Microsoft revealed Gears of War: E-Day as an Xbox console and PC exclusive with a launch date set for October 6, 2026. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed, "E-Day will be an Xbox exclusive game when it launches in October" during the Xbox Games Showcase on June 4, 2026 [1, 2, 3].
A prequel to the original Gears of War, E-Day follows Marcus and Dom during the Locust Horde's first Emergence Day attack. The game is built on Unreal Engine 5 and promises a more linear experience than Gears 5 [1, 2, 3].
The campaign supports single-player mode, two-player local split-screen co-op, and up to four-player online co-op [2]. Multiplayer features include traditional 4v4 Versus matches and a 12-player player-versus-environment mode called Horde Siege [2].
An open multiplayer beta will begin on August 6, 2026. Players who preorder digitally or have Xbox Game Pass subscriptions will receive early beta access. Physical preorders will include beta codes at purchase [4].
The game will not launch on PlayStation 5, confirming its exclusivity to Microsoft platforms [1, 2, 5]. Pricing for Gears of War: E-Day starts around $69.99 for the Standard Edition. The Premium Edition is priced at $99.99, and the Collector's Edition costs $299.99 [6].
The official release on October 6 is the next key milestone after the upcoming beta in August [1, 2, 6, 4].
