Gears of War fans get ready because it may not be too much longer until the next game arrives in 2026, so prepare for Emergence Day. Gears of War: E-Day has been built using Unreal Engine 5, and according to a report from 2024, it will have 100 times more environment and character details than Gears 5, use raytracing for lighting, shadows, and reflections, plus next-gen destruction, gore, and animations. The Coalition studio head, Mike Crump, shared the following with Xbox Wire regarding the upcoming game.
“Next year marks the 20th anniversary of Gears of War, and we can’t think of a bigger way to celebrate than with the release of Gears of War: E-Day. This is our most ambitious game yet, entirely built from scratch in Unreal Engine 5 to feel like Gears and play like new. This is a return to our roots as Marcus & Dom face the Locust for the first time ever. It’s the best place to jump into the Gears universe and we can’t wait to share more next year.”
– Mike Crump, The Coalition Studio Head
Gears of War: E-Day is set 14 years before Gears of War and features young versions of Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago. The story begins with the two heroes returning home as the Locust Horde emerges from their subterranean dwellings to wreak havoc upon humanity.
While an exact date has not yet been set, Xbox Game Studios has formally announced it will launch in 2026, which was also confirmed by The Coalition. Microsoft is planning a developer direct event in January, where it’s possible that more information for the upcoming prequel will be shared.
Mike Crump also added the following after being asked how it feels to see a game launch following its time in development.
“It’s been so cool to see players come together without barriers for the first time in Gears’ almost 20-year history. Seeing our community fight side by side whether through the campaign story or in Versus reaffirms and reminds us why we make Gears: because gaming brings us together.”