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Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel origin story set fourteen years before the original Gears of War. It dramatizes Emergence Day, when the Locust Horde erupts from beneath the surface of Sera and begins the Locust War. You play as Marcus Fenix and Dominic “Dom” Santiago during the invasion’s opening hours, with the campaign set in the city of Kalona across three days and nights. The game launched on October 6, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S and Windows 10/11, with Steam and Game Pass access also listed by Xbox.
What is Gears of War: E-Day?
Gears of War: E-Day is a story-driven prequel to the first Gears of War. Rather than continuing the series into a later chapter, The Coalition returns to the event that defines the franchise’s history: Emergence Day, the sudden start of the Locust invasion.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Gears of War: E-Day | Standard Edition | XBOX Series X | $67.84 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360 (Renewed) | $18.12 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Gears of War 3 (Renewed) | $20.48 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Gears of War: Ultimate Edition - Xbox One (Renewed) | $18.74 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Gears of War 4 - Xbox One (Renewed) | $31.03 | Buy on Amazon |
The game follows Marcus Fenix and Dominic “Dom” Santiago before they become the battle-hardened figures seen in the original game. They and their new squadmates face the first wave of the underground Locust Horde in Kalona. The official timeline places the story fourteen years before Gears of War, making E-Day an origin story for both the war and Marcus and Dom’s relationship.
It is still recognizably a Gears game: the central campaign uses cover-based gunfights, a close-range weapon arsenal and coordinated squad combat. However, The Coalition says it rebuilt the cover system and revisited movement, weapons, enemies and the wider combat sandbox on Unreal Engine 5.
#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.
Is E-Day a prequel, and where does it fit in the timeline?
Fourteen years before the original game
Yes. E-Day is set exactly fourteen years before the original Gears of War, according to the official game page and Xbox materials. It therefore comes before the original Delta Squad story and before the later numbered entries in the series.
That placement matters because players see the Locust War at its beginning rather than after years of attrition. Marcus and Dom are not revisiting a historical event through a flashback; they are living through the first invasion as it happens.
The opening of the Locust War
Emergence Day is the name used for the moment the Locust Horde rises from below the surface and attacks humanity. The invasion changes Sera from a human civilization into a world fighting for survival. E-Day focuses on those opening hours, when the scale and nature of the threat are still unfamiliar.
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Why the series goes backward
Xbox Wire reports that The Coalition chose an origin story at Emergence Day instead of moving directly to another sequel. The decision lets the game answer foundational questions about the Locust War while showing Marcus and Dom before their later experiences shape them.
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 is the story about?
Marcus, Dom and the first invasion
Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago are the central protagonists. Their immediate problem is survival: the Locust are emerging beneath Sera, cities are under attack and the human military has to respond without a tested playbook for this enemy.
The campaign places Marcus, Dom and new squadmates in Kalona. Their missions are framed by the first hours of the invasion, so the setting is not simply a backdrop for familiar battles. Kalona is where the characters encounter the disruption, uncertainty and rapidly changing front lines created by Emergence Day.
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The emotional story includes the death of Dom’s brother, Carlos Santiago. The loss is a thematic presence rather than a detail that can be separated from the characters’ motivations. Nicole Fawcette, Studio Brand Director at The Coalition, describes E-Day as being defined by “two beginnings”: the day Sera falls apart and the beginning of the unbreakable bond between Marcus and Dom, formed as they overcome shared grief.
This framing explains why E-Day is more than a historical prequel. It is also the starting point for the friendship that becomes one of the series’ defining relationships. The campaign’s war story and personal story begin together.
What the game does not establish
Official launch materials identify the protagonists, setting, timeline and invasion premise, but they do not provide a complete mission list, a full account of every squadmate or a detailed chronology for each event in Kalona. Claims about specific missions, bosses or the exact length of the campaign should therefore be checked against later official announcements or the released game rather than assumed from the premise.
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.
Where is E-Day set?
Kalona on Emergence Day
The campaign takes place in Kalona, a city caught in the first days and nights of the Locust invasion. The launch guide’s three-day-and-night description gives the story a concentrated setting and time frame. Players are seeing one location during the moment the wider war begins, not a tour of every major place in the Gears timeline.
Sera before the war changes it
Because the game is set before the original title, Sera is shown at the point of rupture. Human institutions, military responses and ordinary life are reacting to an enemy that has appeared from underground. That perspective distinguishes E-Day from later games, where the Locust War is an established conflict and the characters already understand its rules.
How does E-Day play?
Rebuilt cover-based combat
Cover remains the foundation of combat, but The Coalition says the system was rebuilt rather than carried over unchanged. The studio also calls out work on movement, weapons, enemies and the combat sandbox. These changes are intended to affect how players move between cover, choose weapons and handle different enemy encounters, while preserving the series’ tactical, close-quarters identity.
Unreal Engine 5 is the game’s technical foundation. That is an engine choice, not a guarantee of a particular frame rate or resolution; performance depends on the platform and final settings.
Campaign options
The campaign supports several ways to play:
- Solo: play the story alone.
- Console split-screen: the Xbox listing specifies two-player split-screen.
- Online co-op: the official game page describes online campaign play for up to four players.
The split-screen and online limits are different specifications. Two players refers to the console split-screen arrangement, while up to four refers to the online campaign player limit.
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Rank #4
- This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
- 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 multiplayer modes are included?
| Mode | Type | What the official descriptions establish |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign | Solo or co-op | Playable solo, in two-player console split-screen, or online with up to four players. |
| Horde Siege | Player-versus-environment | A wave-survival evolution in which multiple squads operate on maps in Kalona; the multiplayer overview describes 12 players. |
| Versus | Player-versus-player | A competitive PvP mode. The cited launch materials do not state a complete player-count or playlist breakdown. |
Horde Siege
Horde Siege is the cooperative PvE mode. Instead of following the campaign’s scripted progression, players fight successive enemy waves. The developer describes it as a 12-player mode with multiple squads operating on maps in Kalona. That structure makes squad coordination central: players must manage threats across the map rather than treating every encounter as a four-person campaign fight.
The available description establishes the mode’s cooperative, wave-based design and 12-player format. It does not establish a full class system, progression model, map count or reward schedule.
Versus PvP
Versus provides competitive player-against-player matches alongside the campaign and Horde Siege. Official materials confirm the mode’s presence but do not specify every ruleset, team size or playlist. Those details can vary by the live service configuration and should be confirmed in the current in-game or storefront information.
When did E-Day release, and where can you play it?
Gears of War: E-Day launched on October 6, 2026. The official Xbox listing identifies Xbox Series X|S and Windows 10/11. Xbox’s launch guide also lists Steam and Game Pass availability.
| Access route | Platforms or service | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone purchase | Xbox Series X|S; Windows 10/11 PC; Steam listing | Edition names, pricing and regional taxes are time-sensitive and are not established by the launch description. |
| Game Pass | Xbox and PC access where the current catalog includes E-Day | Catalog membership, plan requirements and availability can change by region and date. |
Before buying or installing, check the storefront for your country. Availability, editions, subscription eligibility, required storage and PC system requirements can change after launch. A Game Pass listing is access through a subscription, not proof of perpetual ownership if the game later leaves the catalog.
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
Which version should you choose?
Xbox Series X|S
Choose the console version if you want couch play, including the specified two-player split-screen campaign, or if your library and Game Pass access are centered on Xbox. The exact visual and performance options depend on the console model and the game’s current patches.
Windows PC or Steam
The Windows 10/11 and Steam listings make PC a separate access route. Check the current system-requirements panel before purchase; the launch materials cited for the story and modes do not provide minimum or recommended CPU, GPU, memory or storage figures.
Game Pass
Game Pass can reduce the upfront cost when E-Day is included in the plan available to you. Verify the specific console or PC plan, regional catalog and any launch-period conditions in the Xbox app or Microsoft Store. Subscription access should not be confused with a standalone license.
What is known about the E-Day controller?
Xbox has announced a limited-edition Gears of War: E-Day Xbox Wireless Controller as an optional themed accessory. The announcement establishes the product’s existence, but current retail price, stock, regional release details and retailer availability are not fixed by the game’s launch information. Treat any listing as time-sensitive and verify it through an official regional store before purchasing.
How should returning players approach E-Day?
- Expect an origin story, not a sequel: the game is positioned before the original campaign and concentrates on the start of the Locust War.
- Pay attention to Marcus and Dom’s relationship: their bond is a central narrative subject, alongside the military crisis.
- Use the campaign format that fits your group: solo, two-player console split-screen or online co-op for up to four players.
- Try Horde Siege for larger groups: its 12-player, multi-squad structure differs from campaign co-op.
- Check current platform terms: Game Pass inclusion, storefront editions and regional availability can change after launch.
What E-Day adds to the Gears of War series
E-Day gives the franchise a defined starting point for two connected histories. In the wider story, it is the day the Locust emerge and the Locust War begins. In the character story, it is the period when Marcus and Dom’s friendship is forged through loss and combat.
That combination makes the game useful to two kinds of players. Newcomers can enter through the event that establishes the series’ central conflict, while longtime fans can see familiar characters before the original game and understand why their partnership carries so much emotional weight. The prequel setting also allows The Coalition to revisit the cover-combat formula while rebuilding its foundations in Unreal Engine 5.
The most precise description is therefore: a 2026 Gears prequel about Emergence Day, set fourteen years before the first game, starring Marcus and Dom in Kalona, with solo and cooperative campaign play plus Horde Siege and Versus modes.
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