Key points
- Available since October 6, 2026
- On Xbox Series X|S, PC (Windows and Steam) and Game Pass
- A prequel: Emergence Day, 14 years before the first Gears of War
- Co-op campaign for up to 4, Horde Siege and 4v4 Versus
Gears of War is going back to its roots. Developed by The Coalition, Gears of War: E-Day launched on October 6, 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, PC and Steam. It is also on Game Pass, and playable in the cloud with Game Pass Ultimate and GeForce NOW. Its launch trailer, set to Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, sets the tone.
Marcus and Dom face Emergence Day
The story takes place fourteen years before the first Gears of War, on the day the Locust Horde burst from beneath Sera: Emergence Day. We meet a young Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, caught in a desperate fight for survival in a city under siege. Enemies have been reimagined, new creatures appear, and the tone is darker and grittier.
A modernized Gears on Unreal Engine 5
- The series’ cover-based combat, with modernized movement: jump, vault, slide and flank.
- Iconic weapons return, alongside new close-quarters weapons.
- Built on Unreal Engine 5, up to 4K and 60 frames per second, in both campaign and multiplayer.
Co-op campaign, Horde Siege and Versus
The campaign can be played solo, in two-player split-screen (on console) or with up to four players online. Horde Siege has you survive waves of enemies in four-player squads, with four classes to choose from (Assault, Marksman, Medic and Breacher) and world bosses that several squads take on together. Competitive players get 4v4 Versus, with Ranked and Social playlists. Note that online multiplayer requires a Game Pass subscription that includes it.
Already picked up the Lancer again? Tell us about your first hours in the comments.
Source: Xbox Wire.

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