The Coalition has teased the cover art for "Gears of War 4" as Microsoft Xbox shared the news about the release date scheduled on Oct. 11, five years after the third installment was launched.

The cover art was published on Entertainment Weekly, and it shows JD Fenix, Del Walker and Kait Diaz wielding some new hardware.

Rod Fergusso, The Coalition studio head, told the entertainment news site that the cover art for "Gears of War 4" carries the theme "weathering the storm."

"We wanted that idea that the environment and the weather in particular is a big part of Gears 4 and how it affects the characters and the story and the gameplay," he said. "Having the three heroes on there was important, and then allowing them to showcase what's new and represent themselves we thought would be cool."

In other news, Adam Fletcher, director for community at The Coalition, shared that the release date for "Gears of War 4" on Xbox will be on Oct. 11.

"Gears of War 4 marks the beginning of an epic new saga for one of gaming's most celebrated franchises, as a new band of heroes rises to confront a fearsome new threat," he wrote.

"Harkening back to the dark and intense roots of the original classic, fans can expect a familiar, yet distinct evolution of gameplay, including brutal and intimate action, a heart-pounding campaign, genre-defining multiplayer and stunning visuals powered by Unreal Engine 4."

He also confirmed rumors that the multiplayer beta for "Gears of War 4" will launch this month, which should whet the appetite of players while waiting for the October release date.