Get ready to strap on the heavy armour, inject yourself with testosterone and swallow a few Red Bulls, Gears of War 4’s release date has been confirmed. The game is slated for release on October 11, here’s holding thumbs it doesn’t take a Locust infested deviation from that date.

According to developers The Coalition (formerly Black Tusk Studios), the next entry will mark the beginning of an epic new saga for the franchise, and will see “a new band of heroes rise to confront a fearsome new threat.”

Furthermore, the developers have promised that while it will pay homage to the dark and intense original games,  players can also expect a distinct evolution of gameplay, including “brutal and intimate action.” Although, one wonders how much more intimate you can get with your foe than a chainsaw mounted on your gun; a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire named Lucille, perhaps?

It may be seven months away, but that doesn’t mean that the wait is without its reprieve – the multiplayer beta kicks off in less than two weeks time on April 18, at least for those who have played Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (review) on Xbox One or Windows 10. Everyone else will then be able to join in a week later, on April 25.