According to the official presentation of "Gears of War 4" during the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2015, as cited by IGN, the game is scheduled for release by the fourth quarter of 2016. A report from Trusted Reviews states that it is unlikely the game will be delayed any further due to the hiring of Rod Fergusson, who is known for releasing video games on time even when under pressure. 

This puts the game in a release window between September and December 2016. However, given how previous games were released during the holidays, there is a strong chance that "Gears of War 4" will be out on store shelves just in time for Christmas next year. 

The original "Gears of War" was released in North America for the Xbox 360 on Nov. 7, 2007, while its sequel was released on Nov. 7, 2008. The third entry was released on Sept. 20, 2011. It is likely that the studios will follow the same release pattern instead of following that of "Gears of War: Judgment," a prequel which came out in March of 2013. 

While gamers and fans of the franchise will have to wait more than a year to play the title, the multiplayer beta will be made available in early 2016. According to the official Xbox news site, gamers who purchase "Gears of War: Ultimate Edition" this Aug. 25 will be given access to the "Gears of War 4" multiplayer beta. 

This multiplayer beta will allow gamers to get a taste of what the fourth entry in the franchise ("Judgment" was a prequel) has to offer, particularly with its revised gameplay elements from previous installments. 

"Gears of War 4" no longer tells the tale of Marcus Fenix and his squad of COG soldiers as their tale ended with "Gears of War 3." Instead, the fourth game now focuses on a new protagonist named JD and a female companion known as Kait. The story is also a sequel to the third game and not a prequel or side-story.