Attention Gears fans!

Here are the patch notes for the latest update for Gears Tactics!

• Fixed final boss not taking explosive damage correctly from Torque Bows.

• Fixed enemies sometimes appearing too bright in gameplay.
  
• Fixed enemies sometimes appearing at the wrong level of detail.
  
• Fixed atmosphere appearing cut off in some cinematics.
  
• Fixed lighting on Ukkon's robe in some cinematics.

• Fixed a rare rendering crash.
  
• Fixed a rare crash when using the narrator.

• Renamed "New Game - Jacked" to "New Game - All Content"

TC

Attention Gears fans!

Here are the patch notes for the latest update for Gears Tactics!

This Title Update will be out at November 30, 2020 at 7:00 pm PT. The full patch notes can be found below:

All Platforms - General
- Improved narration in the equipment screens.
- Improved narration of the hit chance UI element.
- Fixed white flash that could occur for one frame in the loading screen.
- Fixed the character animation snapping when backing out of name customization in the Barracks.
- Fixed goggles not disappearing from the Deviant Sniper when it is killed by a headshot.
- Fixed flickering between the occlusion shader and some buildings in Act 2 and Act 3.
- Optimized content in Act 2 to improve performance.

All Platforms - Gameplay
- Controller Only: Fixed a timing issue where sticky cursor abilities (e.g. execute) could be confirmed before the preview was shown.
- Controller Only: Added camera limit to Jacks free aim abilities so the camera won't push past the limit of the ability.
- Improved targeting of free aim abilities, like Overwatch or Jacks capsules.
The ability can now be confirmed while hovering over another unit instead of that unit being selected.
- Fixed the turn getting stuck when a player unit attempts to chainsaw an enemy unit that has an opportunity attack
and the opportunity attack is triggered while the player unit is mantling over cover.
- Fixed enemies spawning in the ground if player units are too close in some missions.
- Fixed a case where a unit revived in a corner could get stuck.
- Fixed elite enemy reveals being in the wrong location when loading a save game.
- Fixed hit chance UI element background sometimes not appearing.
- Fixed sounds cutting out during later stages of the Brumak fight.
- Fixed Tickers appearing on the ground for one frame while dropping from the Reaver.
- Fixed Jack facing in the wrong direction after opening doors.

PC
- Improved boot times.
- Added a new advanced video setting "Fast Pipeline State Cache". This setting decreases boot times but increases system memory usage by up to 600MB.
- Optimized planar reflections, the GPU cost of the feature has been greatly reduced.
- Added a user facing message when file read errors happen so the user can be alerted to potential file corruption errors.
- Fixed misaligned text on buttons in some resolutions.

Xbox
- All: Fixed lighting being too dark in night environments.
- All: Fixed Gabe missing his undershirt during the intro cinematic if the game is still installing Act 2 content when the cinematic loads.
- Xbox Series X: Enabled enhanced reflections.
- Xbox One X|S: Fixed a visible hitch when units drop from a Reaver for the first time.

Stability
- Fixed a crash on Xbox One X when browsing characters in the convoy later in the campaign.
- Fixed a crash that could happen when using bayonet charge.
- Fixed a rare crash while using the torque bow.
- Fixed a rare crash in gameplay while planning the enemy turn.
- Fixed a rare rendering crash.
- Fixed a few rare crashes in loading screens.
- Fixed a rare crash during streaming install when the game is suspended.
- Fixed a rare crash that could happen after the game is saved.
- Fixed a rare crash on boot while registering users and controllers.
- Fixed a crash when a mine explodes on an e-hole and the unit that placed the mine is dead.

Welcome to the latest Gears Tactics blog where we’re covering the new features being added to the game. As a reminder, these will be available to both PC and console players starting November 10, 2020.

As we looked at adding new features to Gears Tactics, we wanted to ramp the action and encounters across the entire campaign.


Welcome Deviant Enemies.

Deviants were sprung from the demented mind of the Locust geneticist Ukkon, who was continuing his experimentation by harnessing the power of Imulsion. He found that controlled injections of Imulsion into his foot soldiers resulted in highly powerful units like the Disciples and the Zealot. However, not every experiment had perfect results. These "Deviants" were more powerful and savage but a lot less obedient.

Deviant Drone



The traditional Locust Drone is core to the Locust Army where they use their Hammerburst assault rifle with deadly force at practically any range.

The Deviant Locust Drone features all the slaying power of regular Drone but they also have t1he Bloodthirsty Aura, which gives nearby Locust healing from the damage caused by their attacks.

Deviant Wretch



Small, fast and mobile, Wretches attack in packs using their ferociousness and short-range melee attacks to overwhelm your troops. The standard Wretch is lethal enough on its own but now you will need to contend with a Deviant Wretch in the pack. And to add to the fun, the Deviant Wretch wields an aura that buffs nearby Wretches with "Raging" which gives them a big boost to evasion.

Our suggestion - do whatever you can to intercept them before! Hint: frags and Jack’s Capsule Shock are your friends!

Deviant Kantus



The Kantus is a Locust Priest that inspires and bolsters the Locust troops. Their impact on the battlefield should not be underestimated.

The Deviant Kantus unleashes a bloodcurdling scream that interrupts COG soldiers and knocks them out of cover. And if that isn’t enough…he also raises downed Locust enemies.

Deviant Sniper Drone



Locust Snipers use their Longshot to pin your units down. Their ominous red laser sight of doom triggers on any action and its presence is guaranteed to amp up your anxiety levels. The Deviant Sniper also looks to pin down your units resulting in a debuff that makes your squad easier to hit by the other Locust troops.

There is no point in hiding from these guys; just take them out as quick as possible!

Deviant Disciple



Disciples are an amped up version of the Locust Drone thanks to the bio-fuel Imulsion pumping through their veins.

The Deviant Disciple is the amped up version of the amped up version. They throw Poison Mines which work like proximity mines that explode for moderate damage AND apply a debuff that reduces the damage of COG units caught in it.


To counteract these powerful new Deviant enemies and encourage some exploration, we’ve added ultra-powerful Supreme Equipment to help out your units.

These weapon mods will let you customize your equipment to create the best and most powerful version of each weapon.



There are four pieces of Supreme Equipment that are connected to each class. The Supreme Equipment is found as mission rewards, in equipment cases you can find in each level and by completing side missions.

Snipers become walking crit machines that should have heads popping all over the map.

The Scout gets bonuses from Executions – so make sure they fight up close and personal.

Heavy will see their Overwatch cone of death boosted by buffs.

Vanguard’s Retro charge and Reload become more powerful making them hit harder and function as even more of a tank.

The Support class buffs their healing and chainsawing abilities. You know, the little things that are great for helping out your squad.

Gears Tactics will be available November 10th on all Xbox consoles and through Xbox Game Pass. The new Gears Tactics features will also be added for free as a major update to PC players on the same day.

Get ready for an all-new addition to your Gears Tactics squad – Jack!

As any Gears fan knows, Jack is a flying robot and valuable friend on the battlefield. In Gears Tactics, he is a permanent squad member with a dedicated skill tree that will ensure he’s a critical factor in your mission to take out Ukkon.



With four quadrants and 27 skills at your disposal, how you choose to upgrade Jack is really up to how you like to play.

Jack begins with a base Cloak skill that will let you send him around the battlefield largely unnoticed – but be careful, as soon as you use a skill or interact with another player, Jack’s presence will be known.
If want to Jack to be the best teammate ever, then make him a generalist with a focus on Auras.

Depending on the Arura, you can buff your entire squad using the Stim Aura or invest in Auras that are class specific. These become even more powerful when added to classes with fully-kitted Supreme Equipment. We’re partial to the Crit insanity of the Sniper class.

Invest in the Control quadrant to use Jack to own the battlefield with Capsule Skills. These persistent AOE abilities will ensure you control the battlefield. Drop a Shock Capsule to prevent an enemy from moving or shooting so you can gain position or use the Toxic Capsule to damage enemies hunkered down in deep cover.

Make Jack a badass warrior (as much as possible) with Front Line skills. Jack can make teammates tougher with Shield and stronger with his ability to create two of the most powerful weapons in the game – Torque Bows and Boomshots.

The Utility and Defensive quadrants give Jack an assortment of supportive (Support is a class) skills. Improve your team’s overall skill with Extra Actions and Coordinated Assault or drop an Attractor Mine and Smoke Capsules to buy your squad the time to make a devasting action.

We’ll be back later with a deep dive into the new Deviant enemies– and the Supreme Equipment mods. Gears Tactics is out on November 10 on all Xbox consoles and you can get it with Xbox Game Pass. All the new features for Gears Tactics will also be added for free as a major update to PC players on the same day.

Gears Tactics is getting a major update on November 10, 2020. Check out our latest Dev Diary to see what to expect and some brand new gameplay footage.

On November 10, Gears Tactics is getting a free major update that adds new features to this critically acclaimed game. This update will coincide with the console version of Gears Tactics alongside the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S console launch.

Check all the new items being added to Gears Tactics:

• Jack joins the fight – Gears of War’s signature companion bot, Jack will join Gabe and the heroes of Gears Tactics as a new playable character. In Gears Tactics, Jack is a new hero that changes the dynamic of the encounters, with 20+ new skills ranging from empowering auras to hijacking and controlling enemy units.

• New powerful enemies – Deviant enemies are introduced in Gears Tactics, adding a new layer of challenge in the battles, with special abilities that will defy the players’ strategies.

• New Supreme equipment – The new Supreme equipment rewards players with powerful gear to play through the campaign, defying massive bosses and facing the new Deviant enemies.

• Enhanced controller support – Optimized experience for Xbox controllers on console and PC.

Gears Tactics, which made its critically-acclaimed PC debut earlier this year, features an immersive and character-driven story, that is set 12 years before the first Gears of War. Follow the journey of the defiant soldier Gabe Diaz to rescue and build a squad to fight the emerging Locust threat. Players customize their squad and equipment as they face challenging enemies and massive bosses in aggressive and visceral encounters with the Locust Horde enemy all in an attempt to take down the powerful leader of the Locust army: Ukkon, the evil mastermind who makes monsters.

Attention Gears fans!

We’re rolling out our latest update for Gears Tactics! And as an added bonus, we’ve added two new armor patterns - Heroes and the Monsters – for you to unlock and keep your squad looking fresh.

Our latest Title Update is out at July 15 at 8:00 pm PT. The full patch notes can be found below:

Gameplay & Tuning

• Added the ability to select units with 0 AP. By default this is on for click selection and tabbing through units. Tab selection of 0 AP units can be disabled in the gameplay settings using the “Cycle Zero AP” setting.
  
• The XP curve after level 7 has been flattened so each level requires the same amount of XP instead of exponentially more XP.
  
• Every Veteran mission and Veteran side mission will now give at least one legendary item.
  
• Skill resets are now free in Veteran mode and no longer require a reset token.
  
• Fixed Act 1 Chapter 6 not correctly transitioning to the boss objective.

Stability

• Fixed memory leaks.
  
• Fixed rare crashes saving and loading the game.
  
• Fixed rare crash while units are pathfinding.
  
• Fixed rare crash when resolution changes.
  
• Fixed a gameplay hang when a Ticker explodes on top of an e-hole while the e-hole is opening.
  
• Fixed a few rare crashes in gameplay.
  
• Fixed a few rare crashes when transitioning into and out of gameplay.
  
• Fixed crash while using the narrator.
  
• Improvements to graphics stability.

Misc

• Two new patterns have been added and will be unlocked in existing saves that have completed the unlock requirements:
  
• “Heroes” will unlock after the tutorial mission.
  
• “Monsters” will unlock after Act 3 Chapter 8.
  
• Fixed a bug that would block the mission from starting if the user continually rotated the camera.
  
• Localization updates.

Stay tuned for more news on Tactics updates as we have them.

Until then,

TC

Hi there Gears fans!

We hope you've been having a blast out there with Gears Tactics. Over the past few weeks, we've been closely monitoring your feedback to identify fixes and emergent issues to prioritize in our post-launch title updates.

Our first Title Update will launch tomorrow, Tuesday May 12th, at approximately 8pm PT! The full patch notes can be found below:

Gameplay

• Fixed an issue where units can’t be selected, most notably seen in Act 1 Chapter 6.
  
• Fixed game turn getting stuck when using the Vanguard Distraction ability on a Sniper Drone that is pinning the Vanguard.
  
• Fixed the Vanguard Breach ability re-applying the AP/Heal buff more than once.

Visuals

• Fixed an issue where characters could appear with untextured armor when editing armor in the Barracks.
  
• Improved image quality while using Variable Rate Shading.
  
• Fixed untextured parts of the Mammoth in Act 1 Mission 4.
  
• Fixed holes seen in the environment in the Act 1 convoy while using ultra-wide monitors.

Stability

• Fixed a crash when targeting more than 4 units in cover with a grenade.
  
• Fixed a few rare crashes that could occur on boot of the game.
  
• Fixed a rare crash that could occur on a hit reaction.
  
• Fixed a rare crash that could occur when a unit is killed.
  
• Fixed a few rare crashes that could occur in gameplay.
  
• Fixed a rare crash when using the narrator.
  
• Fixed a few rare crashes that could occur while transitioning to a loading screen.
  
• Fixed a crash that could occur when the user settings file is edited by external sources.
  
• Updated the minimum recommended driver version for GPU drivers. Drivers below this version will display a warning on boot of the game.

We know this Title Update doesn't represent all the issues we've seen discussed in the community so far - rest assured, we are hard at work addressing many of the top remaining issues seen here in the Steam community.

Here are just some of the areas we are working on to address in the near future:

• Stability fixes.
  
• Rare cases where the game turn may not end.
  
• Rare cases where Xbox Live sign-in can fail.
  
• Act 1 Chapter 6 sometimes does not transition the objective correctly.
  
• Text adjustments to clarify some skill descriptions.

Additionally, diagnosing GT102 errors remains a priority for the team and we'll provide any updates as we have them. If you haven't already, please follow the steps found here as an initial troubleshooting step.

If you continue to receive GT102 errors after following these steps, please submit a ticket at the bottom of the page with as much detail as possible regarding your setup - the team will reach out to you through the ticketing system if more info is needed.

If you do see a bug or are encountering an issue, the best way to report the bug or receive help is via our official ticketing system at https://Support.GearsTactics.com.

We've been blown away by the response to Gears Tactics and we've loved watching you discover effective build / equipment combinations and savvy strategies. Whether you are just getting started or on your 50th Veteran Level on Insane, thank you for playing!

Stay tuned for more news on Tactics updates as we have them.

Until then,

TC

Hi everyone! We hope you're having a blast out there in Gears Tactics. We're back with another Dev Blog to cover some of the things you should know to be armed for battle out there in Tactics!

Gears Tactics is a story-driven game, which means that certain Hero Characters are essential to the narrative at the heart of our campaign. In any mission of any kind, any present Heroes must survive the fight. If they die at any point, it’s game over.

For those of you diving into Insane, there’s no Down state in the game – so if any Hero takes critical damage, it’s time for a checkpoint reload.

Ironman is also available in Gears Tactics, which puts your game into a No Fail state. Fail once and your game save is deleted and you’re back to the start of the game – nothing about your prior save is retained.

For those of you brave enough to take on Ironman mode, bear in mind that a Hero dying at any point counts as a Fail Condition. This is tough as nails stuff. And if you are on Insane, that also means any Hero taking full damage is an instant Fail Condition too. Insane Ironman is not messing around.



Movement is critical in Gears Tactics, and one way to micromanage your movement to perfection is through Waypoints.

By holding CTRL as you click, you can set waypoints to fine tune your movement from A to B. Waypoints are highly effective for skirting an enemy’s opportunity of attack radius or overwatch area while spending the minimum amount of range possible to get to your destination.

Additionally, you can eek out your potential movement range by using cover. Cover sliding allows you to get just a little more movement range out of your soldier, provided you can hit some cover at the end of your action movement range. This can be a critical skill to learn in certain situations (we’re looking at you Nemacysts!) to get that edge on your opponents.

Executions are vital in managing the onslaught of enemies in Gears Tactics by providing your squad extra actions, but just as important as executing enemies is WHEN you execute your enemies.

Enemies who are down will eventually bleed out if not revived, but you can factor them into your unfolding strategy with a little recon. Toggle Tac-Com on with [R] and mouse over a downed enemy to see how many turns until they bleed out. If they have, say, two turns remaining, that extra action may be more impactful next turn than your current one. Avoid execution tunnel vision and pick those moments wisely!



We’ve all been there. Half our units are pinned by Snipers or under the watchful gaze of Overwatch. You pull out your Snub and, low and behold, you still have 6 turns left on that Disabling Shot. Head. Desk. Thankfully, there’s plenty more ways to interrupt enemies if you know the right tricks.

Firstly, Frag Grenades or any sort of explosion will always interrupt enemies. Planting grenades can also help you do this to advancing enemies, leaving them exposed out in the open. For those of you on the harder difficulties, this will prove to be invaluable.

Secondly, weapons with the Disrupt ability – or Snipers with the Longshot knock down ability – will interrupt enemies with ANY hit. As above, this is also great for Overwatching and buying some valuable breathing room.

And as a final backup option – other than killing them obviously – landing a huge amount of damage in one hit will also sometimes interrupt enemies. Fingers crossed if this is your only option left.
Speaking of interruptions, if you know the right tricks, you can also knock enemies back into E-Holes for an instant kill. And it never (EVER) gets old!

Well, that’s if you let them come out of the E-Hole at all. There’s a few tricks on how to do that, but we’ll leave that for you to discover.

Hands up if you’ve ever died to a Grenadier. Yeah, us too. A lot.

Grenadiers have a fairly limited range of movement before they take any damage. Once they take damage, Grenadiers enter the Berserk state, amping up their damage by 50% and (most importantly) upping their movement range by 50%.

Grenadiers are always lethal but they are arguably at their most dangerous when emerging from E-Holes. If you send a Grenadier into Berserk state as they emerge, they can cover a shocking amount of distance and do some serious damage before it’s even your turn again.

The golden rule for Grenadiers is only damage them when you know you can kill them (or have a really good shot at killing them). When it comes to E-Holes, this means you sometimes need to avoid the instinct to have your units Overwatch the turn they emerge, as it can actually make them more deadly before you've even had a chance to react.

Don’t forget, once Grenadiers enter Berserk, they lose their opportunity of attack at close range. Even the smallest bit of damage will knock them into this state (Snubs work great for this), allowing you to rush in with Bayonets or Chainsaws to finish the job in one easy action.

Finally, if you are having any issues with the game and need support, please head to support.gearstactics.com for official technical help.

We’re also keeping you up to date right here in the Steam community as best we can on any developments, troubleshooting steps or updates in the works. By being a member of the Gears Tactics Community Hub, you are already on the right track.

Thank you all for an amazing launch week. We’re still blown away by the brilliant reviews, our Mostly Positive reception on User Reviews and so many of your comments over the past few days. We hope you have a blast out there this weekend, and we’ll be back with more updates soon.

Until then,

TC.

Welcome to our last in our launch series of developer blogs! Introducing Gears Tactics’ Veteran Mode - the end-game awaits.



Once you complete the story-driven campaign at the heart of Gears Tactics, you have a few options – replay the campaign on a higher difficulty (if you are feeling super bold, toggle on Ironman!) or head into Veteran Mode.

Veteran Mode is all about pushing you to the limit as you level-up to survive and continue the hunt for Legendary equipment and ultimate bragging rights.

Veteran Missions follow a structured flow – first, you’ll take on side missions to help gear and train up your squad. Once you complete enough of these, you’ll get to take on a Veteran Mission – a tough tactical challenge with unique modifiers that will challenge your approach to the battle.



If you manage to complete the mission, you’ll gain a Veteran Level and the process starts over again. As you progress, you’ll have more opportunities to find Legendary Equipment to fully deck out your squad in the most badass gear possible.

By the time you finish the campaign, your highest-level units should be around level 6 out of the maximum 10 levels. Maxing out your characters is the only way to survive the increasingly tough modifiers being thrown at you in each Veteran Level. Here’s a bit of advice: invest in ALL of your characters as you never know who will fall on the battlefield and who will be required to be save the day.

Finally, on top of having a Veteran Level to showcase to the world, there’s also some sweet achievements up for grabs too. Trust us, you’ll be bragging about these ones!

We’re in the endgame now - Complete a Veteran Mission (10G)
I could do this all day - Complete 20 Veteran Missions (30G)
…dary! - Upgrade each Hero’s primary weapon with all Legendary mods (40G)

From all of us on the Gears Tactics Team, we hope you are having a blast with the game.

We’ll be keeping closely in touch with you right here on Steam through future developer blogs, posts and developer streams.

Thank you for playing!

TC