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Gears of War: E-Day makes the Chainsaw Lancer’s origin part of its story: in this prequel, the weapon begins as a prototype assembled amid the first Locust invasion. Official gameplay details point to a familiar cover-shooter foundation with changes to movement, cover, and weapon handling. Early campaign impressions praise the shooting and chainsaw presentation, while raising questions about pacing and some enemy encounters. These are sourced impressions, not firsthand testing.
What is Gears of War: E-Day?
Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel set fourteen years before the original Gears of War. Xbox’s product description follows Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago as the Locust Horde erupts from below. Rather than treating the Chainsaw Lancer as an established piece of the series’ arsenal, the story shows its battlefield beginnings. Xbox Wire’s June 7, 2026 feature describes it as assembled from a prototype on the invasion’s front lines.
How does the chainsaw work in E-Day?
A prototype with a story behind it
In Xbox Wire’s development feature, the Chainsaw Lancer is “born on the battlefield,” kit-bashed from a prototype. The campaign hands-on describes the device as a standard Lancer crudely but thoughtfully fitted with an old chainsaw. That framing connects the weapon’s improvised appearance to the invasion setting; it does not establish a damage or performance advantage over earlier games.
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Chainsaw kills and combat choices
Xbox Wire’s August 25, 2026 campaign preview describes supply caches where players can replenish ammunition, change loadouts, and equip weapon modifications. One example is a reload effect triggered by a chainsaw kill. The Coalition also says weakened Boomers can be finished with a Lancer chainsaw, making timing and coordinated attacks relevant to that encounter. The Coalition’s gameplay update describes these systems but does not provide a basis for calling the chainsaw universally stronger or more damaging.
#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.
What’s new in Gears of War: E-Day gameplay?
The Coalition says E-Day was built from scratch around movement, cover, weapons, and enemies. Its gameplay update describes changes to the familiar Gears combat loop:
- More varied cover: The developer describes more types and heights of cover, along with additional actions. Low cover affects posture, and destroyed protection changes what remains available.
- More active movement: Windows Central’s review-in-progress highlights more immediate sprinting, climbing, and vaulting, as well as lower cover. These are that outlet’s observations from its preview slice.
- Different weapon handling: The Coalition says projectiles use simulated ballistics and travel time, and players can shoulder-swap while aiming. Its Prototype Lancer has a higher rate of fire and a deeper magazine than recent Lancers.
- Loadout decisions: In the campaign preview, supply caches offer a chance to restock, switch weapons, and apply mods, including the chainsaw-kill reload effect.
Together, those details suggest a loop that remains centered on fighting from cover but asks players to move between positions, account for projectile travel, and make use of loadout opportunities. That is a reading of the announced systems, not a claim that every encounter has been tested.
Rank #2
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- Includes full game of the original Gears of War remastered in 1080p.
- Play five campaign chapters never released on console.
- Experience competitive multiplayer in 60FPS with 19 maps and six game modes.
What do early campaign impressions say?
The available review-in-progress coverage reflects individual outlets’ responses to campaign material, not a settled consensus or a final assessment of every mode.
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| Outlet | What it praises | What it questions |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Central | It praises the chainsaw’s sound and gore presentation, and calls out the immediacy of movement and traversal. | It criticizes some large enemies for weak reactivity and describes exploration as an awkward open-but-not-actually-open structure. |
| PC Gamer | It says shooting and movement feel strong, with combat choices such as lining up a sniper shot, attempting a chainsaw kill, or dashing for cover. | It criticizes campaign pacing and length. Its pre-release assessment says multiplayer was not available to the reviewer. |
Those assessments are useful signals, not proof that every player will share the same view. In particular, criticism of large-enemy reactions and campaign structure should be attributed to the reviewers rather than presented as an established franchise-wide verdict.
Rank #3
- 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 platforms and modes are described?
Xbox Wire’s product information lists Xbox Series X|S and PC, Xbox Play Anywhere, Game Pass, and Steam. It describes campaign play alone, two-player split-screen, and online play for up to four players across campaign and multiplayer. Its June 2026 feature also describes Horde Siege as a 12-player PvE mode and Versus as 4v4 PvP. These are official descriptions; they do not amount to hands-on evaluation of multiplayer. PC Gamer explicitly had not assessed multiplayer in its pre-release review-in-progress. Check the current Xbox or Steam product listing for availability and any changes to platform or mode details.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Includes full game of the original Gears of War remastered in 1080p.
- Play five campaign chapters never released on console.
- Experience competitive multiplayer in 60FPS with 19 maps and six game modes.
Rank #4
- PREMIUM EDITION — Includes Bravo Squad Signature Weapon Pack, five Seasonal Customization Packs starting with the Emergence Pack, plus 1,000 Iron to unlock additional in‑game content.
- 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.
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