Going into E3 2015, Gears of War fans were excited about the idea of an updated remaster. After all, it's been nearly 10 years since Marcus Fenix made his grand debut on the Xbox 360 — if Halo can get the same sort of update (twice), why can't Gears of War?

Thankfully, Microsoft had good news. Not only is Gears of War 4 officially on the way, but the rumored Gears of War update has been confirmed. Even better, it's due in just a few months — and even better yet, a multiplayer beta test has already rolled out!

Sadly, said multiplayer beta is already over. Even worse, it wasn't exactly easy to get into — beta codes were relatively rare. And while there were plenty of people playing the beta, there were also plenty of people watching from the sidelines.

While it's not exactly the same as playing the game, we've got something for those who didn't make the cut: full-length King of the Hill matches on three of the game's updated maps!

First up is King of the Hill on Courtyard. Considering just how open the map is (and how vulnerable players are while capturing the objective), controlling power weapons is absolutely essential. The real game-changer is the Hammer of Dawn. A single well-placed shot can wipe an entire team off the map, and if the squad can hold both the Hammer and the Longshot sniper rifle, it'll be hard to make any sort of headway.

Next up is War Machine, and its control points can be a pain to hold down. There's a ton of cover for each point, and that means working with your team to attack or defend is critical — you're not going to make much of an impact as a lone wolf on this map. The Troika turret, Longshot sniper and Torque Bow can definitely make a difference, but expect to rely heavily on your trusty Gnasher shotgun.

Finally, there's Gridlock, and you (or your team) are going to want to grab that Longshot sniper as soon as possible. Not only will it make getting the first point that much easier, but you'll be able to provide support across most of the map. Otherwise, the Boomshot in the first hill can help secure an early lead, but again — get ready to use that Gnasher on most of the map's capture points.

If King of the Hill isn't quite your style, there's also the classic Team Deathmatch. If you're wondering what the mode looks like in Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, you can check out three more full matches right here!

Whether or not you're a fan of the game's multiplayer, it's not that far from launch time — Gears of War: Ultimate Edition hits store shelves on August 25!

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