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Gears of War 3 Beta Ends May 16–Thanks for Joining Us!

After four weeks of executions performed, medals awarded, skins unlocked, and enemies decimated, our time together in the Gears 3 Beta is coming to an end. The servers go dark at 2:00 AM PDT on Monday, May 16, after which you will be unable to connect to multiplayer matches. If you want to hang on to any of your retail unlocks earned during the Beta, please do not delete your Gears 3 Beta saved games—you can delete the Beta executable itself, but hang on to those saves! (Step-by-step details below.) Thanks again for playing, and we’ll see you again on September 20!

To delete the Gears 3 Beta but leave your saves intact:

  • Go to the System Settings menu on your Xbox 360
  • Select “Memory”
  • Select “Games”
  • Select the Gears of War 3 Beta (507MB) and delete it.
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  • http://twitter.com/WolfosNG robin van ee

    Lame, I would’ve expected it to store on the server but Gears 2 was worse (deleted everything when I got a new 360, but used the same HD).

    Anyway, how do I see what I’ve unlocked?

  • the Tech Dino

    I would’ve expected the same.  Oh well, saved games don’t take up that much space! 

  • Frynaut

    That actually seems fair enough. I mean, that’s how we got Anthony, Minh, and RAAM from Gears 1 onto Gears 2.

  • http://twitter.com/dnt Dante Contreras

     oh! oh no! oh hell no!! XD

  • http://twitter.com/AHal Adam Halinaty

     I would have expected this to be stored on servers somewhere as well, but isn’t too big of a deal for me to be honest.  Nevertheless, I’m sure there will be some upset folks who accidentally delete this and are upset that no backup data was stored.

  • Halbyaj

    You ought to just leave it up, but not fool around with the mechanics anymore, atleast a week longer… 

  • http://twitter.com/DerReinhardt Fernando Carbajal

    “Fucking piece of shit!” -Anya

  • OdinGungir

    I’m going to be having Gears 3 withdrawls until the actual game comes out 

  • The_Bison

    What carries over? I know the Gold Lancer (couldn’t get it due to homework and college) and Cole Train (have to grind tonight for him) but does anything else?

  • Endtro

     who cares stop whinin

  • http://twitter.com/JaredBot Jared Sherman

    I have no life and proud to say I’m raked #1 in the world in TDM :D  

  • Gman1984

    so we can delete the beta file (507mb) and the beta (89mb) from the demo secion. but keep the save file? 

  • Manuelsalinas87

    Sweet bro we gotta play one day GT is (CONVIC CHAOS)

  • http://twitter.com/Ablaze408 Manuel Salinas III

    Well hear are some of my thoughts on the beta for one the sawed off is almost too strong and the lancer is a lil weak. Bots shouldn’t be able to capture a leader if actual people are playing on the team. Torkbow tag is awsome though I think any it would be cooler if every weapon had a tag game like maybe each round and map the weapon can change ex: all torks then the next round all snipers then next round or map all diggers then all booms!!! “CONVIC CHAOS” Thanks for the awsome beta it is sick!!!!

  • http://twitter.com/acollins123 Andy collins

    how do the bulletstorm people make sure they keep there stuff???

  • Tor

     Yeah like my harddrive is gonna survive until retail launch ^^

  • Deric

     I Will just leave them both intact for now. Would not want anything to stupid on me.

  • tsiper29

    suck 360 rrd last week and I was 5 games away from cole in retail and working on my gold lancer I am so stink ing bummed  now its gone and lost forever talk about a bunch of suck!!!! 

  • Ron Torque

    I have truly enjoyed the ride with the Beta, it was the second beta ever that i was interested it and i loved every single bit of it.
    Can’t wait for the full version.

  • Kate

     How do the people who got Bulletstorm epic edition keep their unlocks???

  • http://twitter.com/LorenzoA Lorenzo Arredondo

     Can we delete the save file after we get the unlocks in the retail game or do we need to keep the save file forever?

  • http://twitter.com/dssdevl Paul Blevins

    Folks. Do yourself a favor and copy this save file to a memory card. XBox 360 hard drives do fail you know.

  • http://twitter.com/Navarin Bennijin Turbo

    Pretty sure Bulletstorm owners still have a Gears 3 beta save in their files so you should be good. I’d check but got even earlier access. I know it tries to download a different update when I loaded up Bulletstorm EE though…

  • http://twitter.com/The_Dukenator The Dukenator

    I shared this image on Twitter, but will repost it here.
    http://twitpic.com/4xrkea

  • Marcgriner

    have been having a great 4 weeks…lots of blood spilt, cant wait for the game 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ivan-Lopez/763768247 Ivan Lopez

     Wait, doesn’t deleting from the Game Library keep saves and other data intact as well? Great beta by the way guys!

  • Delta438

    Not sure if I remembered correctly, but I recall that the executable was under Memory/Demos/Gears of War 3 Beta. Memory/Games/Gears of War 3 Beta had the title update and the saved game.

  • Beatsample

    Thanks To the epic crew, for screwing up my life for 4weeks now;-) I had a great time with the beta. The sawed off best suits my playing skill, I like to bring, the fight to my opponent, up close and personal. It’s a big risk, but well worth the kick, if you are fast enough. If you are not close enough, you find yourself firing, the worst possible weapon. Anxiously awaiting the official release!  

  • Jordan

    Im gonna have noob withdrawals from the retro lancer haha jk who ever uses tht gun is a noob and should get better

  • Anonymous

    Seriously enjoyed the beta! and the wielding of The Retro Lancer what a rush! hehe. Can’t understand why so many are disputing the balance of The RL, we needed a weapon to mix it up a bit for all the shotgun users out there. I liked the fast tempo :)   Still having those camera issues  I see :(
    Roll on September! I can’t wait!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7LL2O2PMASGXL4GUOH2IRQG3F4 forsaken

     The beta was so much fun cant wait to play the full game  Good job Epic Games

  • Rodi771

     You do realize that peps will copy there save data and mod it so that you can have every thing unlocked that peps will copy there save data and mod it so that you can have every thing unlocked 

  • http://twitter.com/The_Dukenator The Dukenator

     Correct. The save game is what you need to keep.

  • http://twitter.com/The_Dukenator The Dukenator

    When you delete the game from game library, it only deletes the game; nothing else gets deleted.

  • Ryanthiesz

    i love gears of war 3 but wats with the rugby dude 

  • http://twitter.com/The_Dukenator The Dukenator

    That’s Thrashball Cole.  Unlockable for the retail.  He’s holding the Gold Retro Lancer.  Both are unlocked in the beta and in retail.

  • http://twitter.com/The_Dukenator The Dukenator

     Actually modding your saves/console is against the Xbox terms of use.

  • Purplehaz28

    Guess I should of played it more often because i def would be #1 (PuRpLeHaZx28x)
     

  • Jimez

    Shall be making the most of the last night of Gears 3, by the time the servers go off it will be 8am UK time.

  • Db1416

     coulda should woulda!!!!

  • NoFear631

     I believe it said u must delete the beta to have the actual data for use. 

  • NoFear631

     all flameing weapons and i believe your stats and medals do too

  • http://angryfacing.com Nick

    I know I’ll end up messing something up. I’ll just leave it on there till release. That isn’t that far away. 

  • Carlos Acevedo

    Probably i beat you up with eyes closed.

  • Carlos Acevedo

    I was top 2-3 worldwide in annex in Gears 2, the only reason why I wasn’t top 1 is because the guy before me had played 1000 matches more, and I didn’t have all that time… I have to study for the university, lol

  • http://twitter.com/inthehouse_ inthehouse_

    wow 4 weeks are very fast over ;(  

  • http://twitter.com/acollins123 Andy collins

     is this for the bulletstorm players ?

  • Victor Morales

     Give me a Beta code please :(   At least for the medal :(  At least for the medal :(

  • erick

    thanks, gracias from , mexico =) 

  • Nomelopidasnunca

     chingen a su madre uuuuuu attt Landon HOUSTON jjajja yo ya la gliche jjajja

  • http://twitter.com/GIRLPOlSON Kristen Vigneri

    dat beta

  • WilliamBennettXR

     What if you play through bulletstorm? Same thing?hat if you play through bulletstorm? Same thing?

  • WilliamBennettXR

     If you use the sawed off, don’t complain about retro-lancers  

  • http://twitter.com/randybrito Randy Brito

     So sad because it ends, So happy because it happend!!

  • GoDZiiLLA

     The sawed off best suits my playing skill, I like to bring, the fight to my opponent, up close and personal.
    ?? There is no skill with the sawed off, someone who has never played gears of war ever could do good with it.

  • Ricoisda1

    what level are you bro?

  • Sonnelink

    god bye beta de gears of war 3 nooo 

  • Destroyer_zs_2005

    Its the same for either way. if you played the beta using bulletstorm, the saved data is still there just like the gears 3 beta guys had theirs. thats how i played, and i just checked.

  • Gears 3 Hater

    Well I’m not getting the game now. I deleted the game save and everything. They shouldn’t be such dumb asses and should have stored it server side.

  • alex2997@yahoo.com

    Nice bro

  • Lucais

     So do we get to keep the flaming weapons as well as the gold retro lancer and thrasball cole?

  • SparedDays

    I’m actually a really skilled gears player, but sometimes I took out the retro to spray sawed off fags :) it’s the only way to get em ;)

  • http://twitter.com/Darklurkr23 Jared Z

    Cole Train and Gold Lancer Baby!  Hope the flame weapons are in Retail too :D

  • WR3CKL3SS R3BEL

    Dears GOW 3 Beta had a great time playing w/ u. U showed me things no one else has it was truly an epic time for me. Got my thrashball cole and Golden Retro Lancer, I am locked and loaded when the real thing comes out ;) .  Only thing i would change is the power of the gnasher seemed pretty powerful at long distances and seemed kinda of odd, but otherwise it was great. I am not saying goodbye, but see ya later :)

  • ripthatbong

    hahahaha wow, its like he is trying to make the sawed off sound bad ass XD 1 thing: learn to AIM!

  • Cptn. Mullet

     Seriously, running away like a sissy douchebag when you miss isn’t cool, stand and fight or be owned, I love when I kill someone with a gnasher headshot right before they blow me away with the sawed off, its like… in your face noob!

  • Cptn. Mullet

    I will guard my precious unlocks with my life!

  • Cptn. Mullet

     I don’t think stats, points or, the advanced medals “besides beta tester and the veteran gear” carry over, because this is still in beta and HOPEFULLY will get a few tweakings before launch, which would make the medals and stats you earn inaccurate (>.> glares at the sawed-off noobs)

  • Cptn. Mullet

    Also the cover system is slightly broken and glitchy, like forcing you to jump into a corner, or being mantle kicked when they arn’t near you, or not letting you jump over or to cover when your looking behind you because some douche with the sawed off is chasing you, also, if you shoot someone who is charging the retro at you, and you hit him point blank with the gnasher, he shoulden’t teleport (avoiding all damage) to connect with you, he should blow up like everyone else… the lancer I noticed also teleports people to connect the chainsaw with.

  • Beowulf963

    ah son a bitch lol only joking, well done mate

  • Mossdog050

     really impresseed with gears 3 which the douche bags at epic games would sort the second out tho, first my rank gets reset and all my achiments and then only on my gamertag it doesnt let me play the game. they had a true fan of this game until this happend and they dont even care, proper hope cliff and that roger or who ever it is gets curbed stopmed one day. cunts

  • Matt

    sawed off is for kids who run and cant handle a fight 

  • PUNK

    BEING DESIGNED BY EPIC, GEARS OF WAR 3 DOESN’T FALL SHORT OF BEING AN EPIC OF GAMING HISTORY! 

  • S33NR3D

     Ive only been play’n GOW 1-2 & now 3 (the beta), for 7months now!!! I am by Far not a great player, but love playing the game!!! D B N O!!!! Im getting better at playing all modes.!. FYI army of 1, I’ll never give up trying to beat you guys on top.  8-)

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-Gilbert/1309542143 Michael Gilbert

    sounds like epic banned yor gamertag from playing gears 2, that means your were cheating and got caught. head shot bitch 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-Gilbert/1309542143 Michael Gilbert

    no skill 

  • OdinGungir

     Did anyone reach the maximum level??

  • Oldschoolgear333

    don’t hate cause you get keep gettin owned by retro lancer, maybe YOU should get better.. lol

  • Beowulf963

    The retro lancer and the sawed off shotgun is the best weapon combo on the game, you’ve just got to hope that people have the same gun so you can pick up some sweet sweet ammo

  • Obie Bryant

    Be the #1 in the beta its fucking amazing!! i was like 65 more or less, but you did so many points!!!! Wow awesome (congratulations) you are the man, like in the “Wanted” Movie hahahah You are the Man!!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Q3IFOQBSWDA5VREJDNNWV4TXCU robert

    I fell as though the beta was exceptional overall, but some improvements are needed most definitely. Especially shotgun trading was ridiculous. shotgun trading = double ko with shotgun btw.

  • Caglar B.

     I think so, I have read this in a magazine. gold lancer and trashball cole yes, but i dont know about the flame weapons. 

  • Market

    was this a sneak preview, or a real Beta… where the testers have real input into the final release?  I’d really hate to think that the tens of thousands of matches played wasn’t just a teaser… there are genuine concerns from several people about a great many things in GoW3.

    no, I’m not talking about the whining kiddies endlessly griping about the *insert random weapon here* being too powerful, either… if there’s a weapon that’s too powerful in the game, what it actually means is that someone got the best of you. period.

    someone being able to one-shot with the Gnasher from 30 feet makes an eyebrow pop… unloading 5 rounds into someone’s back with the Gnasher and having them run away from it is frustrating… not sure if that’s someone cheating somehow, or if it’s lag making it appear like he’s standing in front of me being a nice, happy bullet catcher when he’s half way across the map from me on the Hosts screen… the Meat Shield button is quite bothersome when your down falls on ammo or a weapon pickup… I’ve seen several crawl to a weapon just to make it harder to pick them up, forcing an execution or letting the down get back up…

    so, again, I want to know if Epic is running this like a real Beta, where the testers get to tell them what they think needs work, what’s good, what’s great, and what downright sucks…

  • Anonymous

    i feel that gears of war3 will be the number 1 game of the year for 2011 and years to come, i played gears of war 3 beta with my friends and we all can’t wait tell it comes out. what a game and story to play. 

  • WebbanationX

     Why in the world should bots NOT be able to capture the leader? What LOGIC IS THERE FOR THAT?

  • Beatsample

     Don’t you just hate it when someone shoots you away with that bloody sawed off,  dont worry I too got killed, by many sawedoff lovers as well and its not like I cant handle the Gnasher, the Retro or The Hammer. Now how about the double kills,..sweet;-)Excuse me, for stepping on your skills!

  • Adrian

    If I deleted the saved files. Is there a way to get them back? I just learned that you would loose all the unlocks.

  • Roger Hellsing

     
    Hello players I’m Roger Hellsing # 1 placed on the TDM over points 4000000.00 Level 77 and over 350 hours played.I’m leaving here for a video take her doubtshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxyERg6rwk8A hug to everyone!

  • Roger Hellsing

     Hello players I’m Roger Hellsing # 1 placed on the TDM over points 4000000.00 Level 77 and over 350 hours played.I’m leaving here for a video take her doubts

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxyERg6rwk8
    A hug to everyone!

  • Roger Hellsing

     Hello players I’m Roger Hellsing # 1 placed on the TDM over points 4000000.00 Level 77 and over 350 hours played.
    I’m leaving here for a video take her doubts

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxyERg6rwk8
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxyERg6rwk8

    A hug to everyone!

  • Problematic SP

    i really very upset about the fact i have to wait to play gw3 in sept this simply drives me nuts gw3 with the dedicated servers literally has a very high chance  to potential  be the game of the year it was a gift from heaven to put that in it and after sept i will never have to aim assist ppl on COD because i can play my love everyday with so much frustration ahhhh…

  • Market

     always find it interesting how people will blame others for their own ignorance…

  • http://twitter.com/Juggalo1980 Juggalo1987

    wish i read this before i got rid of bulletstorm. there goes all my unlocks. luckly im getting the epic edition. so tht makes up for it.

  • http://twitter.com/The_Dukenator The Dukenator

    The unlocks are in the save game, which is the player data.   That’s what you need, may be different for Bulletstorm beta players.

  • Kathryn Alexander

    how are people still playing like people playing on the 22 of may

  • Gears 3 Hater

    So…

  • Nathan Jimenez

    stop complaining about the sawed off just dont run with the shot gun everywere its gears of war not shotgun of war it gets boring just using that gun theres a lancer hammer burst or retro to keep shot gun users away or even other weapons smh

  • Cameronfitzpatrick

    I’ll fuck you up

  • Aleeks Fenix GOW nerd.

    Grrr u wish this beta lasted longer i played so much :( epic should have released the beta again for fans who didnt get bulletstorm epic edition so then the rest of us could’ve played alot more and i would have caught up to the pros in the CTL leaderboards

  • Aleeks Fenix GOW nerd.

    Nice i wish i got to to the #1 in teh leaderboards i am not that pro but i got #46 in the CTL

  • Aleeks Fenix GOW nerd.

    xD nice
    “oh oh no oh hell NO!”-Cole

  • Aleeks Fenix GOW nerd.

    thats Bull your right there is no skill to it there is nothin to it but i am good at GOW and i couldnt get one kill with that peice of sawed ofSHoITgun i got so aggro when i died from it but then i got better with it after i ran low in CTL

  • http://twitter.com/Mattman2400 Matthew Bisson

    “Fuck you!” -Everyone

  • http://twitter.com/Mattman2400 Matthew Bisson

    Well gears 2 the gnasher was trhe best weapon to use so people are still in shotgun mode but i found the other weapons (hammy, and lancer) are more useful now

  • TehLastMan

    Ugh i deleted the launcher and now everything is gone, fail on my part, oh well i still love gears 3 screw exclusives

  • Ethanmilner10

    wait…. it only said you won’t be able to connect to online servers, what about just playing on your own? just single-player, on beast mode?

  • Dreamteam46

    Miss that beta. Wish it wulda last more<|3

  • http://twitter.com/Fello2k Alfredo

    WTF!! I´d Delete mi save game of gears 3 beta.. How can i get back?

  • Christian

    You gotta be kidding me! my xbox red ringed and I had to get a new one and now I wont have my stuff earned from the beta! epic games, this is by far the most stupid thing ive ever heard of…. i worked hard to get my stuff! the items should have been linked to your gamertag! i cant believe this! so is there anyway we can still get the gold retro and thrashball cole when the full game comes out? can you guys just give me a code or look online or something and give me my stuff?! gt is pkchristian. 

  • pkchristian

    my xbox red ringed so i had to get a new one… its complete bs. i want my gold retro and cole and flame weapons! dammit!

  • Mammeltoes

    Just found out today about this post, my xbox hdd crapped the bed, got replaced with all my saves lost. So no Cole for me. SHIIIIIIIIIIIIII

  • Patrickingham

    this is actually ridiculous, i didn’t hear about this and deleted my beta save file so i don’t get a ggold retro cause of this? 

  • Poopfacemcgee

    fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucccccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk i deleted my save files no lancer and cole for me that acually pisses me the FUCK off

  • Christian

    So if my data was deleted then there’s no way for me to get those unlockables?

  • Gamefreakdaniel

    i got a new xbox after the beta and trashed my old one, my old one had all the stuff on it from the beta, does that mean i dont have any of it anymore?

  • Live4Gunz

    I deleted my beta and didn’t know not to so now I don’t have my unlocks is there any way to get them back?

  • guywithidioticbrother

    SO my borther deleted the data, anyone know if there’s a way to recover it?

  • Juanjoo07

    FUCK man i fucking changed xbox wooow fucking shit fuuuuuck

  • Msguerra

    hey cliff i just found out that my gears of war 3 game deleted my file and now all my stuff is gone is there any way to get them back like all my wepon skins and unlockable characters?

  • Dementedelf

    this so called beta was not fair to the people who could not afford a per order before the beta was over eather offer it in a package or be sued epic!

  • Jacob

    yea but if ended on may 16, ????
    pls answer
    and make that game endless… it piss me off when it endtry to get weapon gold skin now u ended it for me?