Today, Gears of War: E-Day Early Access begins for Premium Edition players and Game Pass subscribers with the Premium Upgrade.
To mark the occasion, we’re releasing the Launch Gameplay Trailer, featuring Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls.”
Today is a moment we’ve been looking forward to for a long time. On behalf of everyone at The Coalition, thank you to the fans who have followed us on this journey. We can’t wait for you to experience Emergence Day for yourselves.
Early Access Is Live Now
Early Access for Gears of War: E-Day is live worldwide beginning today, October 1 at 8:00 a.m. PT / 15:00 UTC. The game launches worldwide on October 6 at 8:00 a.m. PT / 15:00 UTC.
Gears of War: E-Day is available on XBOX Series X|S, Windows PC, and Steam, with cloud gaming available through Game Pass Ultimate and GeForce NOW. Gears of War: E-Day will be part of the Disc to Digital program when the game releases for early access.
Plan Your Emergence Day
Whether you’re jumping in today or getting ready for October 6, you can check out the full Gears of War: E-Day achievement list and start planning your path through the game.
Beyond the Game
There’s more happening beyond the game to celebrate the launch of Gears of War: E-Day.
- Wear Gears. New launch apparel is available from the Gears of War XBOX Game Studios Shop, Roots of Fight XBOX Game Studios Shop and our partners and Affliction.
- Drink Gears. Pick up a Liquid Death Energy and upload your receipt to unlock an in-game chainsaw pose for your character.
- Eat Gears.Prince Street Pizza is celebrating with the Emergence Pie, a Gears-themed pizza available at locations across the United States and Canada, now for a limited time only.
- Read Gears:Go behind the scenes with The Art and Making of Gears of War: E-Day from Insight Editions, the official companion to the game. Featuring developer interviews on art, story, sound, and design, it is the most comprehensive single volume ever published about Gears of War.
- Listen Gears:The Gears of War: E-Day Original Soundtrack by Adam Lastiwka launches October 6 and is available to pre-save now. Stream “Emergence,” the first track released from the album, today on Spotify and other digital music services.
- Take Gears beyond the game with the Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition Xbox Wireless Controllers, available now. Pre-order the controller dock, launching October 9, and for PC players, pre-order 8BitDo’s E-Day Retro 87 Keyboard & Retro R8 Mouse, targeted to launch October 30.
We’ll see you on Emergence Day.
For the latest updates on Gears of War: E-Day, follow @GearsofWar on social media or visit GearsofWar.com.
Experiencing an issue? Visit GearsofWar.com/support to report a problem or find support ret status.gearsofwar.com

Gears of War: E-Day Pre-Order
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$69.99
Pre-order
Emergence Begins
Pre-order Gears of War: E-Day, get an XBOX gift card and unlock the Exfil Dom Character Skin and the Exfil Weapon Skin Set in-game at launch.* more details here https://aka.ms/Gears26
Experience the horror and brutality of Emergence Day. Fourteen years before the original Gears of War, join Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago in a gripping origin-story campaign as the Locust Horde first erupt from below, igniting a desperate fight for survival. Rally your squad and fight on in multiplayer with a reimagination of Gears’ iconic PvE mode, Horde Siege, or go head-to-head with a refined Versus PvP.* Built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, Gears of War: E-Day delivers the most immersive Gears yet.
The Story of E-Day
Fight through the chaos of Emergence Day in a gripping origin story campaign.
Battle alone, side by side in two-player split-screen, or rally up to four players online across Campaign, Horde Siege, and Versus.*
Horde Siege PvE – Back and Bigger Than Ever
Survive a city under siege in an evolved take on Gears’ iconic co-op wave survival mode built for larger maps, more players, and bigger battles.
Choose your class – Assault, Marksman, Medic, or Breacher – then drop in as a 4-player squad to fight back the Locust.
Team up with multiple squads to conquer shared objectives and take down world bosses. Survive to earn rewards, unlock customization and improve your loadout for the next match.
Versus Returns – Refined and Focused PvP
Battle across all-new maps and refined fan-favorite 4v4 modes.
Choose your level of competition. Lock in and climb the ranks in Ranked or jump into Social playlists for a more relaxed match.
Modernized controls and movement make combat feel more fluid while retaining Gears’ signature cover-based feel. Jump, vault, slide, and flank with intent.
A Terrifying Threat from Below
A darker, grittier tone and reimagined enemies restore fear and dread to the series.
Atmosphere and detail are pushed further than ever. The world feels more grounded, believable, and dangerous.
Familiar enemies are more threatening, joined by all-new creatures and villains that reestablish a true sense of horror.
Feels Like Gears. Plays Like New.
Iconic cover‑based combat returns, enhanced with modernized movement and traversal that add freedom and verticality.
Fan‑favorite weapons return and are reimagined, alongside all‑new weapons built for brutal, close‑quarters combat.
Rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5
A new technical foundation for Gears. Built for modern performance with 4K resolution and up to 60FPS across Campaign and Multiplayer.*
*Important Information
Pre-Order Offer: valid with pre-orders made before October 6, 2026 (7:59 am PT). At participating retailers while supplies last. Pre-order benefits may require redemption of a single-use code. Consult your retailer for details. Limit: 1 offer per person/account.
Online Multiplayer: Online campaign co-op, Horde Siege, Versus and other multiplayer features require a Game Pass subscription that includes online multiplayer, sold separately.
2-Player Split-Screen: is available for console only.
4K and 60FPS: require a compatible display.
Game requires initial download. May require future updates (additional storage may be required). All downloads and updates require significant storage and broadband internet connection (ISP fees apply). You must accept the Microsoft Services Agreement (microsoft.com/msa). May require additional hardware and subscriptions. Content, features, services, online play (if applicable), and support not available in all regions (xbox.com/regions) and may vary, change, or terminate. Microsoft Account required.
WARNING: Some people may experience a seizure when exposed to flashing lights or patterns in video games. (xbox.com/healthandsafety).