Gears of War: Reloaded for PS5 Was a Mistake

Eric Poole Updated: 9/22/2025 | Posted: 9/22/2025

(Credit: PlayStation Store | Store Page)

I’ll be blunt: Gears of War: Reloaded on PS5 was a mistake. I say this not as a casual player, but as a generation one Gears fan. I was a senior in high school when the original dropped, living in college dorms at the peak of Gears multiplayer hype. I’ve beaten every campaign, sunk countless hours into competitive lobbies, read the tie-in novels, and yes, I still own the ammo tin lunchbox. So trust me when I say, this franchise means something to me. Which is why Reloaded feels like such a missed opportunity.

The Promise of Gears on PlayStation

On paper, this should have been a triumph. For loyal PlayStation gamers, Reloaded marks the very first time Gears of War has made its way to their console of choice. And I’m all for it. Ending the "console war," reducing exclusivity, and embracing crossplay is the best way forward. More platforms mean more players. More players mean longer-lasting online communities. Everybody wins. But here’s the thing: if this is how the series is introduced to an entirely new audience, I’m afraid PlayStation fans might walk away thinking, “This is it? This is Gears?”

Campaign: Short but Worth Experiencing

The campaign isn’t the issue. Yes, it’s only 6–10 hours long. Yes, it’s a remake of a remake of a 2006 game. But the campaign still carries weight. Experiencing Gears of War’s story, its grim tone, chunky combat, and iconic “emergence day” vibes, is absolutely worth it for newcomers. The problem starts the second you step into multiplayer.

Multiplayer: Nostalgia or Just Outdated?

Reloaded’s multiplayer is an excruciating reminder that you’re playing a 2006 design. Veteran fans will defend it, saying “that’s how it was in the original.” And they’re right. But that’s not necessarily a good thing in 2025. The shotgun still has the effective range of a combat knife. Movement and pacing feel locked in amber. And while some of that is nostalgic for players like me, it’s also frustrating, especially when modern Gears installments (after five mainline games) have already introduced quality-of-life improvements that should have carried over into Reloaded. Instead, the online lobbies feel like a time capsule, a quirky, sometimes charming mess for old heads like me, but likely alienating for new players.

A Missed Chance to Build Hype

That’s what stings the most. Reloaded could have been the perfect hype-builder for the franchise’s next big step. Instead, I worry the rough multiplayer is going to turn new players away from trying Emergence Day in 2026, which is shaping up to be the real multiplayer revival this series needs.

Final Thoughts

If you’re new to Gears of War, here’s my advice:

• Absolutely play the campaign, it’s short but worth the ride.


• Don’t let Reloaded’s multiplayer discourage you. What you’re playing is a snapshot of 2006, warts and all.


• Come back when Emergence Day drops in 2026 for the proper, modernized Gears multiplayer experience.

For veteran fans like me, Reloaded scratches a nostalgic itch. But for everyone else? It’s a rough first impression. And that’s why, sadly, I believe Gears of War: Reloaded on PS5 was a mistake.