The Coalition
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Activision’s Halo Game: Everything We Know So Far
Microsoft is assigning Activision to develop the next mainline Halo game, a move that has resulted in significant layoffs at 343 Industries, now renamed Halo Studios. While the future of the Halo franchise is uncertain, Microsoft aims to revive its popularity, though some industry figures express skepticism about the cost and efficiency of such an endeavor.
Gears of War: E-Day Story Director Laid Off Just Before Launch
Juan Vaca, the story director for Gears of War: E-Day, was laid off from The Coalition as part of recent Xbox job cuts. Vaca announced his departure after the game reached its gold milestone, stating he is seeking new opportunities. This follows a larger wave of layoffs impacting Xbox Game Studios, with further cuts expected at Blizzard.
Gears Of War: E-Day story director laid off as Halo Studios is reduced to scraps
Xbox Game Studios has implemented significant layoffs, impacting multiple first-party studios including Halo Studios and The Coalition. The story director for Gears Of War: E-Day, Juan Vaca, was laid off from The Coalition, while Halo Studios' cinematic director, Josh Daniels, experienced a promotion and layoff in the same week, with the studio reportedly reduced to a skeleton crew. These cuts are part of a larger restructuring effort by Microsoft, affecting other developers like Undead Labs and Double Fine Productions.
Undead Labs makes 'significant' layoffs after splitting from Xbox
Undead Labs, the studio behind the State of Decay franchise, has become an independent, employee-owned company after divesting from Xbox. This separation has resulted in significant layoffs, impacting employees who worked on State of Decay 3. The studio plans to work with a new publisher for the game's release, which will still launch day one on Xbox Game Pass.
Gears of War: E-Day director laid off days after completing development as Xbox cuts reach The Coalition
Juan Vaca, the story director for the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day, has been laid off by Microsoft as part of its ongoing job cuts. This news comes just days after Vaca celebrated the game going gold, and it follows a larger wave of redundancies across Xbox studios, including Halo Studios. The reasons for Vaca's dismissal, particularly so close to the game's October 2026 release, remain unclear.
Xbox lays off Gears of War: E-Day's story director barely two weeks before the game's launch
Xbox has conducted significant layoffs, impacting the story director of the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day, Juan Vaca, just weeks before its October 6th release. This news comes amidst broader restructuring within Xbox, affecting studios like Rare, World's Edge, Playground Games, Turn 10 Studios, Obsidian Entertainment, and 343 Industries, with Ninja Theory reportedly heading towards closure.
Games Inbox: Are you still an Xbox fan?
Readers express deep concern over recent layoffs at Xbox and the perceived decline of the brand's relevance and developer support. While some praise Capcom's successful year and positive employee treatment, others question Microsoft's strategy and the future of its studios.
Gears of War: E-Day’s Story Director Juan Vaca is Among Those Affected by Xbox’s Latest Layoffs
Xbox has conducted another round of layoffs, affecting numerous employees across Xbox Game Studios, including Juan Vaca, the story director for the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day. Vaca confirmed his departure on LinkedIn, stating he is seeking new opportunities. The news comes shortly before the game's scheduled October 6th release on PC and Xbox Series X/S, though The Coalition has stated the game is on track and has gone gold.
State of Decay 3 Remains in “Active Development” Despite “Significant” Layoffs at Undead Labs
Undead Labs, now independent from Xbox, has announced significant layoffs, raising concerns about State of Decay 3's development. Studio head Philip Holt confirmed the game remains in "active development" on schedule, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and assistance from The Coalition. Despite past allegations of a toxic work environment and previous rumors of layoffs, the game is still targeting a 2027 release for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, and will be available on Game Pass.
Halo cinematic director "promoted and laid off in the same week" as Microsoft continues sweeping Xbox layoffs
Microsoft continues its significant layoffs across Xbox, impacting studios like Halo Studios, Ninja Theory, and Arkane. Former Halo Studios cinematic director Josh Daniels reported being promoted and laid off in the same week. Xbox CCO Matt Booty stated these cuts are part of a larger restructuring plan that will eliminate 3,200 employees in total.
Gears of War: E-Day – Prepare for Emergence Day with Us in Los Angeles
Xbox is hosting a promotional event in Los Angeles on September 30 to celebrate the upcoming launch of Gears of War: E-Day. The event will feature an Emergence Hole and Corpser statue, early gameplay access for the first 500 attendees, prize giveaways, and themed food and beverages. Attendees aged 18 and older are welcome, with those wearing Gears of War merchandise receiving priority access.
Gears of War: E-Day – 14 More Gameplay and Story Details
Gears of War: E-Day is set to launch on October 6th for Xbox Series X/S and PC, with a Premium Edition early access on October 1st. The Coalition has rebuilt the game from the ground up using Unreal Engine 5, featuring overhauled visuals, more aggressive Locust enemies, and new gameplay mechanics. The game will also feature returning characters Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, alongside new modes like Horde Siege with distinct classes and new PvP modes.
Gears of War: E-Day system requirements require ray tracing-capable graphics card to play, alongside 115 GB of free…
The Coalition has revealed the system requirements for Gears of War: E-Day, mandating a ray tracing-capable graphics card for all players and 115 GB of SSD storage. High-end configurations targeting 4K resolution at 60 FPS with Ultra settings require hardware like an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT, while minimum requirements include an RTX 2060 or RX 6600. The game will support DLSS, FSR, and XeSS upscaling technologies at launch.
Xbox 100-Day Reset Gets First Big Win with Gears of War E-Day
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's strategic reset is showing early results with the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day reaching its 'gold' milestone. The game's launch on October 6 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass signifies a renewed focus on console exclusives and a more concentrated studio portfolio for Microsoft's gaming division.
Gears of War: E-Day Has Gone Gold, Pre-Loads Start on September 29th
The Coalition's Gears of War: E-Day has officially gone gold, with pre-loads beginning on September 29th for Xbox Series X/S and PC, including Game Pass subscribers. The Premium Edition offers early access on October 1st, while the standard release is October 6th. The studio also revealed the game's achievements list, which avoids major spoilers.
Gears of War: E-Day on PC Requires an RTX 5070 Ti, Launches With DLSS 4.5 and Ultrawide Support
The Coalition has revealed the PC specifications for Gears of War: E-Day, with the Ultra settings requiring an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT for 4K resolution at 60+ FPS, contingent on using upscaling technologies like DLSS 4.5, FSR 4.0, or Intel XeSS 3.0t. The game will also feature HDR and ultrawide monitor support from launch. Gears of War: E-Day is set to release on October 6th for PC and Xbox Series X/S, with early access starting October 1st for Premium Edition owners.
Gears Of War: E-Day On PC Won’t Let You Play Without A Ray Tracing-Capable GPU
The PC version of Gears of War: E-Day will require a ray tracing-capable GPU, effectively locking out older hardware like the GTX 1060. Minimum requirements include an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 6600 for 1080p 60fps, with higher-end GPUs needed for 1440p and 4K. The game also mandates an SSD and 115GB of storage.
Gears of War: E-Day Has Gone Gold, Pre-Install Begins September 29, Full PC Specifications Revealed
The Coalition announced that Gears of War: E-Day has gone gold, with pre-installs beginning September 29 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Steam. The game will launch on October 6, with early access starting October 1 for Premium Edition players and Game Pass Ultimate/PC Game Pass members. Full PC specifications and features have also been revealed.
Here's the second wave of Xbox Game Pass games coming in September
The second wave of games for Xbox Game Pass in September includes major additions like Gears of War: E-Day, Dune: Awakening, and Minecraft Dungeons 2. Dune: Awakening will also be available on PlayStation 5. Several other titles are being added to Game Pass Premium and Ultimate, while some games will be leaving the service on September 30th.
Gears of War: E-Day vs. Gears 5 – 15 Biggest Differences
Gears of War: E-Day is set to launch on October 6th for PC and Xbox Series X/S, serving as a prequel to Gears 5 and returning to the series' horror roots. The Coalition has implemented significant gameplay changes, including new movement mechanics like sliding and jumping, the removal of wall-bouncing, and the introduction of low cover. E-Day also features a more focused single-region world design compared to Gears 5's semi-open-world approach, and a revamped Horde Siege mode supporting up to 12 players.