Gears of War: E-Day field guide
Last updated: · By Ash Vector Desk
Gears of War: E-Day is The Coalition's origin-story shooter, released worldwide on October 6, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC and Steam, and included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. It costs $69.99 on Steam. This field guide covers codes and unlocks, Horde Siege classes and first-night campaign tips.
Gears of War: E-Day at a glance
| Item | Verified detail |
|---|---|
| Developer / publisher | The Coalition / Xbox Game Studios |
| Release | Oct 6, 2026 worldwide (Premium Edition early access from Oct 1) |
| Platforms | Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC (Microsoft Store), Steam; Xbox Play Anywhere |
| Price on Steam | $69.99 (checked Oct 15, 2026) |
| Modes | Campaign (solo, 2-player split-screen on console, up to 4 online), Horde Siege PvE, Versus 4v4 PvP (Ranked and Social) |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5; 4K and up to 60 FPS on supported hardware |
| Steam reviews | Mostly Positive, 9,315 reviews, about 74% positive (Oct 15, 2026) |
What is the E-Day campaign about?
The story is set fourteen years before the original Gears of War. Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago fight through three days and nights in the city of Kalona as the Locust Horde erupts from underground. Xbox Wire describes the campaign as primarily linear but with open pockets of the city, side paths and optional side missions that often reward a weapon mod.
First-night campaign tips (from the official launch guide)
| Tip | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Move cover to cover | A handful of Drones can deal heavy damage while you are exposed. |
| Know your loadout | Lancer is the all-rounder, Gnasher is point-blank, Longshot handles tanky enemies like Boomers at range. Weapon caches let you swap. |
| Practise melee early | The game teaches melee with a pipe and Snub pistol before guns; it stays a life-saver. |
| Use blind fire | Shooting from behind cover deals damage without making you a target. |
| Do side missions | Optional objectives add story and usually give a weapon mod. |
| Listen for the chime | A sharp audio chime on entering an area means a collectable is nearby. |
Editions and pre-order bonus
| Edition | What we can confirm |
|---|---|
| Standard | Base game; $69.99 on Steam |
| Premium Edition | Play up to five days early from October 1, 2026 |
| Premium Edition Upgrade | Upgrade path from Standard; counts for the pre-order bonus |
| Collector's Edition | Xbox Series X (disc) and Steam (digital code); includes the Premium digital upgrade; launched October 1 |
Pre-ordering any edition gave the Exfil Dom Legendary character skin and Exfil Legendary weapon skin set. Details are on our codes and unlocks page.
PC requirements
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit 22H2 | Windows 11 64-bit 25H2+ |
| CPU | Ryzen 5 2600X / i7-6850K / i5-10400 | Ryzen 5 5600 / i5-11600K |
| RAM | 12 GB | 16 GB |
| GPU | Hardware ray tracing required: RTX 2060 / RTX 5050 / RX 6600 / RX 9060 | RTX 3060 Ti / RTX 5060 / RX 6700 XT / RX 9060 XT |
| Storage | 115 GB SSD | 115 GB SSD |
The game is listed as optimized for Steam Deck and Xbox Ally handhelds on its Steam page.
What is in Versus?
Versus is the 4v4 PvP side of E-Day with all-new maps and refined fan-favorite modes. You can play Ranked to climb, or Social playlists for relaxed matches. Movement adds jump, vault and slide while keeping Gears' cover-based feel. Cross-platform play between supported platforms is available with optional account linking.
Known launch issues
Over the first weekend some players saw intermittent disconnects and login problems. The Coalition confirmed these were caused by DDoS attacks on the game's online services. If you can't connect, check the official Gears of War channels before reinstalling.
Which edition or way to play should I pick?
If you already pay for Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass, E-Day is included from launch day. Buying it on the Xbox store gives you Xbox Play Anywhere (one purchase, console and PC). Steam is a separate purchase at $69.99. Note that online campaign co-op, Horde Siege and Versus on Xbox require a Game Pass tier that includes online multiplayer.
Sources: Xbox.com · Steam store · Xbox Wire launch guide · GearsofWar.com editions