Microsoft revealed new details on Gears of War: E-Day during its Xbox Games Showcase on June 7. The prequel will launch exclusively on Xbox Series X/S and PC on October 6. An open beta is scheduled for August.
The game serves as an origin story set during Emergence Day in the city of Kalona. Players will follow Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago as the Locust first emerge. Developer The Coalition rebuilt the title from scratch in Unreal Engine 5. New gameplay features include sliding from a sprint, jumping for vertical exploration, and varied cover types. The game introduces weapons such as a handheld grenade launcher and a Locust acid shotgun. A new 12-player PvE mode called Horde Siege will appear alongside classic versus multiplayer. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed the title will remain an Xbox console exclusive. This reverses earlier reports of a PlayStation 5 version. The decision aligns with a renewed focus on platform exclusives under Sharma's leadership.