GAME runs out of Gears 3 beta codes

By Fred Dutton Published 21 April, 2011

More due from Microsoft next week.

Many customers who were expecting to receive Gears of War 3 beta keys this week thanks to their GAME pre-order have been left disappointed, with the UK retailer running out of access codes.

A number of customers have received an email from GAME explaining that Microsoft had been unable to send them enough keys to distribute.

"We are currently awaiting the next shipment of codes which is due to arrive early next week. As soon as they arrive we will dispatch them to you. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused," it read.

A spokesperson for GAME told Eurogamer that it's expecting to receive them on Tuesday – one day after the public beta is due to start.

"As soon as we get them, they'll be sent on either physically or digitally to customers who are still waiting," he explained. "All we can do is obviously apologise that they're going to have to wait over the Easter weekend."

We've asked Microsoft for an explanation and will update if it chooses to comment.

The Gears 3 public multiplayer beta is due to run until 15th May. For a better idea of what lies in wait, have a read of Eurogamer's recent hands-on impressions.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (23) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • coolbritannia #1 1 year ago

    Me wants gold lancer and Thrashball Cole, I'll be playing.

  • CaptainQuint #2 1 year ago

    What a jip. I was actually thinking of preordering with them tomorrow as well, but on second thoughts...

    I take it Gamestation still has plenty of codes in reserve?

  • miiiguel #3 1 year ago

    ^ what ?

  • weejok #4 1 year ago

    Yep I got the email a couple of hours ago :( Was going to cancel my preorder with them after I got the code anyway. Useless Game :(

  • Dr_Cowley #5 1 year ago

    Sucks about the late codes, I was lucky enough to see the promo for signing up to gamestop/spot/station (cant remeber which).ie. The code from them arrived yesterday. Its not for me anyway, a friend has a code for the BF3 beta but is a gears head so I'll be swapping him for that. When the Code from GAME does arrive I may give it a whirll or give it away to anyone who needs it

  • afghan_jones #6 1 year ago

    I just got the email. Bunch of bellends. Pretty crap given they are enjoying the extra marketing of a big banner on Xbox live chatting about Game beta codes.

    Ah well, more time for section 8.

  • TweekeewT #7 1 year ago

    I was lucky enough to see the promo for signing up to gamestop/spot/station (cant remeber which).ie

    Some great customer service from that crowd - existing registered customers didn't get codes, and the new account I set up didn't get a code either.

  • Dr_Cowley #8 1 year ago

    Just checked, it was gamestop.ie

    @TweekeewT I was wondering if that was the case when I signed up, Shitty for existing users.

  • gooner77 #9 1 year ago

    Trying to bump sales of bulletstorm perhaps ? ;)

  • Rens11 #10 1 year ago

    Got the email as well! Typical game service

  • m0dm0use #11 1 year ago

    I didn't get my code from Game and I didn't get this statement email, I also didn't get my MK pre-order codes. I did get a code from gameplay though. I pre-order the epic edition on the day it was added to the website, where is first come first served?

  • Sodding_Gamer #12 1 year ago

    im one of them. fortunately im on holiday for a week anyway. I'll just play it instensivvely when I come back for the next 2 weeks!

  • Gruff #13 1 year ago

    Game are a bunch of Cretins, no wonder they are struggling financially

    Cancelled by preorder with them, someone else will get my money
    Edited by Gruff at 21/04/11 @ 19:43

  • WizenWolfBain #14 1 year ago

    Preordered for the beta over 2 months ago, and was going to cancel anyway. But i acquired a code early through Twitter and played a little... It's terrible. Graphics look dated now compared to newer offerings on consoles, gameplay is 90% shotguns, and the game in general feels too slow and "samey".

    I didn't get a code from Game today, but an apology instead. Oh well, it was just a convenient reminder to cancel the preorder anyway :)
    Edited by WizenWolfBain at 21/04/11 @ 20:33

  • ayates #15 1 year ago

    Strange, I only pre-ordered yesterday and I got a code. Maybe they worked backwards through their order list!

  • Sodding_Gamer #16 1 year ago

    why the foook I get negged for?!

  • callum9999 #17 1 year ago

    Are people really getting angry over missing a day of playing a beta?

  • DRUNK3N-_-DRAGON #18 1 year ago

    this is the same ass since the first ass

  • MARKIV #19 1 year ago

    "GAME runs out of Gears 3 beta " Oh how convenient!!

    LISTEN EVERYBODY, NO ONE BUY INTO THIS STUPID BLOODY PAID FOR BETA!!!! THIS AIN'T NO Halo 3 Beta, i.e first time you get to see Halo on the XBOX 360!!!

    If we carry on like this, next we'll be paying to BETA test the next gen console's OS!!!!

  • BBIAJ #20 1 year ago

    Got my code fine for my Epic Edition just after 4pm, didn't even realise there was an issue.

    Been playing it since Monday thanks to my Bulletstorm Epic Edition.

    Shame the dedicated servers are down, and matchmaking is currently only P2P.

    Still, better than an unannounced outage for 48 hours! ;o)

  • Xardan #21 1 year ago

    Well since the beta codes are free for pretty much anyone who wants one this is hardly suprising. I mean all i had to do was pre order gears 3 online. You dont get charged and can cancel anytime.

  • Boomerang #22 1 year ago

    Still no change to the vetting of new registrations then EG? ^

  • scottofdarwen #23 1 year ago

    Maybe due to folk at Game selling them on ebay ?? its full of codes selling for up to £25