The Coalition has confirmed that Gears of War: E-Day is officially an Xbox console exclusive, skipping the previously expected PlayStation 5 release. After Gears of War: Reloaded marked the series' debut on PlayStation consoles, most expected Gears of War: E-Day to follow suit, but the developer has now confirmed this won't be the case, alongside an October release date.
Gears of War: E-Day is the first mainline release in the franchise since 2019's Gears 5. A seven-year gap between mainline titles is the largest in the series' history, and fans have been excited to hear more about the game since its announcement in 2024. It will see the return of fan-favorite characters Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago in a prequel set 14 years before the original game. Long-time fans of the Gears of War franchise will be extremely happy to see both characters make a comeback, and it will be interesting to see if the prequel lives up to expectations.
Gears of War: E-Day Officially Releases on October 6, 2026
In an impressive gameplay demo reveal at the Xbox Games Showcase 2026, it was finally confirmed that Gears of War: E-Day will not be releasing on PlayStation 5 after all, coming to PC and Xbox Series X/S on October 6, 2026. Rumors of Gears of War: E-Day coming to PlayStation consoles have rumbled since its first announcement, and with Xbox loosening exclusivity for its biggest franchises in recent years, it felt like the natural next step for Gears of War. Reloaded, the recent remaster of the first game in the series, came to PlayStation 5, but it now seems that Xbox has abandoned this in favor of console exclusivity. This does not affect the plans to bring the game to PC.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
The seven-minute Xbox Games Showcase gameplay trailer showed protagonist Marcus Fenix fighting off Locust in a civilian environment. The gameplay itself looks exactly like what fans have come to expect from the Gears of War franchise, with smooth movement, bloody gore, and some of the best cover-based combat out there. However, the visuals and animations have taken a clear leap forward, even when compared to Gears 5.
The news that Gears of War: E-Day will be an Xbox console exclusive comes on the back of recent leadership changes at the company. Back in April, a leaked internal memo suggested that Xbox will reevaluate its approach to exclusivity going forward, as new CEO Asha Sharma looks to revitalize the brand well into the future. While it will be disappointing for many to hear that Gears of War: E-Day won't be available on PS5 as expected, it shouldn't be a major surprise, given Xbox's recent change in direction.
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It's great to see Gears of War making a comeback in such a big way. It has always been one Xbox's biggest franchises, and the way it has set the standard in terms of third-person cover-based gameplay is nothing short of amazing. While The Coalition's handling of the franchise has been criticised by some, hopefully, Gears of War: E-Day can get it back on track.
- Released
- October 6, 2026
- Developer(s)
- The Coalition
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Franchise
- Gears of War
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
