Gears of War: E-Day is new adventure coming to us from developer The Coalition. First officially revealed during the Xbox Game Showcase back in 2024, the third-person shooter is a prequel to the original game which first landed on the Xbox 360 back in 2006. Often considered to be one of the best shooters of its day, the first entry in the series is also set to get a shiny remaster in 2025, with the upcoming release of Gears of War: Reloaded.
Gears of War: E-Day is being developed on Unreal Engine 5, and will excitingly explore Emergence Day and the origin story of protagonist Marcus Fenix. So, not only is it one of the biggest new games coming our way in 2026, it's also a very exciting addition to longtime fans of the series, and could very well be a great entry point for newcomers. It will almost certainly completement Reloaded, that's for sure.
While we're still awaiting a concrete release date, it promising to be a major highlight in the upcoming Xbox Series X game lineup next year, with 2026 also set to usher in both the 25th anniversary of Xbox, as well as the 20th anniversary of the Gears of War series. From the reveal trailer to expected platforms and more, read on below as we guide you through everything we know so far about Gears of War: E-Day.
Gears of War: E-Day release date speculation
There hasn't been a confirmed Gears of War: E-Day release date just yet, but The Coalition confirmed it will be arriving sometime in 2026.
While it was originally thought to land in 2025, The Coalition confirmed the prequel will be landing in 2026, with an Xbox Wire post recapping the Xbox Game Showcase 2025, which saw Phil Spencer close the show by highlighting Xbox's 25th anniversary "with the exciting proclamation that, in 2026, Xbox players will celebrate a quarter-century of Xbox with a new Fable, the next Forza", and, crucially, "Gears of War E-Day".
We're still awaiting word on a concrete release date to follow the new 2026 launch window, but we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for further updates.
Gears of War: E-Day platforms
Gears of War: E-Day will be available on PC and Xbox Series X/S. The upcoming game will also be included on day one as part of Xbox Game Pass.
So it's a great time to revisit all the past games in the series now so you don't have to worry about any catch-up when the title finally arrives (read our Gears of War review for more information on where to start).
Gears of War has always been an Xbox-exclusive title, but Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has stated that we may be seeing more Xbox exclusives launch on Switch and PlayStation thanks to a multiplatform strategy.
"I do not see sort of red lines in our portfolio that say 'thou must not,'" Spencer told Bloomberg. So, fingers crossed that we are wrong and that Gears of War: E-Day eventually makes its way to PS5 and PS5 Pro gamers.
Plus, with Gears of War: Reloaded also set to come PS5 alongside Xbox Series X/S, it's not entirely outside of the realms of possibility that we might see E-Day one day come to the console in the future, if not at launch.
Is Gears of War: E-Day a prequel?
If you're wondering if Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel, yes, yes, it is. In fact, it's set 14 years before the original action game and will star younger versions of both Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago, with both John DiMaggio and Carlos Ferro reprising the roles.
The story will take place during Emergence Day and see our heroes having to face the Locust Horde (a race of genetically altered humans). In case you need a lore refresher, Emergence Day is a full-scale and coordinated planet-wide assault on Sera. It took place only a few weeks after the Pendulum Wars ended (a devastating conflict that claimed millions of lives and left the environment of Sera in shambles). Basically, Sera was in a weak position, and Emergence Day was everyone's worst nightmare come to life.
E-Day also signaled the start of The Locust War in the Gears of War timeline. In terms of the Locust Horde, we got a brief description of them thanks to a post on Xbox Wire. The baddies of the upcoming story are labeled as "subterranean monsters" who are "grotesque and relentless" as they "erupt from below, laying siege on humanity itself."
We are so back. 🤜🤛 On today's 18th anniversary of Gears of War, we're proud to share that John DiMaggio and @RealCarlosFerro are reprising their roles as the iconic voices of Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago in Gears of War: E-Day. pic.twitter.com/x9uaH9R0sRNovember 7, 2024
Gears of War: E-Day trailer
We got to see the first (and currently only) Gears of War: E-Day trailer during the Xbox Showcase 2024 presentation, and it was a weird, somber affair. In the clip above, we see a young Marcus Fenix struggle against a Locust Horde Drone and pretty much watch him get his butt handed to him until the very last second when he finally manages to blow the enemy's head into smithereens.
We also see Dom make an appearance and a brief glimpse at the fallen city of Kalona, showing us the horrific results of the Locust Horde's last assault. It's all very moody and thematic but also packed with some nostalgia as well. For example the soundtrack used in the teaser is the Gary Jules version of Tears For Fears’ ‘Mad World'.
Now, if you remember the first Gears of War trailer, it also used Tears For Fears’ ‘Mad World.' However, Gary Jules's version of the song is a lot slower in tempo, and the effect is that the trailer seems a lot bleaker as a result, but in a good way. I mean, war isn't meant to be sunshine and rainbows, right?
Gears of War: E-Day gameplay
While we haven't seen any gameplay footage just yet for Gears of War, we do know that the upcoming shooter will slightly differ from recent titles in the series. There is going to be a great emphasis on the horror aspect of the story, in some aspects taking us back to the roots of the series itself, as confirmed by creative director Matt Searcy during an interview with IGN.
"We looked back at what people felt like when they played Gears of War or any of the Gears - Gears 4 included," Searcy explained. "But when people tell you what they remember playing, the things that stood out to them, the feelings, a lot of it is about these, kind of dark, almost horror-esque, scary moments."
Now, of course, the series that defined a lot of third-person shooters made today will be (you guessed it) still a third-person shooter. However, a post on Xbox Wire has also said that "The Coalition is working to recreate and improve the series’ trademark third-person action", with new technology. You'll still be charging between cover in life-or-death situations during the game's campaign. However, we may see tweaks and innovations in how the team weaves storytelling into all the action.
"It’s us revisiting the tone and the feeling of what makes Gears great, but we’re tapping into new techniques, new processes, and new technology that’s going to make the gameplay feel better than ever. It’s going to be awesome, a game that feels both truly new, and authentically Gears," Searcy said.
The game is being developed on Unreal Engine 5, and we're still waiting on confirmation regarding multiplayer settings. More updates are expected to be shared as we move further into 2025. So, keep your eyes on this page.
Can you pre-order Gears of War: E-Day?
Currently, you can't pre-order Gears of War: E-Day. However, you can already wishlist the game on Steam. The title is also coming to Game Pass, so at least there is that to currently look forward too.
We'll keep an eye out for any pre-order news, but in the meantime, you can look over our list of the best action games if you are looking to fill up your time while we wait for Gears of War updates.
If you're after more titles, read our lists of the best Xbox exclusives and the best Xbox Series X games to play right now.
