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The clock above counts down to Gears of War: E-Day in 2026, The Coalition's prequel chapter in the Gears of War saga, launching on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass.
Gears of War: E-Day is the next mainline Gears entry from The Coalition and the first new Gears game since Gears 5 in 2019. Microsoft and Xbox Game Studios announced the project at the June 2024 Xbox Games Showcase, with a 2026 release window targeted. The game brings the Gears franchise back to its origin: Emergence Day, the moment the Locust Horde first surfaced beneath Sera and triggered the war that defined the original trilogy.
E-Day stars a younger Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago decades before the events of Gears of War, leaning the franchise into a horror-survival register reminiscent of the first game's tone. The Coalition is building the project on Unreal Engine 5, with reported emphasis on lighting, destruction, and creature work suited to the prequel's apocalyptic timeframe.
Per Microsoft, Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago return as the lead duo, voiced again by John DiMaggio and Carlos Ferro. Reporting indicates the campaign covers the first 24 hours of the Locust emergence as the Coalition of Ordered Governments scrambles to respond. Expect a slower, more horror-tinged take on the cover-shooter formula, with classic Gears mechanics like active reload and the chainsaw bayonet preserved. Multiplayer details are expected closer to release.
Gears of War: E-Day launches on Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2026, with day-one availability on Game Pass for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass for Console subscribers. An exact date is expected at a future Xbox showcase. Cross-buy and cross-play across Xbox Series and PC are standard for first-party Microsoft releases.
For other 2026 Xbox first-party games, see the Fable countdown, the Forza Horizon 6 countdown, and the Perfect Dark countdown. Shooter fans should also follow the Battlefield 6 countdown and the Halo Campaign Evolved release. For other major action peers, see the Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred countdown and the Hollow Knight: Silksong countdown.
When does Gears of War: E-Day release? 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass; exact date pending. Where can I play Gears of War: E-Day? Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC via Microsoft Store and Steam, plus day-one on Xbox Game Pass. Is Gears of War: E-Day confirmed? Yes. Microsoft confirmed the project at the June 2024 Xbox Games Showcase. Is this a prequel? Yes. E-Day depicts the first day of the Locust War, decades before the original Gears of War.
