Gears of War: E-Day
Experience Emergence Day – the brutal origin story of one of gaming’s most acclaimed third-person shooter franchises.
Does this feel indie?
Vote based on whether this game feels indie to you. You can change your vote at any time. Results earn an IGF score after 10 accepted votes.| ContextThe evidence factors used to assess whether this game belongs on IndieGame.Fan. | Status | Notes Latest Contributor: IGF TeamEdit notes |
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Updated: Jul 13, 2026Developer scaleThe operating scale of the game's developer. | The Coalition is controlled by Microsoft. | |
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Publisher scaleThe operating scale of the game's publisher. | Xbox Game Studios is controlled by Microsoft. | |
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Publisher statusHow the game's publishing relationship is classified. | Xbox Game Studios is controlled by Microsoft. | |
Updated: Jul 13, 2026FundingThe known source of funding behind the game. | Xbox Game Studios provides the corporate publishing relationship for this release. | |
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Release statusWhether and how the game has been released. |
Media
9 itemsAbout the Game
Emergence Begins
Experience the horror and brutality of Emergence Day. Fourteen years before the original Gears of War, join Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago in a gripping origin-story campaign as the Locust Horde first erupt from below, igniting a desperate fight for survival. Rally your squad and fight on in multiplayer with a reimagination of Gears’ iconic PvE mode, Horde Siege, or go head-to-head with a refined Versus PvP.* Built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, Gears of War: E-Day delivers the most immersive Gears yet.
The Story of E-Day
Fight through the chaos of Emergence Day in a gripping origin story campaign.
Battle alone or rally up to four players online across Campaign, Horde Siege, and Versus.*
Horde Siege PvE – Back and Bigger Than Ever
Survive a city under siege in an evolved take on Gears’ iconic co-op wave survival mode built for larger maps, more players, and bigger battles.
Choose your class - Assault, Marksman, Medic, or Breacher - then drop in as a 4-player squad to fight back the Locust.
Team up with multiple squads to conquer shared objectives and take down world bosses. Survive to earn rewards, unlock customization and improve your loadout for the next match.
Versus Returns – Refined and Focused PvP
Battle across all-new maps and refined fan-favorite 4v4 modes.
Choose your level of competition. Lock in and climb the ranks in Ranked or jump into Social playlists for a more relaxed match.
Modernized controls and movement make combat feel more fluid while retaining Gears’ signature cover-based feel. Jump, vault, slide, and flank with intent.
A Terrifying Threat from Below
A darker, grittier tone and reimagined enemies restore fear and dread to the series.
Atmosphere and detail are pushed further than ever. The world feels more grounded, believable, and dangerous.
Familiar enemies are more threatening, joined by all-new creatures and villains that reestablish a true sense of horror.
Feels Like Gears. Plays Like New.
Iconic cover‑based combat returns, enhanced with modernized movement and traversal that add freedom and verticality.
Fan‑favorite weapons return and are reimagined, alongside all‑new weapons built for brutal, close‑quarters combat.
Rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5
A new technical foundation for Gears. Built for modern performance with 4K resolution and up to 60FPS across Campaign and Multiplayer.*
Optimized to Customize
Enjoy a great experience on any setup with smooth performance across a wide range of hardware, with borderless/exclusive/windowed display modes, uncapped frame rates on capable hardware, ultrawide support (21:9 and 32:9) for gameplay and menus, and KBM/controller remapping.*
Advanced Performance & Graphics*
Play in crisp 4K Ultra HD with HDR10 and hardware ray-traced lighting, reflections, and shadows.
Push performance further with PC features including NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR “Redstone,” optional Frame Generation and Multi Frame Generation on supported hardware, Variable Rate Shading, and a built-in benchmark mode.
Handheld-Ready & Cross-Platform Play
Fully optimized for handheld play on Steam Deck, Xbox Ally X, and Xbox Ally devices.
Optional account linking lets you carry progress with roaming saves, connect with friends, and send cross-platform invites – then squad up in 2-4 player online co-op or jump into competitive multiplayer for up to 8 players across supported platforms.
*Important Information
Pre-Order Offer: valid with pre-orders made before October 6, 2026 (7:59 am PT) except early access to the Open Beta requires pre-order before the end of the Open Beta early access period (expected to be from August 6-10, 2026; dates may vary by platform and subscription). At participating retailers while supplies last. Pre-order benefits may require redemption of a single-use code. Consult your retailer for details. Limit: 1 offer per person/account.
Open Beta: Early access date may vary by platform and subscription.
4K, Ultrawide, HDR, Uncapped, 60FPS & Advanced Graphics: requires compatible, capable hardware and display.
Game requires initial download. May require future updates (additional storage may be required). All downloads and updates require significant storage and broadband internet connection (ISP fees apply). You must accept the Microsoft Services Agreement. May require additional hardware and subscriptions. Content, features, services, online play (if applicable), and support not available in all regions and may vary, change, or terminate. Microsoft Account required.
WARNING: Some people may experience a seizure when exposed to flashing lights or patterns in video games.
