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    Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on Windows 10 FAQ

    Read answers to commonly asked questions about Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on Windows 10.

    Frequently asked questions

    Topics

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    I was prompted to upgrade my operating system to play Gears of War: Ultimate Edition. Which version of Windows do I need?
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    Do I need additional software to play the game?
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    What are the hardware requirements?
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    What happens if I download the game on a device that doesn't meet the hardware requirements?
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    How big is the game?
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    How long will it take to download the game?
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    What kind of accessory device do I need to control the game?
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    Do I need to have a Microsoft account to play the game?
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    Do I need to be online or connected to the Internet to play?
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    I already have the Xbox One version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition. Are the two versions of the game linked?
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    How many times can I download and install the game?
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    Why should I sign in to Xbox Live with a Microsoft account?

    I was prompted to upgrade my operating system to play Gears of War: Ultimate Edition. Which version of Windows do I need?

    You need Windows 10 running version 1511 or later to download and install Gears of War: Ultimate Edition.

    Additionally, your device must be running a 64-bit version of Windows 10. If you have a 32-bit version, you will not be able to play Gears of War: Ultimate Edition.

    To check if you're running an appropriate version of Windows on your device, see How to find out if a game will work on your Windows device.

    Do I need additional software to play the game?

    Yes, you need to have DirectX 11 or later installed to play Gears of War: Ultimate Edition. To check which version of DirectX is installed on your device, see How to find out if a game will work on your Windows device.

    What are the hardware requirements?

    The following table lists the minimum, recommended, and ideal configurations for Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on Windows 10.

     

    Minimum

    Recommended

    Ideal

    OS

    Windows 10 64-bit
    (1511 update)

    Windows 10 64-bit
    (1511 update)

    Windows 10 64-bit
    (1511 update)

    Processor

    Intel Core i5 2.7Ghz

    or

    AMD FX 6-core

    Intel Core i5 3.50GHz+

    or

    AMD FX 6-core

    Intel Core i7 4.0GHz+

    or

    AMD FX 8-core

    GPU (graphics card)

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti

    or

    AMD Radeon R7 260X

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970

    or

    AMD Radeon R9 290X

    NVIDIA GeForce 980 Ti

    or

    AMD Radeon R9 390X

    HD space

    60 GB

    60 GB

    60 GB SSD

    RAM (memory)

    8 GB

    8 GB

    16 GB

    VRAM (video memory)

    NVIDIA – 2 GB

    AMD – 2 GB

    NVIDIA – 4 GB

    AMD – 4 GB

    NVIDIA – 6+ GB

    AMD – 6+ GB

    DirectX

    DirectX 11+

    DirectX 11+

    DirectX 11+

    Monitor

    1080p

    1080p

    4k (UHD)

    To check if your Windows 10 device has enough available disk space, find out which graphics card is installed, and view other important details about your device, see How to find out if a game will work on your Windows 10 device.

    What happens if I download the game on a device that doesn't meet the hardware requirements?

    We recommend that you check the device specifications first to make sure your device meets the minimum requirements. For more info, see How to find out if a game will work on your Windows 10 device.

    If you've already purchased the game, you can try adjusting the in-game graphics options:

    1. Go to Settings on the Gears of War: Ultimate Edition main menu.
    2. Select Video and then select Screen Resolution.
    3. Set the screen resolution to a low setting. Lower settings may work better.
    4. Set "Default Settings Options" to Lowest.

    If this doesn't allow the game to run correctly on your device, you can request a refund within five days of purchase. For more information, see the Microsoft Store - Returns page.

    For a full list of tips and tricks to improve your in-game performance, see the Gears of War on Windows 10 help page on The Coalition website.

    How big is the game?

    Gears of War: Ultimate Edition requires a minimum of 60 GB of free hard drive space to download.

    To check if your device has enough available disk space, see How to find out if a game will work on your Windows 10 device.

    How long will it take to download the game?

    The download time can vary depending on the speed of your Internet connection. On average, it takes about 6.5 hours to download 60 GB over a 20-Mbps connection.

    While you're downloading the game, do not cancel the download or shut down your computer. The Gears of War: Ultimate Edition icon will appear on your Home screen once the download is complete.

    Note You may be subject to additional Internet fees while you download the game.

    If you're experiencing a slow download of the game, try the following:

    1. Make sure that you're not downloading more than one game, app, or update at a time.
    2. If you have any other devices on your network that might be using bandwidth (for example, streaming a movie), you should pause them until your download has completed.
    3. Check for any Windows 10 updates available for your device. Go to Settings and then select Update & security to see if there are any updates available.
    4. Troubleshoot potential connectivity issues by visiting the Fix Network Connection issues page.

    What kind of accessory device do I need to control the game?

    You can use a mouse and keyboard, or an Xbox One controller. If you use a controller, you'll need either a USB cable to connect it to your device or an Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows.

    Do I need to have a Microsoft account to play the game?

    You'll need a Microsoft account to play Gears of War: Ultimate Edition. If you already play games on Xbox 360 or Xbox One, you can use the same account you use for those games. For more detail, see the Microsoft account FAQ page.

    Do I need to be online or connected to the Internet to play?

    If you’re planning to be in an area with no online coverage, such as a long-distance flight or a sailing excursion, you can prepare your Windows 10 device to allow you to play Gears of War: Ultimate Edition offline.

    For details on how to configure your Windows 10 device for offline play, visit Play games offline on Windows 10 using Offline mode.

    The following in-game modes are supported while playing offline:

    • Campaign
    • Local Multiplayer

    The following in-game modes require an online connection:

    • Online Multiplayer

    If you play offline, some features, such as the ability to purchase additional items from Microsoft Store, will not be available. Additionally, any leaderboards will be unavailable while you're offline.

    If you earn any achievements while playing offline, they will sync to your account the next time you sign in to Xbox Live on your device. Your game save progress will also sync when you sign in to Xbox Live.

    You also won't be able to use the benefits of Xbox Live while offline. See Why should I sign in to Xbox Live with a Microsoft account? below for details.

    I already have the Xbox One version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition. Are the two versions of the game linked?

    The Xbox One and Windows 10 versions of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition are different versions. There's no link or crossover between the games.

    As you'll need to have a Microsoft account to sign in to Xbox Live to play, you can earn achievements and gamerscore in both games. However, any progress you make on the Xbox One version will not carry over to the Windows 10 version, and vice versa.

    How many times can I download and install the game?

    You can download and install Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on up to 10 different Windows 10 devices using the same Microsoft account.

    Why should I sign in to Xbox Live with a Microsoft account?

    When you connect Gears of War: Ultimate Edition to the Xbox Live service, you get the following benefits while you play on your Windows 10 device.

    Note You must connect to Xbox Live through the Xbox app to launch Gears of War: Ultimate Edition. See "Do I need to be online or connected to the Internet to play?" above.

    • Stay connected to the Xbox Live community, view achievements, watch game clips, and more.
    • Store your saved games in the cloud and continue playing on a different PC right from where you left off.
    • Play with your Xbox Wireless Controller on Windows 10 using the Xbox Wireless Adapter.
    • Easily record, narrate, and share your most epic gaming moments with built-in Game DVR:
      • To launch Game DVR while playing, press Windows logo key+ G.
      • To manage your Game DVR settings, launch the Xbox app, go to Settings, and then select Game DVR.
      • Any game clips that you capture while playing Gears of War: Ultimate Edition can be accessed via the Xbox app. See Benefits of running the Xbox app while playing a game on Windows 10 for more information.

    For a full list of in-game tips and tricks, visit the Gears of War on Windows 10 help page on The Coalition website.

    Related Issues

    Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on Windows 10
    Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on Xbox One
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