades, Gnasher, Breaker Mace
For the bold and the brave, these heroes are all about getting up close and very personal. Their loadout and weapon tree sacrifices range in exchange for some potent close range weaponry.
Without many tools to fight at range, their passive allows them to take cover quickly and close the gap. If you see Marcus or the Grenadier pull out Breaker… run.
Sniper – Fahz / Swarm Sniper
- Passive: Immune to flinching when ADS or fully scoped
- Bounty: Headshot kill for an additional Skull
- Loadout: Lancer, Talon Autopistol, Flashbang
- Upgrades: Boltok, Marzka, Longshot
Fahz and the Swarm Sniper are for players that love to snipe from a distance thanks to their headshot centric weapons of increasing quality.
Both can take hits without flinching while they line up those sweet headshots on opponents that dare to challenge them at range, so keep calm and land your shots to make them truly shine.
Extra info on the Tech Test duration:
What can I expect in the Gears 5 Tech Test?
For Gears 5's Technical Test, we're bringing three distinct modes across two brand new multiplayer maps to play throughout both test periods:
Arcade: A new approachable, frenetic Versus experience.
Escalation: The pinnacle objective mode of Gears is back and better than ever.
King of the Hill: Capture the hill, enjoy the carnage.
In addition, you'll also get to try out two new features of Gears 5:
Bootcamp: Practice your skills and learn new mechanics in our new training mode.
Tour Of Duty: Experience a mini Tour of Duty, where you'll complete Medals to unlock exclusive Tester Weapon Skins to take into Gears 5. Complete all 3 Medals to unlock the exclusive Tester Banner to showcase in Gears 5.
We'll reveal more about Gears 5 Versus next week followed by a weekend of electric Gears 5 Escalation action and more from the ELEAGUE Invitational tournament (July 13th – 14th).
When will the Gears 5 Tech Test be available?
Beginning July 17th at 10am PDT, the Tech Test will be available to pre-download for eligible players. The Tech Test will be approximately 15GB.
The first Technical Test period will run from July 19th at 10am PDT until July 22nd at 10am PDT.
The second Technical Test period will run from July 26th at 10am PDT until July 29th at 10am PDT.
During Test periods, our goal is to test our servers handling an influx of players ahead of launch day. Gears 5 has an access queue system in place to protect server stability as much as possible – please be aware you may encounter some queueing as you start to play.
Between test periods, the Tech Test will remain available for download but servers will be offline.
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