Is there a Gears Tactics multiplayer mode?

Multiplayer has always been a vital component of the Gears of War franchise. Co-op and online multiplayer modes, including classic staples like Versus or new iterations like Gears 5‘s Escape mode, are cornerstones of the Xbox Game Studios series.

You might expect, then, that Gears Tactics will have a multiplayer mode to play through with your friends. We’ve got a definitive answer for you, so read on to see if co-op mode is supported in Gears Tactics.

Can I play co-op in Gears Tactics?

While Gears Tactics isn’t the next mainline game in the series, it is tied to the events of the primary Gears storyline. It differs in game genre – this is a strategy game akin to XCOM, but there are still the hallmarks of other Gears games, such as moving to cover and mature content.

One element that doesn’t cross over into The Coalition’s and Splash Damage’s title, however, is a multiplayer mode. There is no co-op or multiplayer support in Gears Tactics. The game is solely a single-player affair, which is sure to disappoint anyone who hoped to fight alongside their friends.

We know that there is no multiplayer functionality due to comments made by publishing design director Tyler Bielman. In an interview with PCGamesN ahead of Gears Tactics‘ release, Bielman revealed that the aim was to make the “most perfect single-player tactics game we could.”

Elaborating on that point, Bielman said there was never any plan to include multiplayer in Gears Tactics. For anyone hoping that a co-op mode might be patched into the game down the line, we wouldn’t hold out hope. If you want a multiplayer fix in the Gears universe, you’ll have to play any of the other titles instead.