It’s been over six years since the last new mainline Gears of War game. That’s quite a gap for the series, but at least fans don’t have to wait much longer. Gears of War: E-Day, the next installment in the sci-fi cover shooter series, is set to arrive later this fall. You might have a lot of questions about this new Gears game, like whether it includes co-op or will have a multiplayer beta. We answer all those questions and more below. Don’t thank us, just promise to provide cover fire when we need it.
What is Gears of War: E-Day?
Gears of War: E-Day is the next main entry in the long-running Xbox franchise about big soldiers fighting off creepy mutants. Like all of the mainline entries in the series, E-Day is a third-person cover shooter featuring grounded—but still sci-fi-inspired—weapons, armor, monsters, and locations. This latest entry is also a prequel, set before the events of the first game.
When does E-Day release?
Gears of War: E-Day launches on October 6. If you pre-order the $100 Premium Edition, you’ll be able to play the game five days “earlier” on October 1. ( But remember, these games are being held hostage behind a ransom that you shouldn’t pay.)
What platforms Is Gears of War: E-Day going to be available on?
Gears of War: E-Day is launching on Xbox Series X/S and PC. It will not be available on PS5.
So is this a reboot or a remake?
Neither! As mentioned, this is a canonical prequel set before the events of the first game, and it’ll show how franchise heroes Marcus and Dom became the legendary bros we all know and love. We’ll also get to see the early days of the Locust attack on the planet of Sera and how the military and civilians reacted to this unexpected and devastating threat from below.
I heard you can slide in E-Day…is that true?
Yes! This time around, Marcus and friends are a lot more agile than in previous Gears of War titles. In E-Day, players will be able to slide, jump, sprint (not roadie run), and even take cover behind much lower objects by lying down. Why did they all forget how to do these things in later games? Uh… let’s move on, shall we?
Does Gears of War: E-Day have a big solo campaign?
Yup! In fact, according to the developers, the story campaign in E-Day is the biggest one ever featured in a Gears game, clocking in at around 14 hours long. And it’s packed with items to collect and even small side objectives, like rescuing people from a dangerous situation.
Is E-Day an open-world game?
No! While there are some moments where levels open up and let players explore a bit more, the devs are adamant that E-Day isn’t an open-world game. The campaign is still a linear experience that just occasionally opens up a bit or offers some optional side objectives.
Are Baird and Cole in E-Day?
Sorry, but no. Those two characters don’t meet Marcus and Dom until the events of the original Gears of War.
Can I play it cooperatively with my buddy?
Yes! Gears of War: E-Day supports 2-player split-screen co-op on Xbox, and up to four players can play together online across both PC and console.
But I can still kill my friends in deathmatch, right?
Of course. E-Day includes a plethora of multiplayer modes that will let you and your friends chainsaw each other or team up against other players.
Is wall bouncing back?
No. Well, not entirely. The devs have explained that classic wall bouncing, where players pinball around areas wildly, won’t work as it has in the past due to changes to how players move and take cover in E-Day. What that will mean is still unknown, but hopefully multiplayer in E-Day won’t be dominated by people spinning their cameras while bouncing around like lunatics.
Does Gears of War: E-Day include a Horde mode?
Yes! This time around, it is called “Horde Siege” and is a PvE mode in which 12 players, split into three different squads, work together to fight massive waves of enemies as well as bigger monsters across “larger city maps.” It almost sounds like Gears of War: E-Day will have raids in it, which is odd, but could be a blast and offer players who don’t like deathmatch a cooperative, large-scale multiplayer mode.
Is the Chainsaw Lancer in E-Day?
Eventually. You won’t have access to it immediately as it hasn’t been invented yet. But, as has been established in past Gears lore, the famous gun will be created during the early days of E-Day with the help of Marcus Fenix. Above is an image of the prototype version that will be featured in E-Day.
Will there be a Gears of War: E-Day beta?
Yup! There will be an open beta in August, but if you pre-order any version of E-Day, you’ll be granted early access to the beta on August 6.
Wait, what about the cliffhanger ending in Gears 5? Will that ever get resolved?
For now, that ending and the storyline it set up have been put on the back burner. However, Xbox and the Coalition have assured players that they aren’t abandoning that ending or those characters.
Gears of War brand director Nicole Fawcette explained in 2024 that the team was “super proud” of Gears of War 4 and Gears 5 and “the stories that were told.” She added: “We’re not retreating from that storyline in any way. But in [this] moment, we had an opportunity to write our next step, and this one just felt too good to miss.” The studio also teased that E-Day will have ramifications on the future of the franchise, which tells me that we might learn some more about Kait and her history, which could play a bigger part in a future, theoretical Gears of War 6.
