Gears of War: E-Day Wiki — Guides, Campaign & Weapons

Gears of War: E-Day launches October 6, 2026 on Steam and Xbox Series X|S. The Standard Edition costs $69.99, while the Premium Edition at $99.99 includes 5-day early access, Iron currency and seasonal packs. The game is also available at launch on Xbox Game Pass with Play Anywhere cross-progression.

Yes — the open beta ran from August 6 to August 10, 2026 and set a franchise record on Steam with 22,084 peak concurrent players, far surpassing Gears 5's previous mark. The beta previewed Versus modes, Horde Siege and a slice of the campaign, and many pre-launch weapon balance discussions are based on its data.

The full campaign supports 4-player online co-op, and all four members of Bravo Squad — Marcus Fenix, Dom Santiago, Mags Carter and Lucas Reyes — are playable. You can also play solo with AI squadmates, and console players get 2-player split-screen co-op. Your squad can revive each other and share the fight through Emergence Holes.

The story spans three brutal days set on Emergence Day itself, told across multiple chapters in the city of Kalona. An exact hours-to-beat figure is not confirmed before launch, but the game is a full-priced mainline Gears campaign with a prologue, side content and collectibles. Expect a length comparable to past mainline Gears entries.

The Lancer assault rifle with its chainsaw bayonet remains the backbone of any loadout and tops the pre-launch tier list for its versatility. The Gnasher shotgun is the close-quarters king and essential for rush play, while the new Gutpuncher grenade launcher excels at burst damage against grouped enemies. Your best pick depends on range and playstyle.

The Medic is widely considered the strongest class because the Stim Vaporizer heals and revives teammates even from other squads. Assault and Breacher are great frontline picks for damage and survivability, while Marksman rewards precise aim with improved critical damage. New players should start with Assault or Medic and learn each class's role before diving into Allfather difficulty.

Yes — crossplay is supported between Steam and Xbox Series X|S, and Play Anywhere provides cross-progression so your unlocks carry across platforms. Versus multiplayer runs up to 120 FPS on PC. Party systems let you squad up across platforms before matchmaking.

The Standard Edition is $69.99 and includes the full game. The Premium Edition is $99.99 and adds 5-day early access, Iron currency, seasonal packs and bonus cosmetics. The game is also included in Xbox Game Pass at launch, with no battle pass and a cosmetics system built around earning Coins and Iron by playing.