What it is
Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel set fourteen years before the original Gears of War, during the first hours of the Locust invasion known as Emergence Day. Developed by The Coalition, it follows a younger Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago as they try to survive an attack no one on Sera understands yet. The full UK release is Tuesday, 6 October 2026, at 4pm BST, with Premium Edition players able to begin on Thursday, 1 October at the same time.
- UK release
- Tuesday, 6 October 2026, 4pm BST; Premium early access from 1 October, 4pm BST
- Platforms
- Xbox Series X|S, PC via Xbox app and Steam, Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Developer
- The Coalition
- Publisher
- Xbox Game Studios
- UK price
- £59.99 Standard; £89.99 Premium; £30 Premium Upgrade
- PEGI
- 18 — Bad Language, Violence; in-game purchases
- Genre
- Third-person cover shooter
- Game Pass/PS Plus
- Day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass; no PlayStation version announced
- Online mode
- Yes — four-player campaign co-op, 12-player Horde Siege and 4v4 Versus
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
Story and setting
E-Day takes place in Kalona, a new city built specifically for the game. The campaign covers three intense days as the Locust erupt from underground and turn a populated city into a battlefield. Marcus and Dom are joined by Mags Carter, a former Gear working at an Imulsion refinery, and Lucas Reyes, a young communications cadet. Together they form Bravo Squad while trying to understand an enemy that has never been seen before.
The tone is intended to be darker and more horror-focused than later entries, with the Locust presented as an unknown threat rather than an established military enemy. The story remains centred on the beginnings of Marcus and Dom’s friendship, but the wider squad and the civilians of Kalona are also important to the campaign. All four Bravo Squad characters are playable from the beginning, rather than reserving co-op characters for separate multiplayer modes.
How it plays
This is still a third-person cover shooter, but The Coalition has rebuilt the movement and cover systems around more flexible encounters. Low cover can leave a Gear crouched or prone behind damaged debris, while sprinting can flow into slides, including slides under vehicles or directly into cover. Players can also jump, mantle and climb without first entering cover, creating more vertical routes through Kalona.
The weapons have been rebuilt alongside the movement system. The Gnasher, Lancer, Hammerburst, Breechshot, Snub and Retro Lancer all return in revised forms, while the Prototype Lancer and new weapons such as the Gut Puncher and Incinerator expand the arsenal. Projectiles have simulated travel time and ballistics, shoulder-swapping is available while aiming, and several weapons use round-by-round active reloads. The game is built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, with console support for 4K and up to 60fps on compatible displays.
Multiplayer and co-op
Campaign supports single-player, two-player split-screen on Xbox consoles and online co-op for up to four players. The online component also includes Horde Siege, a new 12-player PvE mode in which three four-person squads share larger sections of Kalona, pursue separate objectives and sometimes combine to fight major Locust threats. Four classes are confirmed at launch: Assault, Breacher, Marksman and Medic.
Versus returns as 4v4 multiplayer with four launch modes: Team Deathmatch, Conquest, Demolition and the new Crucible. Players start with the same equipment, while Power Weapons and map control provide the main advantages. Xbox and PC versions support cross-platform multiplayer and co-op, although console online play requires an Xbox Game Pass subscription that includes online multiplayer.
What the trailers have shown
The 9 June 2024 announce trailer established the premise: younger versions of Marcus and Dom face the Locust’s first emergence, presented in-engine with a strong horror tone. On 7 June 2026, the Xbox Games Showcase and accompanying E-Day Direct showed extended campaign gameplay, Kalona, the four-person Bravo Squad, new traversal options, destructible environments and the origin of the Chainsaw Lancer. The same presentation confirmed the return of co-op and the new Horde Siege mode.
The 30 July 2026 multiplayer reveal focused on Horde Siege, its three-squad structure, class system and 4v4 Versus. The 25 August Gamescom Opening Night Live story trailer introduced the Locust leader Vraahk and his Scorched Legion, giving a clearer look at the campaign’s brutal tone and its larger cast. The August open beta has now finished, having run from 6–10 August for early-access players and 13–17 August for everyone else.
Platforms, editions and UK price
The Standard Edition costs £59.99 in the UK and is available digitally and physically. The £89.99 Premium Edition is digital-only and includes the base game, up to five days of early access, the Bravo Squad Signature Weapon Pack, 1,000 Iron and five seasonal customisation packs. The Premium Edition Upgrade is listed at £30 for players who already own the Standard Edition. Xbox Play Anywhere covers a single purchase across Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC, while the PC release is also available on Steam.
The Collector’s Edition includes the Premium Edition, a 15-inch Marcus and Dom diorama, Carlos Santiago’s COG tags, an in-game photograph, art print, SteelBook case and display packaging. It is planned for Xbox Series X and Steam, with a disc in the Xbox version and a digital code for Steam. Microsoft Store UK, Steam and selected UK retailers are the confirmed preorder routes; the game is also day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on 6 October.
What remains unconfirmed
The Coalition has not announced a campaign length, a full post-launch content schedule beyond five planned multiplayer seasons, or an official UK RRP for the Collector’s Edition. No PlayStation or Nintendo version has been announced; Xbox describes E-Day as an Xbox console exclusive, with PC versions confirmed.
With the beta over and the game not yet fully released, the Standard Edition or Game Pass is the sensible option for most UK players. Premium is mainly for those who want to play from 1 October and value its cosmetic extras. There is no need to preorder for beta access now, because both beta weekends have already ended.
Not yet confirmed
- The Collector’s Edition has no confirmed UK RRP in the official UK listings, and UK stock availability may vary.
- No PlayStation or Nintendo version has been announced. Xbox has described the game as an Xbox console exclusive, with PC versions confirmed.
- The campaign length has not been announced.
- The detailed roadmap for the five planned multiplayer seasons, including all future maps, modes and classes, has not been published.
Gears of War: E-Day: your questions
When does Gears of War: E-Day release in the UK?
The full UK launch is Tuesday, 6 October 2026 at 4pm BST. Premium Edition and Collector’s Edition owners get up to five days of early access from Thursday, 1 October at 4pm BST.
Is Gears of War: E-Day on Game Pass?
Yes. It launches day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on 6 October 2026. Game Pass does not provide the Premium Edition’s early-access period.
Does Gears of War: E-Day have online co-op?
Yes. The campaign supports online co-op for up to four players, while Horde Siege supports 12 players across three squads. Versus is built around 4v4 matches, and campaign co-op also supports two-player split-screen on Xbox consoles.
Is Gears of War: E-Day coming to PS5?
No PlayStation version has been announced. The confirmed platforms are Xbox Series X|S and PC, with Xbox describing the game as an Xbox console exclusive.
How much does Gears of War: E-Day cost in the UK?
The Standard Edition is £59.99, the Premium Edition is £89.99 and the Premium Edition Upgrade is £30. The Collector’s Edition includes the Premium Edition and physical collectibles, but its official UK price has not been confirmed.
