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Gears of War: E-Day’s campaign is a cinematic throwback to the day the world changed forever
Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel that places players at the start of the Locust War, focusing on a young Marcus Fenix defending Kalona. The campaign aims to recapture the cinematic feel and intense gameplay of the original Gears of War trilogy, emphasizing cover-based combat and a gripping narrative as society descends into chaos.
Gears of War: E-Day Campaign Hands On – Brutal, Brilliant, and Quintessentially Gears
This preview of Gears of War: E-Day highlights its brutal and nostalgic campaign, set 14 years before the original game. Players will experience the Emergence Day from the perspective of a younger Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, fighting against the Locust Horde in the new city of Kalona. The game, built in Unreal Engine 5, aims to recapture the original Gears of War's impact with modernized gameplay and a focus on character development.
Gears Of War: E-Day preview - sandbox spectacle meets linear action
Gears Of War: E-Day, developed by The Coalition and published by Xbox Game Studios, offers a preview of its story mode set on Emergence Day. The game features impressive open-world areas with personal side quests and linear action sequences, running on Unreal Engine 5 for enhanced visuals and destruction. It will be available on PC and Xbox Series X/S on October 6, 2026.
Original Halo art director "may disagree" with some Campaign Evolved "creative decisions," but says…
Original Halo art director Marcus Lehto stated that while he genuinely enjoyed Halo: Campaign Evolved and is rooting for the franchise, he may disagree with some of its creative decisions. Lehto, who co-created the franchise with Bungie, expressed his continued care for Halo despite its recent struggles and acknowledged that fans might not like his own potential future contributions to the series.
Mad King Redemption’s Roguelite Brawling Hits Xbox
Mad King Redemption, a beat 'em up roguelite, is now available for £12.49 on Xbox Series X|S and PC with Play Anywhere support. Developed by Secret Mission Games, the title features classic brawling action combined with roguelite progression, four playable characters, and randomized elements for replayability.
Double Fine Productions regains ownership of IP and publishing rights following independence from Xbox
Double Fine Productions has regained ownership of its intellectual property and publishing rights following its separation from Xbox. The studio also announced its fifth Amnesia Fortnight event, a game jam where employees create prototypes, with this year's iteration launching on August 31 and featuring a Kickstarter campaign for one of the developed ideas. This move comes after Double Fine and Compulsion Games were spun out of Xbox Game Studios amidst recent layoffs.
Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 predictions: 5 games we'd like to see
This article predicts five games that could be featured at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026, including potential reveals or updates for Fable, The Witcher 4, Resident Evil Veronica, Hideo Kojima's OD, and Persona 6. It also mentions confirmed trailers for Silent Hill Townfall and Gears of War: E-Day.
Compulsion Games' buyout is complete, so now Microsoft won't get a cut if you buy South of Midnight
Compulsion Games has completed a management buyout, regaining ownership of its intellectual property from Microsoft's Xbox Game Studios. This separation allows Compulsion to retain a larger share of revenue from games like South of Midnight, which received an 83% review score. The studio, also known for We Happy Few and Contrast, is now independent after rumors of closure following recent layoffs.
The newly independent Psychonauts dev now earns all the revenue when you buy games it made under Xbox: 'Buying any…
Double Fine has become an independent studio again after leaving Microsoft's Xbox Game Studios, regaining full publishing rights and revenue for its past games. CEO Tim Schafer confirmed the transition, noting that sales now directly support the studio as it pitches new projects. The studio is also launching a Kickstarter for its Amnesia Fortnight game jam and teased updates for its game Kiln.
Weekend PC Download Deals for Aug. 21: The Humble Store Summer Sale continues
This article rounds up various PC game deals available from multiple digital storefronts, including Humble Store, Battle.net, GamesPlanet, Ubisoft Store, Green Man Gaming, Epic Games Store, Amazon Luna, Fanatical, Gamebillet, GOG.com, and Steam. Notable sales include Humble Store's Summer Sale, Battle.net's August Game Deals, and Ubisoft's Gamescom sale, featuring discounts on a wide range of titles.
EA staff worries over Saudi buyout, Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks, and Peak's last major update - Patch Notes #66
This article covers several gaming industry developments, including employee concerns at Electronic Arts following a Saudi buyout, ongoing leaks of Grand Theft Auto 6, and the final update for the game Peak. It also touches on FromSoftware's new game The Duskbloods, Compulsion Games' management buyout from Xbox, PlayStation's struggles with live-service games, and the use of AI in game development.
Geoff Keighley clarifies how trailers are selected for Gamescom Opening Night Live
Geoff Keighley has clarified the selection process for trailers featured in Gamescom's Opening Night Live, explaining that it includes both editorial placements and paid advertisements. While some games are chosen for their editorial value and receive free placement, others are paid marketing opportunities, similar to securing a booth at the physical event. Companies often earn editorial slots based on the significance of their announcements.
Give Master Chief a break – I want more Halo games like ODST and Reach
The author argues that while Halo's core FPS gameplay is legendary, its narrative potential, particularly seen in titles like Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach, has been underutilized in recent years. With the rebrand to Halo Studios and the release of Halo: Campaign Evolved, there's an opportunity to draw inspiration from these past successes and explore new storytelling avenues within the Halo universe, rather than solely focusing on Master Chief's main saga.
"Without us, Bethesda games aren’t Bethesda games": Rallies against Microsoft layoffs at Elder Scrolls studio continue, with unionised devs' morale "on the upswing"
Unionized developers at Bethesda Softworks continue to rally against Microsoft's recent layoffs, which have impacted staff across Xbox Game Studios. Developers express concern over the company's handling of the reductions in force and the effect on game development timelines for titles like The Elder Scrolls 6. Despite low morale regarding work, there is optimism about the ongoing union organizing efforts.
Coming to XBOX Game Pass: Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, Vapor World: Over the Mind, Blood Dungeon, and More
Xbox Game Pass is adding several new titles to its library, including day-one releases like Vapor World: Over the Mind, Blood Dungeon, and Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy. The service will also see new additions such as Egging On, BlazBlue Entropy Effect X, Relooted, Starsand Island, Aerial_Knight’s DropShot, Young Suns, and Shelldiver. Additionally, Wolfenstein 3D and Once Human are receiving in-game benefits for Game Pass subscribers, while several games, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered Edition and NBA 2K26, will be leaving the service soon.
Surprise first party Xbox sequel to get reveal next week hints trusted insider
A trusted insider, NateTheHate, has hinted at a surprise first-party Xbox sequel reveal expected at Gamescom's Opening Night Live on August 25. While the specific game remains undisclosed, theories suggest it could be a new installment in the Ori or Sunset Overdrive series, developed by a third-party studio and potentially releasing by year's end.
Call Of Duty studio rumoured to help out with new Halo games
Rumors suggest Microsoft is considering having Activision assist with future Halo games, potentially including multiplayer development. Activision reportedly created a prototype for a new Halo multiplayer game, though it was abandoned. This follows speculation that Microsoft might place the Halo franchise under Activision's umbrella.
Evening Reading - August 14, 2026
This week's gaming news roundup includes updates on Total War: Warhammer 3, a review of Madden NFL 27, and the opening of 2K's Small Axe Studios. Compulsion Games has removed Xbox as the publisher for South of Midnight on Steam, while Kingdom Hearts 4 is slated for a late 2027 release with an animated series coming to Disney+. The article also highlights new features for The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered on Nintendo Switch and mentions upcoming content for Modern Warfare 4.
OG Gears of War lead says "wallbouncing in Gears" is like his cult classic platformer helping turn fans into furries: "It wasn't the intended nor desired effect, yet here we are"
Original Gears of War lead Cliff Bleszinski commented that the series' signature wallbouncing mechanic, while fun, was an unintended consequence that has dominated the competitive multiplayer meta. He compared this to his earlier platformer, Jazz Jackrabbit, which he believes unexpectedly became a gateway for fans into the furry community. Bleszinski feels wallbouncing breaks the game for players who don't master it, a problem Gears of War: E-Day aims to address.
Gears of War: E-Day's Steam player count has once again blown past the series all-time peak thanks to the…
The open beta for Gears of War: E-Day has achieved a new series record on Steam, with over 22,000 concurrent players. This surpasses previous records set by titles like Gears 5 and Gears Tactics. The beta, available on PC and Xbox Series X|S, includes a tutorial, PvP Versus mode, and the PvE Horde Siege mode.
