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Gears of War: E-Day takes place fourteen years before the original Gears of War. It depicts the Locust’s first emergence on Sera, with younger Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago confronting the invasion’s opening days. [Xbox Wire] [Xbox]
Where E-Day falls relative to the original
The confirmed placement is straightforward: E-Day is set fourteen years before the events of the first Gears of War. Xbox and The Coalition describe it as a story about the Locust emerging for the first time on Sera—not a later episode in the established Locust War. [Xbox Wire] [Xbox]
That interval is the useful anchor for readers trying to place the game. It is a prequel to the original, not a story set fourteen years afterward. The Coalition describes it as a new mainline entry set earlier in the series timeline, rather than a spin-off detached from the saga. [Xbox Wire]
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What Marcus and Dom are doing at this point
Marcus and Dom are younger than the versions familiar from the original game, but they are not inexperienced soldiers. They have served in the Pendulum Wars, the human conflict that preceded the Locust War. E-Day brings them up against a very different enemy: the Locust, whose emergence begins the crisis the later games follow. [Xbox Wire]
#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.
Their relationship is also part of the story’s purpose. Creative Director Matt Searcy has described E-Day as an origin story for Marcus and Dom’s bond, the brotherhood that becomes central to the franchise. That makes the game an early chapter in both the conflict and the partnership audiences know from later entries. [Xbox Wire]
What “E-Day” means
“E-Day” refers to the Locust invasion’s beginning: the day the Locust first emerge on Sera and humanity is thrust into war. The official Xbox description frames the game around Marcus and Dom trying to survive those first days. [Xbox]
Rank #2
- 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.
How much of the series timeline is established
The official material establishes E-Day’s position relative to the original Gears of War. It does not, on its own, provide a complete chronological order for every numbered game, spin-off, novel, or other story in the franchise. Treat the fourteen-year gap as the confirmed relationship, not as enough evidence to infer a full series timeline.
A 2026 Xbox Wire feature identifies Kalona as the city where E-Day takes place. That detail does not establish that the entire Locust War, or every event in the game, is confined to that city. [Xbox Wire]
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 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.
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.
Rank #3
At a glance
| Question | Established answer |
|---|---|
| When is E-Day set? | Fourteen years before the original Gears of War, according to Xbox and The Coalition. [Xbox Wire] [Xbox] |
| What event does it depict? | The Locust’s first emergence on Sera and the invasion’s opening days. [Xbox] |
| Who is at the center? | Younger Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago, veterans of the Pendulum Wars facing the Locust for the first time. [Xbox Wire] |
| Is it a spin-off? | The Coalition calls it a new mainline entry set earlier in the timeline. [Xbox Wire] |
| Is a full chronology confirmed here? | No. The cited official information confirms the gap to the original, not an exhaustive order for all games and other franchise stories. |
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