Matt Searcy
Reporting and statements that mention Matt Searcy.
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Gears of War E-Day wants you to enjoy the "terror in your face," no matter how you choose to play
The Coalition's Creative Director Matt Searcy and Sandbox Designer Pax Lyle discuss the development of Gears of War E-Day, emphasizing its return to the series' roots and the focus on "terror in your face." They detail the transition to Unreal Engine 5 and the efforts to ensure a consistent experience across PC and Xbox, while acknowledging the impact of recent layoffs on potential future stories.
"We felt that fans were getting a bit desensitised to the violence" Gears of War: E-Day devs made a "big investment" in gore, and weirdly, it works
Developers at The Coalition discuss the significant investment in gore and realistic violence for Gears of War: E-Day, aiming to make combat more impactful and less desensitizing for players. They explain how detailed effects, dismemberment, and blood pooling contribute to the game's cathartic combat system, balancing grimdark storytelling with moments of levity.
What's the intended difficulty for Gears of War: E-Day? "I can tell you right now, it's Hardcore" says The Coalition creative director
The Coalition's creative director, Matt Searcy, revealed that the intended difficulty for Gears of War: E-Day is Hardcore, aiming to provide a challenging yet fair experience. The game will feature split difficulty options for co-op play and emphasizes strategic combat over pure reflexes.
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.
Gears of War: E-Day Campaign – Brotherhood and Hope in a Hopeless World | Official XBOX Podcast
The Official Xbox Podcast features an in-depth discussion with The Coalition's Matt Searcy and Raul Figueroa about Gears of War: E-Day. They delve into the campaign's themes of brotherhood and hope amidst the brutal Locust invasion, highlighting new enemy designs like Vraahk and enhanced enemy AI. The conversation also touches on the game's setting in Kalona, the introduction of weapon modding, and the impressive audio design, alongside the reveal of custom Xbox controllers.
Gears of War: E-Day Studio Wants to be Known For “What Gears Already Is”, Says Creative Director
The Coalition's creative director Matt Searcy stated that Gears of War: E-Day aims to build upon the core pillars that made the original franchise successful, focusing on its strengths in cover shooting and visceral combat. The studio emphasizes maintaining the series' legacy of pushing hardware limits for visual fidelity, leveraging the experience of developers who previously worked at Epic Games.
Gears of War: E-Day devs want to be known for "all the things that made Gears resonate in the first place," without "looking outside at other franchises"
The Coalition, developers of Gears of War: E-Day, aim to be recognized for the core elements that made the original Gears of War a success, focusing on tight action and impactful combat. Creative director Matt Searcy emphasized building a modern game around these foundational pillars, drawing inspiration from within the franchise rather than external titles. The studio also highlighted their commitment to avoiding aggressive monetization, returning to the series' roots.
Gears Of War: E-Day Has A Battle Royale-Inspired PvP Mode Where You Can Strip The Flesh Off Enemies
Gears of War: E-Day will feature a new PvP mode called Crucible, which incorporates battle royale elements into a 4v4 arena. Players must capture and hold a Power Core, which restricts mobility but allows for a powerful close-range attack. The game is set to launch on October 6 for Xbox Series X|S and PC, and will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass.
Gears Of War: E-Day Had To Solve One Big Lore Problem – How Do You Get A Lancer Into The Game?
The Coalition is addressing a lore problem for Gears of War: E-Day by introducing a Lancer prototype, as the iconic weapon was canonically created a year after Emergence Day. Creative director Matt Searcy explained that they are respecting the established lore, including elements from Karen Traviss's novel Gears of War: The Aspho Fields, to integrate the Lancer into the game's Emergence Day setting. The game is set to launch on October 6 for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
'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.
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.
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.
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.
The biggest Gears of War: E-Day gameplay changes should have a transformative impact on the series' tired…
The Coalition is implementing significant changes to the core gameplay mechanics of Gears of War: E-Day, rebuilding systems from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5. These alterations focus on enhancing movement fluidity, cover interaction, and environmental destruction, aiming to modernize the series' signature combat and potentially reshape its multiplayer experience. The game will feature a prequel campaign and a multiplayer beta starting August 6.
Gears of War: E-Day’s Campaign is Over 14 Hours Long and Lets You Play as Any Bravo Squad Member
Gears of War: E-Day will feature a campaign exceeding 14 hours, making it the longest in the studio's history. The Coalition confirmed that players can control any member of Bravo Squad during the campaign, which takes place after the Pendulum Wars. The game is set to release on October 6th for Xbox Series X/S and PC, with an open beta planned for August.
Gears of War: E-Day makes up for a 7-year wait with the longest campaign in the entire series
The Coalition has announced that Gears of War: E-Day will feature the longest campaign in the series' history, exceeding 14 hours. This prequel title will explore the origins of the Locust threat and is set to launch later this year for PC and Xbox Series X|S. The developers aim to balance linear mission design with larger explorable areas offering player choice in tackling encounters.
Sony angry at Xbox for cutting Halo trailer from State of Play says insider
An insider report suggests Sony is angered by Microsoft's decision to pull a Halo trailer from a recent State of Play, indicating a potential shift back to Xbox exclusives. This move, affecting games like Gears Of War: E-Day and potentially Forza Horizon 6, has reportedly strained the relationship between the two companies and surprised many within Xbox.
