Microsoft (MSFT) has doubled down on its Xbox Play Anywhere strategy with the announcement that Gears of War: Reloaded will be released on Sony’s (SONY) PlayStation 5. This is a complete remaster of the original Gears of War, which came out on the Xbox 360 in 2006.
Gears of War: Reloaded will release on PS5 on Aug. 26, 2025. It also will launch simultaneously on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Steam. Additionally, digital owners of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition will get the remaster for free on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC.
Gears of War: Reloaded coming to PS5 is part of Microsoft’s ongoing attempt to make every device an Xbox. This has the video game developer focusing on multiconsole releases, rather than keeping games exclusively on its consoles. Xbox head Phil Spencer has argued this is the better business model for the company as it increases game sales by allowing them on more platforms. It’s also done this with its recent remasters of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
Will Gears of War Come to Nintendo Switch 2?
Nintendo’s (NTDOY) Switch 2 wasn’t included in the game consoles that Gears of War: Reloaded will be released on. This could be due to the limitations of the hybrid console, which is roughly as powerful as a PlayStation 4.
It could also be that Microsoft hasn’t had enough time to evaluate putting Gears of War: Reloaded on the Switch 2. The console isn’t out yet, with its release scheduled for June 5, 2025. Xbox might wait until after that to determine if Nintendo’s latest console can handle its various remasters.
Is MSFT Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold?
Turning to Wall Street, the analysts’ consensus rating for Microsoft is Strong Buy, based on 30 Buy and four Hold ratings over the last three months. With that comes an average price target of $506.31, representing a potential 15.3% upside for MSFT stock.
