Gears of War: E-Day Launches October 6: Reviews, Game Pass and What to Know

What happened?

Gears of War: E-Day, developed by The Coalition with People Can Fly and published by Xbox Game Studios, launches on October 6, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. Players who bought the Premium Edition have been able to play since October 1, the same day the review embargo lifted. The game is included on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass from launch.

What the game is

E-Day is a prequel set 14 years before the original Gears of War, on Emergence Day — the day the Locust Horde first broke through the surface of Sera. It follows younger versions of Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago and is pitched as the origin of their partnership, built in Unreal Engine 5 with a darker, more horror-leaning tone than recent entries. Multiplayer modes ship alongside the campaign.

What critics are saying

Reviews published from October 1 have been strongly positive overall, with Metacritic averages in the high 80s at the time of writing and a large majority of OpenCritic reviews recommending it. The most consistent praise is for the cover-based shooting, which reviewers describe as classic Gears with modernized movement, for a more frightening take on the Locust, and for the visuals.

The most consistent criticism is the campaign's length and pacing. Several reviewers found its quieter stretches repetitive, and at least one said the story segments weren't as gripping as the combat; one reviewer reported around 25 hours to finish while chasing collectibles. Some PC-focused reviews also flagged technical problems on that platform. Scores move as more reviews arrive, so check the aggregates for current numbers.

Why it matters for Xbox

E-Day is one of Xbox's biggest first-party releases of the year and arrives at a delicate moment: Microsoft raised Xbox console prices on August 1, and in April it restructured Game Pass, cutting Ultimate's price to $22.99 a month while dropping day-one Call of Duty from the service. A well-reviewed exclusive that is included in Game Pass at launch is exactly the kind of release that new subscription strategy needs. It is also notable that, unlike some recent Xbox games, no PlayStation 5 version has been announced.

What we don't know

• •Whether E-Day will come to PS5 later — nothing has been announced
• •Post-launch plans for multiplayer content beyond launch
• •Sales or player numbers — Microsoft hasn't shared any yet

What happens next

Standard edition players and Game Pass subscribers get access on October 6. Expect Microsoft to talk about player numbers in the first weeks if the launch goes well — those would be official figures worth watching for, unlike unverified estimates that often circulate.