Gears of War: E-Day

A new story set at Emergence Day

Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel about the moment the Locust Horde first rises beneath the planet Sera. The Coalition places the story fourteen years before the original Gears of War, at the beginning of an invasion that turns civilian life into a fight for survival. Rather than revisit a later chapter in the series, E-Day centres on the first shock of the attack and on two familiar characters at a much younger point in their lives.

The campaign follows Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago as they face the first days of the Locust assault. Their friendship is part of the series’ history, but this story shows the events that bring them together as soldiers. The official description frames the game as an origin story, with the invasion and the pair’s struggle to survive at its centre. It is designed to be approachable as a standalone campaign while adding context for people who know the earlier games.

Campaign and co-op

The campaign can be played solo, in two-player split-screen co-op on console, or online with up to four players. That makes E-Day unusual in offering both a local split-screen option and a larger online group for the story. Online campaign co-op requires an eligible subscription for online multiplayer on console. The game’s official product information notes that split-screen is console-only, so PC players should not expect that local mode.

The structure keeps the main story separate from the competitive and wave-based modes. Players who want to follow Marcus and Dom’s narrative can focus on the campaign, while friends can coordinate through online co-op. The official Xbox page describes the campaign as a gripping origin story and stresses the choice between solo, split-screen and online play. It does not promise a branching campaign or a particular completion length, so those details are best left open until the developer publishes them.

Horde Siege and Versus

Horde Siege is the game’s co-operative PvE mode, described by Xbox as an evolved take on Gears’ wave-survival format. The mode gives the multiplayer suite a team-versus-environment option for players who would rather fight computer-controlled threats than compete against another squad. The official description calls the battlefield bigger and bolder, but the exact maps, classes and progression systems should be checked against current in-game or publisher information.

Versus is the competitive PvP side of the package. Xbox describes refined competitive play across new maps and familiar 4v4 formats. These modes are distinct from the campaign co-op: they are designed for players to face each other rather than progress through the story together. The online features require a subscription that includes online multiplayer on supported console platforms, according to the store listing.

Platforms, editions and current details

Gears of War: E-Day is listed for Xbox Series X|S and PC, with Xbox Play Anywhere and Steam availability announced by the publisher. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play at launch, while direct purchase is available through the Xbox and PC storefronts. Store terms can differ by region and platform, so check the relevant regional listing before buying or comparing bundles.

The US Xbox store lists a Standard Edition for $69.99 and a Premium Edition for $99.99. The Premium offer adds a weapon pack, five seasonal customisation packs beginning with the Emergence Pack, and 1,000 Iron. Standard owners can buy the Premium upgrade for $30, according to the product page. Prices are US list prices, not sale prices, and other storefronts or territories may display different amounts.

What to know before playing

E-Day keeps the series’ third-person shooter identity while shifting its setting back to the first hours of a world-changing invasion. The ESRB rates the game Mature 17+ for blood and gore, intense violence and strong language; its listing also notes online interactions and in-game purchases. That rating is a useful guide for families, while the ESRB entry provides the full content explanation.

For a first visit, the campaign is the clearest place to start: it establishes the attack, follows Marcus and Dom, and can be played alone or with friends. Horde Siege offers repeatable co-op against waves, and Versus provides competitive 4v4 play. The release date, platforms, edition prices and mode options in this guide come from Xbox or Gears of War publisher pages checked on 30 October 2026.