Today marks the worldwide launch of Gears of War: E-Day, now available on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, Game Pass and Steam. One of XBOX’s most iconic sagas returns to where it all began, taking players back to the opening hours of Emergence Day and the catastrophic event that changed the world of Sera forever.
Emergence Day is a defining moment for the Gears of War universe – the catastrophic event changed the world of Sera forever, but the story of that fateful night has never been fully told, until now.
Gears of War: E-Day transports us back to the opening hours of the Locust invasion, where an unsuspecting world is ruthlessly plunged into chaos as monsters erupt from underground. Across three harrowing days and nights, Marcus Fenix, Dom Santiago and their fierce new squad mates fight desperately to survive the onslaught consuming the city of Kalona, while uncovering the true scale of a threat unlike anything they – or humanity – has ever faced.
From the moment the prologue opens, Gears of War: E-Day showcases a masterclass in action-horror. This is not the Locust enemy you’ve fought before. They’re equally cunning as they are violent, and frankly, you should be terrified to face them. If this is your first deployment, or you’re coming out of retirement to fight the war ahead, we’ve got you covered. Before you step out onto the streets of Kalona, here are a few things every Gear should know.
Learn When to Push Forward, When to Hold Your Ground, and When to Get Out of the F**ckin’ Way
Gears of War is famously a cover-based shooter, and you’ll rely on it to stay alive as you push through the Locust. Keep your head down and dip from cover-to-cover – and avoid walking out into the open unless you’re rushing an enemy with a melee attack. Even a handful of Drones can deal massive damage while you’re exposed, which can be trouble for both you and the squadmate that may have to come and revive you. Sometimes, the best course of action is to hold patiently and pick off enemies as they come, and there’s no shame in that strategy.
Sometimes, you’ll just need to haul ass and stay as mobile as you can, which I quickly learned during an early fight with a Brumak wielding a horrible chain weapon. There’s no peace to be found in cover for that situation – fan out, keep it distracted, and pray that it doesn’t decide to charge you while your gun is jammed.
Know Your Loadout
Each weapon you’ll find in E-Day is deeply situational, which makes for a great tactical experience. The Chainsaw Lancer is a great all-rounder, offering close-to-mid range firepower and a big ol’ (upgradeable) mag to chew through. The Gnasher is a stellar shotgun, fantastic for devastating point-blank damage. The Longshot Sniper, one of my personal favorites, pops a slick, long-range slug into unsuspecting foes from a great distance. Not only is that incredibly satisfying each time, but it lets you get a stack of damage into a tankier enemy – like a Boomer, before it gets close to you. There are caches dotted around Kalona that let you switch up your loadout, too, so don’t feel like you’re locked into a specific style of play forever. Mix up your strategy, swap roles with your friends, but above all – experiment!
Melee is a Gear’s Best Friend
I know I said this is a cover-based shooter, but sometimes you’ll need to resort to more personal measures. Before E-Day even lets you look at a gun, it hands out a crash course in melee – one of the most useful, life-saving abilities for a Gear. Spend some time getting to grips with how it works when wielding a metal pipe and the Snub pistol – figure out the weight of the swing, and how it feels to hit enemies in front, and more importantly, behind you. Later, melee becomes even more fun with the Chainsaw Lancer, and you’ll feel extra confident with it once you’ve got the basics of backhanding down.
Blind Shooting is Back, and Remains Effective
As soon as you pop your head up to aim a shot, you’re a giant bullet magnet, effectively inviting every weapon-wielder on the map to pop you like a balloon. Fortunately, Gears can shoot blind from behind cover, which is a superb way to dish out additional damage to something getting too close for comfort. If you don’t have the health to rush out for a melee takedown, or you need a few seconds of recovery time, blind fire from cover is a clutch move to get the job done.
Look Out For Side Missions, And Their Rewards
While E-Day‘s campaign is primarily linear, Kalona has large pockets of open space with multiple pathways towards the next objective, as well as side paths that may lead to side missions. These are smaller, optional objectives that let you support other squads, help civilians, and otherwise contribute to saving the city. Not only do they offer additional insight into the wider story, you’ll also get a nice reward for doing it, often a weapon mod.
Audio Chime Means Collectables
While you’re exploring, keep an ear open for a sharp chime whenever you enter a new area of the city – anywhere from inside a building to a side street. That means there’s a collectable nearby. These range from familiar items like COG armor and tags, to esoteric pieces like… a can of soup. They all come with great little lore entries too, some written by the squad members themselves. It’s a wonderful added insight into their stories, and the wider world, so pick them up when you can.
Now that you’re equipped with the basics, there’s only one thing left to do – get out there. Gather your squad, load up, and uncover the world-shattering event that started it all. Gears of War: E-Day is available today on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, Game Pass and Steam. Play it on both console and PC at no additional cost with XBOX Play Anywhere.
Gears of War: E-Day
Xbox Game Studios
$69.99
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
Emergence Begins
Experience the horror and brutality of Emergence Day. Fourteen years before the original Gears of War, join Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago in a gripping origin-story campaign as the Locust Horde first erupt from below, igniting a desperate fight for survival. Rally your squad and fight on in multiplayer with a reimagination of Gears’ iconic PvE mode, Horde Siege, or go head-to-head with a refined Versus PvP.* Built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, Gears of War: E-Day delivers the most immersive Gears yet.
The Story of E-Day
Fight through the chaos of Emergence Day in a gripping origin story campaign.
Battle alone, side by side in two-player split-screen, or rally up to four players online across Campaign, Horde Siege, and Versus.*
Horde Siege PvE – Back and Bigger Than Ever
Survive a city under siege in an evolved take on Gears’ iconic co-op wave survival mode built for larger maps, more players, and bigger battles.
Choose your class – Assault, Marksman, Medic, or Breacher – then drop in as a 4-player squad to fight back the Locust.
Team up with multiple squads to conquer shared objectives and take down world bosses. Survive to earn rewards, unlock customization and improve your loadout for the next match.
Versus Returns – Refined and Focused PvP
Battle across all-new maps and refined fan-favorite 4v4 modes.
Choose your level of competition. Lock in and climb the ranks in Ranked or jump into Social playlists for a more relaxed match.
Modernized controls and movement make combat feel more fluid while retaining Gears’ signature cover-based feel. Jump, vault, slide, and flank with intent.
A Terrifying Threat from Below
A darker, grittier tone and reimagined enemies restore fear and dread to the series.
Atmosphere and detail are pushed further than ever. The world feels more grounded, believable, and dangerous.
Familiar enemies are more threatening, joined by all-new creatures and villains that reestablish a true sense of horror.
Feels Like Gears. Plays Like New.
Iconic cover‑based combat returns, enhanced with modernized movement and traversal that add freedom and verticality.
Fan‑favorite weapons return and are reimagined, alongside all‑new weapons built for brutal, close‑quarters combat.
Rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5
A new technical foundation for Gears. Built for modern performance with 4K resolution and up to 60FPS across Campaign and Multiplayer.*
*Important Information
Online Multiplayer: Online campaign co-op, Horde Siege, Versus and other multiplayer features require a Game Pass subscription that includes online multiplayer, sold separately.
2-Player Split-Screen: is available for console only.
4K and 60FPS: require a compatible display.
Game requires initial download. May require future updates (additional storage may be required). All downloads and updates require significant storage and broadband internet connection (ISP fees apply). You must accept the Microsoft Services Agreement (microsoft.com/msa). May require additional hardware and subscriptions. Content, features, services, online play (if applicable), and support not available in all regions (xbox.com/regions) and may vary, change, or terminate. Microsoft Account required.
WARNING: Some people may experience a seizure when exposed to flashing lights or patterns in video games. (xbox.com/healthandsafety).