Gears 5 launches today in early access for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers and those who pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition. And it will be available for everyone starting September 10. To help build on the hype for the shooter, yesterday Xbox revealed a partnership between Gears 5 and the WWE. Batista, professional wrestler and Guardians of the Galaxy star, will be added to the game as a playable multiplayer character.
Batista is technically a promotional character, meaning that the Batista skin isn't included with the game. He'll be a piece of DLC. That means that players will have to unlock the DLC character in order to play as him. Don't let that stress anyone out, though. Unlocking the Batista skin for Gears 5 is extremely easy. Most players will unlock it without even realizing it was locked. But for those who want to make sure they don't miss the Batista skin, here's the process that Xbox has set up.
The Batista skin is technically a part of a specific WWE promotion. Namely, it's intended to help promote the upcoming WWE pay-per-view event, Clash of Champions. Clash of Champions airs on September 15, which will coincide with the start of the Batista promotion. Xbox will be advertising the Clash of Champions and the WWE Network's free 30-day trial through its Xbox App.
The important take away is the date, September 15. In order to get the Batista skin in Gears 5, players simply need to log into the game and play. You can play Gears 5 through Xbox Game Pass or buy the full game and play that. Either way, the Batista skin will unlock for all those who play after September 15. The promotion will last between September 15 and October 28, so there is a deadline to keep in mind.
While advertising the WWE's Clash of Champions event is the main reason for the promotion, Xbox has an ulterior motive. Dave Bautista has said as early as mid-2018 that playing Marcus Fenix in a Gears of War movie would be a "dream role." While no Gears of War film has entered production, Microsoft and its Xbox team very much seem interested in making it happen. Putting the WWE's Batista into Gears 5 will perhaps light a fire under the project.
Gears 5 releases September 10 on PC and Xbox One, but is available now in early access for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.