Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is out on PC. When it was released on Xbox One it was hailed as a revelation – largely thanks to the 60fps that the classic multiplayer was now running at. It’s smooth as silk, and really how the game should be.
On the Xbox One, the campaign was constrained to 30fps – but on the PC, it’s running at a sexy 60fps. It’s also able to be played in glorious 4K, and utilises Microsoft’s new performance-boosting API, DirectX 12. It sounds like just the thing if you want to show of your brand new, ludicrously expensive PC hardware.
It’s not. Right now, the game is a bit of a disaster. According to Forbes contributor Jason Evangelho and other reports, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on PC is a bit of a hot mess. And though the performance issues are affecting both Nvidia and AMD hardware, they seem to be far more prevalent on the high end of AMD’s architecture. Brand new, $500 cards like the Radeon Fury and R9 Nano are unable to run Gears of War: Ultimate Edition at playable framerates.
Take a look:
Says Evanghelo
“What you’re watching is the Radeon Fury running the Gears of War: Ultimate Edition benchmark on my capable Intel test bench, at 1440p with High quality settings. These settings include FXAA and Ambient Occlusion. You’re also seeing horrendous hitching and stuttering, and some visual corruption thrown in for good measure, making the game completely unplayable on an excellent $500 graphics card.”
According to reports, you’ll even get stuttering of this ilk on Nvidia’s GTX 980Ti. There are more issues still. The game has absolutely no support for SLI or Crossfire setups, and though it’s been touted as having an unlocked framerate, it’ll only run as high as your monitor’s refresh rate will allow. And because of that, it has no support for Nvidia’s Gsync technology.
On AMD systems, the issues seem to be related to Ambient Occlusion and AMD’s GCN tech, Older AMD cards that run on GCN 1.0 perform better than modern ones utilises GCN 1.1 and 1.2. According to Microsoft, they’re “driver issues.”
“We are working closely with AMD to address a few issues that users of some AMD Radeon Hardware are experiencing while playing Gears of War: Ultimate Edition for Windows 10 and expect that they will be addressed quickly in an upcoming update,” they said in a statement to Forbes.
On its support forums, Gears of War developer The Coalition has outlined the known issues – with AMD performance being one of them.
“AMD is an important partner bringing the promise of DirectX 12 to life for gamers everywhere. We are working closely with them to address a few issues encountered in Gears of War: Ultimate Edition for Windows 10 on AMD cards using GCN 1.1/GCN 1.2, and expect they will be addressed quickly in an upcoming update. We highly recommend those on GCN 1.1/1.2 cards to play on 1920×1080 resolutions or lower until the update”
Bear in mind that this is a remaster of a game that was released in 2006, built on DX9 technology. One of its biggest problems – and possible the root of most of its issues – is that it’s a Windows Store title, which means it inherits the problems of its distribution method. It’s a problem – and hardly the sort of thing that’ll endear Microsoft to PC despite their best efforts.
Last Updated: March 3, 2016
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 08:36
There you go people whining about Bone exclusives ending up on PC making the Bone irrelevant… kak ports are still a thing.
Umar
March 3, 2016 at 08:42
I find it incredible that a distribution outlet like the 10 Store can affect games this much
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 08:47
It’s Microsoft, are you really that surprised?
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 08:52
I’m honestly not surprised anymore when something like this happens. Kinda sad really.
Aries
March 3, 2016 at 09:16
I find it incredible that nobody went let’s test the game before we release it
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 09:17
This is 2016 bro. They release it to be tested. Indie devs call it early access. AAA studios call it release day. Microsoft calls it standard operating procedure.
HvR
March 3, 2016 at 09:20
It is mainly because the Store only caters for apps; which are closer to mobile application than proper standalone programs which means there is a crap load of restrictions imposed.
This is so that M$ can enforce their own DRM, keep monopoly on their market. New decade old M$ tricks.
Clearly M$ execs was creaming their pants so much in anticipation that nobody thought of actually performance testing the system.
RustedFaith
March 3, 2016 at 13:17
This is why SteamOS was created by Gaben when he got out of the MS meeting 2 years ago. He said this is coming and thats why he is investing into Linux for the future.
HvR
March 3, 2016 at 13:48
Jip all we need is proper continues driver support from Nvidia and AMD and then you sould a-for-away on most of the Linux platforms.
Frankly latest (14.04/16.04) Ubuntu UI and functionality beats the pants of Windows 8/8.1/10 and you guaranteed longer support.
PS – from someone that cursed all Penguin’s mothers every-time he had to go back to developing on Linux systems.
RinceThis
March 3, 2016 at 10:37
Totally.
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:26
Im still wondering why the XBOX 360 kept Gears of War 2 and 3 away from the PC. Maybe the exclusive thing did not work.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 09:32
Because according to all the industry experts & publishers the PC was a dying platform, the piracy half-truths, and of course that little thing called money – because PC games sold for less because it’s not a closed platform like the console where they can jack up the prices.
Now apparently consoles are dying, if you exclude the inconvenient fact they’ve sold millions.
Captain JJ the "saviour"
March 3, 2016 at 09:33
They just wanted to convince people that the PC was dying because they wanted it to.
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:34
THEN BAM!!!! Tomb Raider sold 3 million copies in 2 weeks and Fallout 4 killed the console sales.
Captain JJ the "saviour"
March 3, 2016 at 09:43
Yea, they just so badly wanted more control over the gamers because pc gives them too much freedom.
Surprise motherf*ck%rs
HvR
March 3, 2016 at 10:06
FREEDOM TITS!!!
https://media.giphy.com/media/qgSavZjYFlDfq/giphy.gif
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:33
Thats right, they were using Piracy as a trojan horse in order to implement DRM for data farming. I forgot all about that bollocks.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 09:41
DRM is DMR – Damn My Rights.
Darren Peach
March 3, 2016 at 16:29
DRM is actually a good thing. When you look at companies that create games like Broforce, DRM serves to protect them from copyright infringement and piracy. The issue with DRM as a terminology is it also applies to the opposite end of the spectrum to companies like EA. IP is very important. Where DRM went wrong was when the PC market decided to trial bizarre things like hourly online checks and always online game play as a minimum game requirement on single player experiences. It served as no deterrent whatsoever to pirates and penalised those who legally bought their games. It’s that sort of anal retentive attention to IP protection that left the PC market in a compromised position. DRM is and always will be a necessity to protect the little guy as well as the giants. Problem is the giants get paranoid and go to defcon one.
Kromas untamed
March 3, 2016 at 08:36
This is not news. This is just the way it is with MS and the windows store.
News is more like. “EA reveals that Mass Effect may be pushed back to 2017”
Also that is actual news not just something I invented. 🙁
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 08:40
I was wondering the other day if ME:A will end up on the Windows store, because they’re very cozy right now.
Heh… ME:A… Microsoft EA. 😉
Kromas untamed
March 3, 2016 at 08:53
EA will never abandon Origin as long as they have Mass Effect and Battle(insert name here)(insert number here).
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 08:54
SIMS 5 + [expansion * months since release]
Kromas untamed
March 3, 2016 at 08:55
Isn’t Maxis disbanded?
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 09:03
You think EA are going to stop making one of their cash cows? Don’t be naive. They’re going to milk it until its dead.
Kromas untamed
March 3, 2016 at 09:12
They killed Westwood and C&C games were large money makers … till they messed it up.
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 09:13
They’re still making Sims 4 expansions, so in a few years when the expansion sales dry up, they’ll throw some mediocre team on Sims 5 for one final hoorah, and THEN the series will die.
Kromas untamed
March 3, 2016 at 09:28
So DICE presents BattleSims 5: Taylor Swift Edition.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 09:33
I’m imagining playing that to a Taylor Swift soundtrack. Kill me.
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 09:34
And me right after. Wow…
Matty to review though.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
March 3, 2016 at 09:35
Tell you what, You tie the noose, I’ll kick the bucket…
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 09:35
All this bad blood here…
HvR
March 3, 2016 at 09:35
That was only flesh wound, shake it off.
Kromas untamed
March 3, 2016 at 10:02
And the hacker gonna hack hack hack hack hack.
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:25
They wanted to turn Westwood into the Sim City work model. Thank goodness they gave that idea up. I would rather it be dead.
Aries
March 3, 2016 at 09:17
Plus origin works
Kromas untamed
March 3, 2016 at 09:27
It has a few niggles but yeah it works.
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:08
Of course. Its EA, they have to think of the fiscal year. Cant throw all the eggs in one basket. Usually the 1st quarter of the next tax year to please the shareholders.
Kromas untamed
March 3, 2016 at 09:11
Actually it is still in their fiscal year. Fiscal Q4 for EA is real Q1.
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:17
Ya their 1st quarter: 1 October 2015 – 31 December. Ours started this week.
Expect the flood of games every Easter around April. So Im guessing it will be pushed again to mid 2017
Kromas untamed
March 3, 2016 at 09:26
Don’t say that I can barely wait till Holiday 2016 and now I have to wait till Wallet Holiday 2017.
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:28
The exchange rate a year and a half from now should be R1300 for Mass Effect, excluding the R1300 season pass. Cant wait to see what the day one DLC IS.
Kromas untamed
March 3, 2016 at 09:30
Well. Luckily Origin has been localized for ages now. ME standard will be R600 more or less.DD most likely R900 with day one DLC included. Hopefully they don’t use biopoints again. That stuff was horrible.
Geoffrey Tim
March 3, 2016 at 09:41
ME:A was never announced for a 2016 release. When It was revealed, they said it would be out before 31 March 2017. So no, not news. 😛
Kromas untamed
March 3, 2016 at 10:02
Uhm. This trailer proves otherwise.
Geoffrey Tim
March 3, 2016 at 10:21
Well, shit. 😛
Ryanza
March 3, 2016 at 10:22
Numbers again? lol
Kromas untamed
March 3, 2016 at 11:49
<—- ME guy. Never question me. 😛
RinceThis
March 3, 2016 at 10:41
OMG!
Ryanza
March 3, 2016 at 08:36
DRM deserves no better. Not like anyone cares about delivering good games on the PC because frankly PC games are worthless shit.
Don’t Support DRM. Cyberpunk 2077 is coming
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:01
I sense a shift in the force. I think Microsoft are going to ditch console gaming in future by making superior versions of Bone games on the PC in 4k 60fps. They own the PC market, its already started.
Why by a Bone when all your games look prettier on the PC, cant wait to see the sales figures for Quantum Break on the PC. The 3 to 1 Tomb Raider sales already prove my point.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 09:03
A PC that does that is the price of 5 Bones. NOT HAPPENING.
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:06
Are they really that expensive? I suppose a Titan Graphics card costs more than a Bone and game.
Now I see why we are labeled peasants 😛
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 09:11
2x GTX970 will get you into the 4k range, but besides the Titan, you’ll need 2 cards to get there. So yeah, the cards alone are 2 consoles.
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:13
Then it breaks when you decide to dust it lol
Runs away
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 09:15
hahaha. Yeah pretty much.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 09:15
And maybe the game will run better if you put the console on its side – STFU! *runs too*
RustedFaith
March 3, 2016 at 13:27
980ti is R13000 atm … so 2 and a half consoles just for the GPU.
Ryanza
March 3, 2016 at 09:31
Xbox One was designed for the always online gamer. When you buy an Xbox One you first have to connect it to the internet before you can do anything with it.
Since DRM introduced to the PC market, PC gamers became always online gamers. Xbox One now falls into that category of always online and now competes with the PC.
That is why PS4 is like in a category on it’s own because hello offline gamers. The missing sales / gamers / numbers for Xbox and PC are all at PS4.
Don’t Support DRM. Let’s bring a system back where all games are available to all gamers and not limited to internet gamers. If the next consoles go always online DRM, which they are on track of doing, Then you will see a large % of gamers disappear from the market. And pirates will be blamed.
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:35
hear hear
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 09:36
Sometimes you say smart things. This is one of those times.
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:38
The Witcher DLC is around the corner 🙂 He has perked up again 😛
SO no to always on-line
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 09:39
hahaha
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 09:40
JUNE!
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:42
🙁 Oh well, New Game Plus time. While I watch everybody complaining about Uncharted 4 servers always crashing, yet not a single person has bothered with the single player.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 09:43
Isn’t it a SP game?
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
March 3, 2016 at 09:44
Something I’ll be giving a complete skip because DOOM!!!
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 10:06
Im looking forward o that game. Its been a long time since I last played an FPS game at 60fps
RinceThis
March 3, 2016 at 10:42
But they don’t WORK on the PC…
RustedFaith
March 3, 2016 at 13:21
It wont work do you really think the PC market will drop Steam for the MS store after the Games for Live fuckup.
Do you really think PC gamers will give up Gsync,No SLI or Crossfire and locked at 60fps vsync just because they are using windows ?
Most gamers already refuse to move to Windows 10 even though they need it for directx12. This is going to be a disaster for MS.
Thats wishfull thinking ….
Ryanza
March 3, 2016 at 13:59
Microsoft is now going to start doing what they wanted to do with Xbox One. Remember always online DRM, it’s just like Steam they said. It never worked out for them and they took a big hit when it comes to selling Xbox One consoles.
Now Microsoft is targeting the PC market with their DRM Xbox One vision. PC is the only place where their vision can come to fruition. Steam is a good example of closing a market and have it operate around them. Steam created a pie and now EA, Ubisoft ect, has a piece of the pie. Microsoft wants their piece now.
Microsoft can use their Xbox brand game properties to grow their DRM market.
Micosoft is losing the retail side of things and at a point there DRM side will make much more money than the Xbox retail side.
You will see the Microsoft PC DRM side rise and the Xbox One side fall. Then when it comes time for new consoles, Microsoft can then say, it’s just like the PC DRM Store.
Hopefully by then Linux games will grows and gets better and get supported by us the gamers.
Don’t Support DRM
RustedFaith
March 3, 2016 at 14:09
Amen brother !!
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 08:46
Gears of War has always been a mess. An ugly, short, disappointing mess. Porting it to PC won’t change that.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 08:52
Now, now – the 1st one was actually a pretty good port & quite fun to play.
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 08:54
lol I’ve always not enjoyed the Gears of War series to be honest. I know, I’m part of a vast minority, but it is what it is. 😛
Fox1 - Retro
March 3, 2016 at 09:42
The Ulitimate Edition is the most beautiful mess ever created 😛
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 08:55
Jeez I remember those 5 second texture loads like it was part of the game. But still, one has to admit that back in 2007 it was like skipping an entire generation of gaming when we jumped from the PS2 into the Unreal Engine. Never seen bump mapping before. It blew my brains out.
Kromas untamed
March 3, 2016 at 08:59
I remember the jump from wire-frame to 2.5d and then to 3D. That was a beautiful time to live in.
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:04
Yup, sprites to Star Fox, 2D to Mario 64, FMVs to CGI. The jump from the 6 to 7th gen was amazing.
This 8th gen is all about resolution. I call it gen 7.5
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 09:05
7.5 on Console, you mean?
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:12
Not to mention that it has been 10 years since we were promised that all games will be 60fps/1080p. TEN YEARS. Liars. All starts with the initial launch sellers like Wipe Out HD and The last of us HD. Then once the install base has been achieved they drop the production values back down to 30fps.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
March 3, 2016 at 09:19
For the “Cinematic experience”
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:24
Dont get me started. The Order 1886 tried too hard. Now those borders in Beyond Two Souls actually do work.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
March 3, 2016 at 09:33
The biggest issue with the new consoles isn’t that they were going to be powerhouses for consoles, no, they are, if you compare them to their predecessors, but against a PC they were outdated before they were even released, now before anyone bites my head off, yes, when they first released everything was amazing, running at higher frame rates etc, but with the introduction of PC specific graphical enhancements (because let’s face it, that’s where all the beautiful effects originate) being implemented on the “set in stone” hardware, the intensity of the graphical take a massive toll on the edition of the game, so the next thing is “But why don’t they optimise the game so that it runs like MGS:V?” Well, MGS:V was cut short because of how much it cost to develop it to the standard of which the other gaming creator god, Hideo Kojima, had intended, the moment you start reasoning experience vs. what’s already done and whether it works on said hardware, the publishers bring out their man sized scissors to cut deadlines like out growing nose hairs…
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:36
“like out growing nose hairs…” lol
Captain JJ the "saviour"
March 3, 2016 at 09:45
Thought I do agree, I must say, with the incredible indie games available on pc these days graphics has taken a back seat for me behind storytelling, score and art styles.
But, I do agree. 🙂
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
March 3, 2016 at 09:49
Yep! I’m currently throwing a few ideas around for an indie game, hopefully I’ll be able to pull it off, which inherently means the graphics won’t be the first priority if it’ll only be me working on it…
Captain JJ the "saviour"
March 3, 2016 at 10:48
Well, all I can tell you is that it takes a LOT of time. More than you initially expect. But there can never be too many games.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
March 3, 2016 at 11:18
Thanks man, I know it takes long, but it’ll be worth it and hopefully, once it’s done, people will enjoy it at least, but it’s going to take a long time…
Darren Peach
March 3, 2016 at 16:31
I agree with you wholeheartedly. This generation has not delivered in terms of expectation.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 09:15
Told you years ago, this gen isn’t the graphical leap like the last one – it’s about more detailed, immersive environments with a slight graphics bump. I love being right 😛
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:21
True, its subtle yet very affective. Look at the swaying trees, fog, puddles, dust and light rays. We take it for granted.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
March 3, 2016 at 09:17
Our first benchmark of GGGG…Ears..O..o..of…War…
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:18
NEEDS MORE RAAM
Commander Admiral Chief
March 3, 2016 at 09:19
^This
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 09:19
^That
Commander Admiral Chief
March 3, 2016 at 09:19
^Those
Pariah
March 3, 2016 at 09:19
^Thrice
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:22
Re-loading
Commander Admiral Chief
March 3, 2016 at 09:23
R-r-r-r-e-lllllloading
HvR
March 3, 2016 at 09:33
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 09:36
I heard it stops stuttering if you press the reload button again at just the right time.
Commander Admiral Chief
March 3, 2016 at 09:38
xD
VampyreSquirrel
March 3, 2016 at 09:30
^These
Commander Admiral Chief
March 3, 2016 at 09:32
^Them things
oVg
March 3, 2016 at 09:22
To be fair I stole that from Darryn lol
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 09:19
lol
Captain JJ the "saviour"
March 3, 2016 at 09:29
Suprise!
MS can also suck it these days. I enjoy my Windows, thank you, but that’s it. Don’t give me that Widows Store kak, I won’t buy your games from it. The fact that this is broken just adds to my level of distrust in your capabilities and intentions regarding games.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
March 3, 2016 at 09:47
I feel sorry for Phil Spencer though, I can already picture him standing in the corner shrugging and crying as they shatter his dreams of making games good, no matter where you play them… poor hinting Phil…
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 09:48
I think we’re finally all getting the hint. Someone give Phil Don’s jacket.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
March 3, 2016 at 09:55
Think it’ll help him?
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 3, 2016 at 09:57
At very least it’ll be truth in advertising.
Captain JJ the "saviour"
March 3, 2016 at 09:48
Yea man.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
March 3, 2016 at 09:55
I seriously think he got the thick end of the stick, he inherited a flawed gaming console put together by the ideas of a moron that put all of his trust in the cloud(s), and was completely out of touch with the gaming community, opting for TV, Kyle O’Doodie and some other thing called…spiriits? was it that? Anyway, he has my sympathy…
Commander Admiral Chief
March 3, 2016 at 09:29
Windawz st0r needs to GITC
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
March 3, 2016 at 09:45
My eyes are bleeding…
Commander Admiral Chief
March 3, 2016 at 09:57
Th1z 1z l33t t4lk n00bstr
(damn now my eyes are bleeding too)
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
March 3, 2016 at 10:01
Did the bleeding start before, or after jabbing the fork into your eye?
Fox1 - Retro
March 3, 2016 at 09:43
So 2% of PC gamers are having glitches???
Pieter Kruger
March 3, 2016 at 09:49
More like 7%, but yeah, they rushed it and should’ve done more testing…
miaau
March 3, 2016 at 09:57
I would say 2 or 7% is not a very high number, considering the complexity of the different setups, CPU’s, GPU’s, ram types, motherboards and all that.
Fox1 - Retro
March 3, 2016 at 10:02
Yeah. Seems like MS have some learning to do on their own platform or AMD and Nvidia need to catch up with DX12 tech.
miaau
March 3, 2016 at 10:12
I mean that it is complex and and success rate of 90% seems quite good? The sheer number of system configurations the game is expected to run on is staggering, as with all PC games.
K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)
March 3, 2016 at 11:05
Xbox-PC gonna give it to you!
Ryanza
March 3, 2016 at 09:56
Gears of War PC =
RinceThis
March 3, 2016 at 10:37
HAHAHA
RinceThis
March 3, 2016 at 10:38
Bone beats PC? lol https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/749a42ecc65ea06eededef4f7eb292319854f8673682a98aff98f05017053c3f.jpg
K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)
March 3, 2016 at 11:01
Where’s that dude who was waxing lyrical yesterday about PC gaming being the top of the pile, lulz.
K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)
March 3, 2016 at 11:01
Where’s that dude who was waxing lyrical yesterday about PC gaming being the top of the pile, lulz.
Martin Human
March 3, 2016 at 12:21
“Bear in mind that this is a remaster of a game that was released in 2006, built on DX9 technology. One of its biggest problems” No that’s supposed to make it run better since its an old engine the flaws are supposed to be squashed by now. This is why I wait 6 months before even getting new games today. They are all buggered.
HvR
March 3, 2016 at 13:45
M$ unofficial catchphrase is “F$%K her right in the backwards compatibility”
GL
March 3, 2016 at 21:47
Texture streaming is terrible and I’ve got a 780 Ti so it’s not only AMD related. This one still needs a lot of work!