Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Microsoft officially unveiled Gears of War: E-Day on June 7, 2026, during this year's highlight Xbox Games Showcase 2026.
The announcement was followed by an in-depth presentation titled "Gears of War: E-Day Direct," which revealed key details about the latest title in the popular franchise.
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"Gears of War: E-Day" is scheduled to launch on October 6, 2026. It will be available for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC via Xbox Play Anywhere, and Steam.
Asha Sharma, head of Xbox, confirmed that "Gears of War: E-Day" will be an Xbox console exclusive, marking Microsoft's new approach to game exclusivity.
It will not be released for PlayStation 5. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers will be able to play the game from day one.
Takes Event 14 Years Before the Original Game
As a prequel, "Gears of War: E-Day" takes players 14 years before the events of the original "Gears of War" game.
The story centers on a younger and more inexperienced Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, newly enjoying the peace after the Pendulum Wars, as they face a "new nightmare" from the Locust Horde.
The game will depict in detail the events of Emergence Day, the crucial moment when the Locust Horde first emerged from the underground and invaded the surface of Sera.
Much of the narrative will be set in Kalona, a new city in the franchise, which will be shown crumbling during the three-day Locust invasion.
Character development will highlight Marcus and Dom as more vulnerable figures, focusing on their brotherly bond, and original voice actors John DiMaggio and Carlos Ferro will reprise their roles.
The game will also showcase the origins of the iconic Lancer rifle with the chainsaw.
In-Game Features
"Gears of War: E-Day" was rebuilt from the ground up using Unreal Engine 5, allowing for over 100 times more environmental and character detail than "Gears 5."
Despite being a prequel, the gameplay aims to retain the shelter-based shooter feel of the older games, but with more modern options and features.
Characters like Marcus can now launch from sprints and jumps, adding verticality to levels and allowing for rooftop exploration in Kalona.
New weapons will also be introduced, including a handheld grenade launcher and a Locust-made shotgun that fires acidic Emulsion.
For the multiplayer experience, "Gears of War: E-Day" will feature a new PvE mode called Horde Siege, a reimagination of the classic Horde mode.
This 12-player mode allows three squads to defend Kalona on a larger city map.
Additionally, the classic 4v4 PvP Versus mode will return, complete with new maps and enhanced fan-favorite modes.
An Open Beta will begin on August 6, 2026, with early access granted to players who pre-order.
Gears of War: E-Day Editions
Available in multiple editions, "Gears of War: E-Day" offers a Standard Edition that includes the base game.
The Premium Edition includes the base game, 5-day early access starting October 1, 2026, the "Emergence Customization Pack," four additional Seasonal Customization Packs, 1,000 Iron as premium in-game currency, and the campaign-specific Bravo Squad Signature Weapon Pack.
Players can also purchase the Premium Edition Upgrade digitally.
For collectors, the Collector's Edition is available for Xbox Series X (physical) and Steam (digital), featuring 15-inch diorama statues of Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, a 1:1 scale replica of Carlos Santiago's COG tags, in-game photos, lithographs, a thank you card from The Coalition, a custom SteelBook Case, collector's display packaging, the base game, and the digital Premium Edition upgrade.
All pre-orders will receive early access to the Open Beta, as well as the Exfil Dom Legendary Character Skin and Exfil Legendary Weapon Skin Set at launch.