'Gears of War 4' release date news: Upcoming game to launch Oct. 11; beta at 1080p

"Gears of War 4" finally has a release date that fans can look forward to. Gamers might want to cancel all other appointments on Oct. 11 because that's when the next episode in the "Gears of War" franchise will be available. Additionally, beta players can expect a 1080p resolution.

The good news was recently shared on Xbox Wire by Adam Fletcher, community director of game creator The Coalition.

Fletcher said, "It's been almost a year since Gears of War 4 made its global debut at E3 2015, and today's announcement is set to ignite a chain of upcoming revelations about what's in store for JD Fenix and the next generation of Gears heroes."

He added, "Gears of War 4 marks the beginning of an epic new saga for one of gaming's most celebrated franchises, as a new band of heroes rises to confront a fearsome new threat. Harkening back to the dark and intense roots of the original classic, fans can expect a familiar, yet distinct evolution of gameplay, including brutal and intimate action, a heart-pounding campaign, genre-defining multiplayer and stunning visuals powered by Unreal Engine 4."

It was also announced almost a month back that an early access for the game's multiplayer beta preview for the Xbox One will be available starting April 18 for owners of "Gears of War: Ultimate Edition," either on Xbox One or Windows 10, while Xbox Live Gold members on Xbox One will gain access by April 25. The beta preview is scheduled to end by May 1.

Engadget added that owners should be able to start playing the game before April 11 in order to receive the beta key.

Rod Fergusson, studio head at The Coalition, also posted on Twitter that the beta gameplay will be offering a 1080p resolution and not 720p.

The game was first announced last June, during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2015.

"Gears of War 4" is an Xbox One exclusive and is now available for pre-order via the Microsoft Store or Amazon for US$59.99.