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GEARS E-DAY
GEARS OF WAR: E-DAY · OCTOBER 6, 2026
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Xbox Series X|S ✓ Confirmed
PC (Steam & Xbox) ✓ Confirmed
Game Pass Day One ✓
PS5 — Not Available
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What We Know
Release Date
October 6, 2026
Early access: October 1 (Premium/Collector's)
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S · PC
Xbox console exclusive. No PS5.
Game Pass
Day One Included
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate & PC Game Pass
Developer
The Coalition
Published by Xbox Game Studios / Microsoft
Setting
Kalona, Sera
A single city during the first 24hrs of invasion
Protagonists
Marcus Fenix & Dom Santiago
Origin story — forging their bond on E-Day
Standard Price
$69.99 USD
Premium Edition $99 · Collector's Edition also available
Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Photo-realistic visuals, rebuilt Sera from scratch
Road to E-Day
Gears of War: E-Day goes back to where it all began — the first 24 hours of the Locust invasion. Here is the full timeline from initial reveal to confirmed launch date.
JUNE 2024
First Reveal — Xbox Games Showcase 2024
The Coalition revealed Gears of War: E-Day with a cinematic trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024. No gameplay, no release window — just the concept: a prequel set on Emergence Day, following a younger Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago. The fanbase reacted with significant enthusiasm after years of wanting a return to the series' roots.
SUMMER 2024 – EARLY 2026
Development Silence
After the initial reveal, The Coalition went quiet to focus on development. Rumours and a PEGI rating listing briefly suggested a PS5 version was possible, raising fan speculation about Xbox's exclusivity strategy. No official communications addressed this during the silence period.
JUNE 7, 2026
Xbox Games Showcase 2026 — Release Date & Full Reveal
The Xbox Games Showcase 2026 opened with a lengthy Gears of War: E-Day combat trailer. The Coalition confirmed October 6, 2026 as the release date, Xbox console exclusivity (no PS5), day-one Game Pass availability, and a multiplayer beta window. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma personally confirmed the PS5 exclusion, ending speculation. Pre-orders opened immediately.
AUGUST 6–10, 2026
Open Multiplayer Beta
An open multiplayer beta weekend ran August 6–10. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers and pre-order buyers received early access. The beta's peak Steam player count surpassed the Gears of War series' all-time record — a strong signal of the game's commercial potential ahead of launch.
OCTOBER 1, 2026
Early Access Begins (Premium & Collector's Edition)
Players who purchased the Premium Edition ($99), Premium Edition Upgrade, or Collector's Edition receive 5-day early access beginning October 1, 2026 — five days before the global launch date.
OCTOBER 6, 2026
Global Launch CONFIRMED
Gears of War: E-Day launches worldwide on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC (Xbox app and Steam). Available day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at no extra cost. Pre-order bonuses (Exfil Weapon Skin set) expire at 7:59am PDT / 10:59am EDT on launch day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gears of War: E-Day releases on October 6, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and PC. Premium and Collector's Edition owners get 5-day early access starting October 1, 2026. The date was confirmed by Xbox and The Coalition at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 7, 2026.
No, Gears of War: E-Day is not out yet. It releases October 6, 2026 globally. The live countdown at the top of this page shows the exact time remaining. Once the game launches, this page will update with review scores and where to buy.
No. Gears of War: E-Day is not coming to PS5. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed full Xbox console exclusivity at the June 2026 Showcase — reversing earlier speculation triggered by a PEGI listing that had suggested a PS5 version. The game is exclusive to Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC.
Yes. Gears of War: E-Day is available day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at no additional cost to subscribers. This includes the full game and campaign. It is also part of Xbox Play Anywhere, meaning eligible digital purchases give you access on both Xbox and Windows PC with a single purchase.
Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel set 14 years before the original Gears of War, during the first 24 hours of the Locust Horde's emergence from beneath the surface of Sera. The entire campaign takes place in Kalona, a single city, as it collapses under the first Locust assault. The story follows a younger Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago as they forge their bond in the chaos of first contact. Returning fan favourite Tai Kaliso also features. The Coalition has described the tone as a deliberate shift toward horror and survival.
Gears of War: E-Day is developed by The Coalition — the Xbox Game Studios team that has owned the Gears of War franchise since 2014. It is built in Unreal Engine 5, which The Coalition used to reconstruct the planet Sera from scratch with photo-realistic visuals. Published by Xbox Game Studios / Microsoft.
Three editions are available:
- Standard Edition — $69.99 (£59.99 / €69.99): Base game
- Premium Edition — $99: Base game + 5-day early access (Oct 1) + Premium Edition Upgrade + five Seasonal Customization Packs starting with the Emergence Pack
- Collector's Edition: Includes all Premium content plus physical collectibles — pricing varies by retailer
Yes. Gears of War: E-Day features multiple multiplayer modes. The headline addition is Horde Siege, a new mode that The Coalition describes as shining "when squads collide in its dense city" environment. Classic Gears multiplayer modes return alongside it. An open beta ran August 6–10, 2026, and set a new all-time Steam player count record for the Gears of War series.
Yes. Gears of War: E-Day launches on Steam on October 6, 2026 alongside the Xbox version. It is also available via the Xbox app on Windows PC. Xbox Play Anywhere applies to eligible digital Xbox purchases — meaning one purchase gives access on both Xbox console and Windows PC. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can play via the Xbox app or Steam without purchasing separately.
No. The October 6, 2026 release date was confirmed at the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2026 and has not changed. The open multiplayer beta in August 2026 ran on schedule, and The Coalition has made no public statements suggesting any delay risk. Xbox appears committed to landing E-Day as its major fall exclusive two weeks before Call of Duty and six weeks before GTA 6.