Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel about Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago on Emergence Day; Gears 5 continues the series through Kait Diaz. E-Day keeps cover-based combat but adds modernized movement and traversal, and its official performance target is up to 4K at 60 FPS. Gears 5 advertises up to 120 FPS in Versus on Xbox Series X|S and 4K HDR Ultra visuals on Series X. Those performance statements cover different modes and conditions, so they are not a direct benchmark comparison. As of October 7, 2026, E-Day is available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Steam.
At a glance: how E-Day and Gears 5 differ
| Decision | Gears of War: E-Day | Gears 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Story | Emergence Day origin story with Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago, set fourteen years before the original Gears of War. Xbox Wire | Kait Diaz-led campaign. Xbox |
| Combat and movement | Cover-based combat with modernized movement and traversal, according to Xbox. Xbox Store | Campaign, Versus, Horde, and Escape modes. Xbox |
| Campaign co-op | Online campaign for up to four; two-player split-screen on console. Xbox Store | Three-player online or split-screen campaign co-op. Xbox |
| Other modes | Horde Siege PvE and Versus PvP. Xbox Wire | Horde, Escape, and Versus. Xbox |
| Official performance statement | Up to 4K and 60 FPS across campaign and multiplayer; a compatible display is required for 4K and 60 FPS. Xbox Wire | Up to 120 FPS in Versus; 4K HDR Ultra visuals on Xbox Series X. Xbox |
| Platforms | Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Steam; cloud play is also listed through Game Pass Ultimate and GeForce NOW. Xbox Wire Xbox Wire | Xbox Series X|S optimized; Xbox’s page links Windows PC and Steam. Xbox |
How the gameplay changes
E-Day: an earlier story and updated movement
E-Day shifts the focus from Kait’s later-era story to the first Locust attack. Xbox describes its combat as recognizably Gears: players still use cover, while updated movement and traversal are intended to give them more freedom and verticality. That description signals an evolution of the familiar combat foundation, not a claim that the game abandons cover shooting. Xbox Store
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Gears of War: E-Day | Standard Edition | XBOX Series X | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360 (Renewed) | $18.27 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Steamforged Games Gears of War The Card Game: Core Game - 2 Players, 30-60 Minutes of Gameplay... | $14.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Gears of War 3 (Renewed) | $14.17 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Gears of War 4 - Xbox One (Renewed) | $24.01 | Buy on Amazon |
TechRadar’s review describes E-Day as recognizably Gears, with somewhat more open levels and a refined weapon-upgrade system. Those are the reviewer’s impressions, rather than an official exhaustive list of changes. TechRadar
Gears 5: a broader set of established modes
Gears 5 centers its campaign on Kait Diaz and offers Versus, Horde, and Escape alongside the story. Its campaign supports three-player co-op online or in split-screen. The game also carries character and weapon skins into new campaign playthroughs and offers bonus difficulties and modifiers, according to Xbox’s feature listing. Xbox
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#1 Best Overall
- AN ORIGIN STORY BEGINS — Fight alongside Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago in the gripping origin story of Emergence Day, as the Locust Horde erupts from below.
- A DARKER, GRITTIER THREAT — Face reimagined enemies and a terrifying underground invasion that restores the fear, dread, and intensity at the heart of the Gears of War series.
- MULTIPLAYER EVOLVED — Battle in Horde Siege for large‑scale PvE action or prove your skill in refined Versus PvP with greater precision and competitive depth.
- CLASSIC COMBAT, MODERNIZED — Experience signature cover‑based gameplay enhanced with updated movement, traversal, and controls that feel like Gears while playing like something new.
- CO‑OP YOUR WAY — Play online with up to four players across Campaign, Horde Siege, and Versus, or team up locally with 2‑player split‑screen co‑op on console.
Which game fits your co-op plans?
Player counts and local play options differ. E-Day’s listed campaign supports up to four online, but its two-player split-screen option is console-only. Gears 5 lists three-player campaign co-op both online and in split-screen. E-Day’s online campaign co-op, Horde Siege, Versus, and other online multiplayer features require a Game Pass subscription that includes online multiplayer. Xbox Store Xbox
- Choose E-Day for: the Emergence Day story, its new Horde Siege mode, and a four-player online campaign.
- Choose Gears 5 for: Kait’s campaign, three-player campaign co-op that is also listed for split-screen, and the Horde, Escape, and Versus lineup.
Performance: official targets are not a head-to-head test
What Xbox says about E-Day
Xbox promotes E-Day as built for 4K resolution and up to 60 FPS across campaign and multiplayer. Its listing qualifies 4K and 60 FPS as requiring a compatible display. Treat this as an official target, not proof of native 4K or a locked 60 FPS in every scene, mode, or supported platform. Xbox Wire Xbox Store
Rank #2
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
What Xbox says about Gears 5
Xbox lists up to 120 FPS in Versus as part of the Series X|S update and separately advertises 4K HDR Ultra visuals on Series X. The same update includes reduced load times, Instant Resume, and variable refresh-rate support. The 120 FPS statement is specific to Versus; it cannot be compared directly with E-Day’s up-to-60-FPS claim across campaign and multiplayer as if both games had been tested in the same mode, on the same console, and with the same settings. Xbox
What PC testing and reviews add
In a CPU benchmark published October 1, 2026, Tom’s Hardware tested 25 Intel and AMD CPUs with an RTX 5090 at 1080p to expose CPU differences. The outlet says it left 4K out of that CPU comparison because its graphics analysis found the game GPU-bound at that resolution. It reported that E-Day was CPU-demanding in its tested scenes and used the game’s built-in benchmark as a reasonable approximation, while noting that it did not exactly match its in-game scenes. These results describe that test setup, not a universal hardware requirement or a console performance result. Tom’s Hardware
Rank #3
- Listen up, soldier. The world is in ruin. The Locust Horde has risen. It’s Human vs Horde, and here’s your mission: Pick a side, build a powerful deck, and win the war. The fate of the world is in your hands!
- Experience the gritty gunplay of the video game in this official two-player card game. Take command of the COG forces or the Locust horde and seize control of the battlefield, one chapter at a time.
- Strategise your way through each chapter, bolstering your forces with classic characters like Marcus Fenix, General Raam, August “Cole Train” Cole, Dominic Santiago, and Damon Baird.
- Every battle counts. Whatever happens in each chapter will change what comes next, so you’d better be ready to dominate. The deck you build and decisions you make will change the way you play each campaign, making this a game you can reload time and time again.
- Whether you're a hardened vet or a grass-green rookie, get ready to take cover and lay down suppressive fire. Your enemies are trying to take the line, soldier. You’d better shove back hard.
Windows Central’s Xbox Series X review reports strong performance, with slowdowns in some particularly heavy late sequences; that reviewer also reported no crash during their review. This is one review experience, not a guarantee for every player or a controlled comparison against Gears 5. Windows Central
Platforms and PC requirements
As of October 7, 2026, E-Day’s announced October 6 worldwide launch date has passed. Xbox lists it for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC/Xbox on PC, and Steam, with cloud gaming through Game Pass Ultimate and GeForce NOW also named. Availability and regional access can change. Xbox Wire
Rank #4
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
Xbox published final PC specifications on September 17, 2026, after continuing to iterate on PC stability and performance following the multiplayer open beta. Because specifications can change with game updates, check the current official E-Day PC specifications before choosing or upgrading PC components rather than relying on an older parts list.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Accessibility and other practical differences
Xbox lists Gears 5 accessibility options that include full controller remapping, single-stick movement, Adaptive Controller support, narrated UI and menus, and improved subtitles. The sources cited here do not establish whether E-Day offers the same options, so this comparison cannot determine feature parity or imply that E-Day lacks them. Xbox
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 25 Years after Gears of War 3, spurred by a series of strange disappearances, JD Fenix must embrace his father’s legacy and battle a terrifying new enemy
- Never Fight Alone: Enjoy two-player co-op with friends locally via split-screen, over Xbox Live or LAN. Player 2 can select either Kait or Del
- Redefined Cover Gameplay: New close-cover combat moves and combat-knife executions turn each piece of cover into an offensive opportunity
- Brutal New Weapons: An incredible arsenal of new weapons includes the Buzzkill and Dropshot, which can shoot around and over cover, raining destruction from all angles
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
