Gears of War: E-Day – Everything we know so far about the upcoming shooter
Nov. 14, 2024Gears of War: E-Day is heading our way, so here’s all the latest news on the upcoming Xbox Series X game
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While Gears of War: E-Day is the sixth entry in the GoW series, it’s actually taking us back to the events before the first 2006 game Gears of War (aka one of thebest shootersof all time). We’ll be seeing series main stays Marcus and Dom back in action as they deal with the brutal attack on humanity during Emergence Day. Despite no release window for theupcoming Xbox Series X gamejust yet, there’s actually a ton of story information and gameplay developments to unpack. So, ahead of the waves of Locust Drones and shootouts ahead of us, we’ve gathered all the information that you need to know.
From the Gears of War: E-Day platforms, release date speculation, and gameplay details, we’ve left no soldier behind in our breakdown of the upcoming sci-fi conflict down below.
Gears of War: E-Day release date speculation
Gears of War: E-Day will be available on PC and Xbox Series S. The upcoming game will also be included on day one in 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 ourGears of War reviewfor more information on where to start). Gears of War has always been an Xbox-exclusive title, so for all you PlayStation players, sorry, but it looks like you won’t be picking this one up on your console of choice.
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However,MicrosoftGaming CEOPhil Spencerhas recently 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 toldBloomberg. So, fingers crossed that we are wrong and that Gears of War: E-Day eventually makes its way to PS5 andPS5 Progamers.
If you’re wondering if Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel, yes, yes it is. In fact, it’sset 14 years before the original action gameand 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 nightmares come to life.
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?
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 withIGN.
“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.
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 thebest action gamesif 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 thebest Xbox exclusivesand thebest Xbox Series X gamesto play right now.
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