Gears of War: E-Day
News, coverage and analysis tracking Gears of War: E-Day across the outlets.
Latest coverage
No Announced Xbox Games Are Getting Axed In Microsoft Layoffs, Company Says
Microsoft has announced significant layoffs affecting 1,600 employees at Xbox, with another 1,600 planned over the next year. Despite these cuts and studio sales, the company stated that no already announced first-party Xbox games are being canceled. Titles like Clockwork Revolution, Gears of War: E-Day, Hellblade, and State of Decay 3 are still confirmed to be in development.
Updated XBOX Console Prices
Microsoft is increasing the worldwide prices of Xbox consoles effective August 1, 2026, with 512 GB models rising by US$100 and 1 TB models by US$150, while the 2 TB model will be discontinued. This decision is attributed to rising storage and memory component costs. To mitigate the impact, Microsoft is also introducing enhanced Buy Now, Pay Later options, 0% APR financing through Amazon, and programs for previously played and certified refurbished consoles.
Analysts attempt to make sense of Xbox's latest exclusivity pivot
Xbox is undergoing another strategic shift regarding game exclusivity, moving from a multiplatform approach back towards select console exclusives. This pivot, occurring under new leadership, aims to re-establish reasons for consumers to invest in the Xbox ecosystem, balancing a console business with a platform-agnostic publishing strategy.
Xbox Series X/S Prices Will Increase Again From August 1st
Microsoft's Xbox division has announced another price increase for the Xbox Series X and Series S consoles, effective August 1st. The company cited rising component and storage costs, which have more than doubled for consoles, as the primary reason for the hikes. To mitigate the impact, Xbox is introducing new Buy Now, Pay Later financing options and promoting trade-in programs for previously played consoles.
This Deals Returns To A Simpler Time When The Xbox Series X Was Less Than $600
Walmart is offering the Xbox Series X for $574, down from $650, as part of its Deals & More Sale. The console, despite being a few years old, still offers high-resolution gaming, fast frame rates, and features like Quick Resume. The deal is available through June 28 and comes with a wireless controller.
Sea of Thieves is becoming a live-action movie, the Gears of War film apparently has a plot, and Microsoft's considering bringing the Halo TV show back
Microsoft is expanding its entertainment ventures beyond gaming, with a live-action Sea of Thieves movie in development and plot details emerging for the Gears of War film. The company is also considering reviving the Halo TV series. These projects highlight Microsoft's strategy to leverage its game franchises across various media platforms, even as the company faces potential restructuring and studio closures.
'We really wanted the city to feel like a character in our game' — Gears of War: E-Day studio creative director says the game will make you 'care' about the city's fall through environmental storytelling
The Coalition's studio creative director, Matt Searcy, stated that Gears of War: E-Day aims to make players care about the city of Kolana through extensive environmental storytelling. The game will focus on a single city setting, allowing for deeper world-building and exploration, contrasting with previous titles in the series. Gears of War: E-Day is set to launch exclusively for Xbox Series X and Series S on October 6.
The Coalition says Active Reload is an 'iconic feature' that has been updated for Gears of War: E-Day, and some weapons also have 'additional reload mechanics'
The Coalition studio creative director Matt Searcy confirmed that the Active Reload mechanic will return in Gears of War: E-Day, featuring updates such as its placement in the middle of the screen for improved feel and ease of learning. Some weapons will also include additional reload mechanics, allowing for partial reloads or strategic use of partially loaded magazines. The game is set to launch exclusively for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
Netflix's Gears of War movie sounds like it will be set just before the events of the first game
Netflix's upcoming Gears of War movie will serve as a prequel, focusing on the origin story of Delta Squad and their fight against the Locust creatures. Xbox executive Matt Booty highlighted the 'Never Fight Alone' theme as a strong narrative starting point. The film's setting appears to precede the events of the original Gears of War game, potentially aligning with the timeline of the recently announced Gears of War: E-Day.
After Years of Live-Service Chasing, Single-Player Games Are Winning Again
The article discusses the shift in the gaming industry from a strong focus on live-service games back towards single-player experiences. While live-service games can be highly lucrative, many publishers struggled to implement them successfully, leading to a resurgence in demand for complete, finished single-player titles. This trend is evident in recent showcases from Sony and Xbox, which highlight promising single-player games as key platform definers.
Gears of War: E-Day’s 4-Player Campaign Co-op Was a “Huge Investment,” Says Creative Director
The Coalition has made a significant investment in Gears of War: E-Day's campaign, supporting four-player co-op from the outset. Creative director Matt Searcy stated that this decision reflects the core Gears DNA of four-person squads and required extensive environmental design and character animation work. The game is set to release on October 6th, with a multiplayer beta planned for August.
Gears of War: E-Day Adds New Active Reload Mechanics to Certain Weapons, Moves the Active Reload Bar
Gears of War: E-Day will introduce changes to the series' iconic Active Reload mechanic, moving the bar to the center of the screen by default and adding new functionalities to certain weapons. Creative director Matt Searcy confirmed these updates, noting that some weapons will allow players to stop reloads mid-animation to use partially loaded shells, foregoing the Active bonus. The game is set to launch on October 6th for Xbox Series X/S and PC as an Xbox console exclusive.
Spyro: A Realm Beyond Aims for “Zen-Like Fluidity” With Its Flight Mechanics, Says Toys for Bob
Toys for Bob is focusing on "zen-like fluidity" for the flight mechanics in the upcoming game Spyro: A Realm Beyond, aiming for seamless transitions between ground and aerial exploration. Studio heads Lou Studdert and Paul Yan discussed balancing nostalgia with innovation, drawing lessons from their work on the Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. The game is set to launch in 2027 for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
Gears of War: E-Day brings back a feature the series hasn't supported in over 10 years, and The Coalition says…
Gears of War: E-Day, launching October 6, 2026, for PC and Xbox Series X, will feature four-player campaign co-op, a feature not seen in the series for over 10 years. The Coalition is bringing back this mode to reflect the series' core DNA of squad-based storytelling, allowing players to experience the origin of Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago's bromance from multiple perspectives. This ambitious entry will also support two-player split-screen co-op.
Active Reload may be an "iconic" Gears of War feature, but that isn't going to stop The Coalition from…
The Coalition is making significant changes to core mechanics for Gears of War: E-Day, including the iconic Active Reload system. The game will feature greater mobility and verticality, with unique Active Reload effects for certain weapons. Gears of War: E-Day is set to launch on October 6 for PC and Xbox Series X.
5 promising games recently cancelled by Microsoft
Microsoft has recently cancelled several promising game projects, including 'Odyssey,' 'Everwild,' 'Perfect Dark,' 'Contraband,' and 'Project Blackbird,' as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy under new CEO Asha Sharma. These cancellations have led to studio closures and significant layoffs, with former employees expressing disappointment over the loss of potentially exciting titles and the shift away from riskier, ambitious projects.
We spoke to three Xbox Game Studio teams about exclusivity, and got two very different answers
Developers from Xbox Game Studios have differing views on game exclusivity. Gears of War: E-Day creative director Matt Searcy believes it makes sense as an Xbox exclusive, while developers for Halo: Campaign Evolved and Fable are excited about releasing on multiple platforms to reach a wider audience.
Gears of War: E-Day Technical Director Explains How Unreal Engine 5’s Tech Helped in Development
The Coalition's technical director Kate Rayner detailed how Unreal Engine 5's features, such as MegaLights and dynamic geometry, were crucial in rebuilding Gears of War: E-Day from scratch. The game, developed for PC and Xbox Series X/S, aims to accurately portray the chaos of Emergence Day with enhanced lighting and destructible environments, running at 60 FPS on Xbox Series X.
Gears of War: E-Day Pushes Unreal Engine 5 “To Its Limits” In Its Latest Tech Demo
The Coalition has released a new tech demo for Gears of War: E-Day, showcasing the capabilities of Unreal Engine 5 with advanced lighting and ray tracing features on Xbox Series X. The demo highlights realistic environmental interactions and reflections, though it remains to be seen if the entire campaign will maintain this level of graphical fidelity, especially with multiplayer targeting 120 fps.
Xbox’s Biggest Problems May Still Be Ahead
Xbox is facing significant internal challenges despite a recent showcase of upcoming games like Gears of War: E-Day. CEO Asha Sharma admitted to substantial financial losses and poor investment returns over the past five years, citing issues with funding franchises and inadequate infrastructure. Reports suggest impending layoffs and potential restructuring, including spinning off Xbox as a subsidiary or forming joint ventures, as Microsoft seeks to make its gaming division a sustainable business.
