Xbox is back with another Free Play Days drop, with the weekly promotion offering three games to players from August 13 to August 16. While this is two games less than the typical five selections Xbox makes, there’s also a particularly special title in this lineup: the Gears of War: E-Day beta.
Serving as the grand return of proper Xbox exclusives, Gears of War: E-Day is only available on Microsoft’s platforms and offers a prequel story centered around Marcus and Dom. It also brings back the series’ beloved multiplayer and horde modes, which can be tested by all users this weekend. It’s available until August 17 at 10 AM PT, too, giving fans a little bit more time with it than they’ll have with its Free Play Days peers. Accessing the E-Day beta, as well as the other Free Play Days content, is extremely simple; players simply have to go to the subscriptions tab of the Xbox store and scroll down to the Free Play Days section. However, this time around, they’ll also need any tier of Game Pass to join in on the fun.
While previous Xbox Free Play Days have offered a mixture of Game Pass-only drops and completely free titles, all the August 13 games require some version of Game Pass.
Xbox Free Play Days Game List (August 13-16)
The Xbox Free Play games for the second week of August are the previously announced Sunderfolk, Asdivine Cross, and the Gears of War: E-Day beta. Though Gears of War: E-Day is obviously the lead-in to a brand-new, full-priced exclusive, and Sunderfolk is seemingly staying at its base price of $49.99, Asdivine Cross will be half off for any players who find themselves enjoying it this weekend and want to own it permanently. For players seeking to make the most out of this Free Weekend promotion, further details on each game can be found below, including store links.
- Asdivine Cross (Game Pass subscription required)
- Sunderfolk (Game Pass subscription required)
- Gears of War: E-Day Beta (Game Pass subscription required)
GameRant Quiz
Free Xbox Play Days Game: Asdivine Cross
An extremely niche title with just two reviews on Metacritic — a 7 and an 8 respectively — Xbox placing a spotlight on this title could make it significantly less niche. The company has been going out of its way to increase its strength in the JRPG scene, given its deals with the Persona franchise and Final Fantasy 14, so it’s no surprise that Free Play Days would start to embrace the genre, too. Asdivine Cross sees players controlling an imprisoned outlaw named Harvey who teams up with a supposed princess, with their escape eventually leading them toward a fight for the titular location. Companion-centric story content, old-school turn-based combat and visuals, weapon upgrades, and 200 enemy skills to juggle are all crucial elements of this 15-hour JRPG.
- Release Date: March 4, 2021
- Genre: Retro, Turn-based, JRPG
- Developer: EXE-CREATE
- Publisher: KEMCO
- Metascore (Xbox): N/A
- Can you beat it before the Free Play Days Promotion ends? With a 15-hour main story and another 12 hours of side content, players can beat the game over the weekend if they go all out.
- Price and discount information, if applicable: $14.99–>$7.49
- Xbox Store Link: Play Asdivine Cross for free with Game Pass
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Free Xbox Play Days Game: Sunderfolk
With Sunderfolk being just over a year old, many players may not have experienced this interesting turn-based title. Designed with a mobile app in mind, which serves as a character sheet, guidebook, and controller, the game is built so that only one console and one copy of the game is needed for an entire gathering. Essentially a digital tabletop experience, this game is perfect for Dungeons and Dragons parties or couples that love experiencing Baldur’s Gate 3 together. A major update recently added two more scenarios to enjoy, bringing some more depth to the game. With a 93% very positive Steam rating, players shouldn’t be scared off by the “phone as a controller” concept, as many clearly enjoy choosing a class and telling that character’s story alongside their friends’ Sunderfolk creations.
- Release Date: April 23, 2025
- Genre: Tactical RPG, couch co-op
- Developer: Secret Door
- Publisher: Dreamhaven
- Metascore (Xbox): N/A (79 on PC)
- Can you beat it before the Free Play Days Promotion ends? With a 20-hour main story and a 24-hour completionist run, it’s possible to beat Sunderfolk this weekend if players prioritize it over the other titles.
- Price and discount information, if applicable: $49.99
- Xbox Store Link: Play Sunderfolk for free with Xbox Game Pass
Free Xbox Play Days Game: Gears of War: E-Day Beta
While players won’t be able to get an early taste of the Gears of War: E-Day campaign until Gamescom, as both it and the new Gears-themed Xbox controllers will be on display at the event, there is still plenty of excitement surrounding the game’s online modes. The Gears series has always had a passionate online community that has mastered the ins and outs of rolling, cover transitions, and gunning down their foes, while the highly replayable horde mode has become a fixture of the franchise. With early access previews for Gears: E-Day’s beta being so glowing, as both Horde Siege and Versus have been praised, it’s safe to assume that most fans of the franchise will enjoy what they’re playing over the weekend. Undoubtedly the headliner of this week’s Free Play Days promotion, this beta is worth a look for any Xbox fan subscribed to Game Pass, as it provides an early look at one of 2026’s biggest games.
- Release Date: October 6, 2026
- Genre: Third-person, cover shooter
- Developer: The Coalition
- Publisher: Microsoft
- Metascore (Xbox): N/A
- Can you beat it before the Free Play Days Promotion ends? With only multiplayer content on offer, there is nothing to “beat” in this beta.
- Xbox Store Link: Play Gears of War: E-Day Beta for free with Xbox Game Pass
