Summary
Gears of War: E-Daywas announced at this week’s Xbox Showcase, taking fans back to the eventful day that started it all. Set 14 years before 2006’s originalGears of War, players will follow Marcus Phoenix and Dominic Santiago as they face off against the Locust emergence on Sera. Over the years,theGears of Warfranchisehas gone through many shifts, introducing new lead characters, technology, locations, and villains. While some of these features worked, the trajectory of the series, as a whole, has left many fans wanting.Gears of War: E-Day’s return to its roots appears intended to rectify that issue, with one early detail undoing the franchise’s biggest recent mistake.
Gears of War: E-Daywill thrust players into theGears of Warseries' inciting event, Emergence Day, when the Locust horde erupted from below the ground, and began laying siege to humanity. The title will follow a young Marcus and Dom as they fight back the horde from humanity’s homeworld, Sera, with fans once again playing as Marcus himself.Gears of War: E-Dayis expected to explore the series' lore and offer insight into the motivations of its original protagonists. However, little else is currently known about the title.
Gears of War: E-Day Brings the Series' Titular War Back Into Focus
RecentGears of Wartitles have exploredhumanity’s conflict with the Swarm, a remnant of the Locust horde that emerged 25 years after their defeat on V-Day. However, this new storyline led to more than just a departure from the original trilogy’s characters and conflict. Starting in 2019, the franchise released new titles under the banner ofGears, quite literally leaving the titular “War” behind.Gears: Pop!,Gears 5, andGears: Tacticseach explored new and unique takes on the series' lore and universe, marking a clear series shift. While the mainlineGears 5was still positively received both commercially and critically, the franchise’s overall removal of “of War” from its titles, and the clear departure it was meant to insinuate, are among its biggest mistakes.
Withthe announcement ofGears of War: E-Day,developer The Coalition returns the series and its titles to their roots. WhileGears 5was a worthy entry in the franchise, fans were deeply connected to the original trilogy’s characters and conflict, with many hoping to experience more from that era. By returning “of War” toE-Day’s title, The Coalition is declaring its next entry to embody what made classic titles so endearing. What’s more, it marks a purposeful shift in tone that’s cause for excitement.
Gears of War: E-Days Title Shift is a Sign of What’s to Come
Gears of War: E-Day’s title shift is more than just a declaration of the series’ return to form; it’s a sign of what’s to come. For the first time in a decade, fans will be returning to the front lines of humanity’s war with the Locusts.Emergence Dayhas long been heralded as the most pivotal event in the series’ history, and fans will now be given a front-row seat to how Marcus and Dom became humanity’s best hope for survival and future saviors. However, fans are already beginning to speculate that E-Day is more than just a glimpse at the series’ inaugural event.
Gears of War: E-Day,and the format of its title, may be hinting at a new series of entries in theGears of Warfranchise. By marking this newest entry asGears of War, rather than aGearstitle,The Coalitionleaves room for follow-up entries to insert their own subtitles and continue an exploration of the franchise’s earliest events. Little is known aboutGears of War: E-Day,beyond its reveal trailer, though previous entries have revealed some lore and ensuing events. Fans of theGears of Warfranchise may need to wait a while longer before more details emerge, asGears of War: E-Dayis still in active development.
Gears of War: E-Day
WHERE TO PLAY
The Story of E-DayFourteen years before Gears of War, war heroes Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago return home to face a new nightmare: the Locust Horde. These subterranean monsters, grotesque and relentless, erupt from below, laying siege on humanity itself. New FoundationsBuilt from the ground up with Unreal Engine 5, Gears of War: E-Day delivers unprecedented graphical fidelity.
