Microsoft has announced that Gears of War: E-Day, the prequel about the origin of the Locust, will arrive on October 6, 2026. It will be exclusive to Xbox Series X/S, with no version for PlayStation 5. The company aims to boost sales of its hardware, although the strategy divides players and limits access to one of its most well-known franchises.
The prequel runs on Unreal Engine 5 with stable 60 FPS 🎮
Development is handled by The Coalition, which has confirmed the use of Unreal Engine 5 to deliver dynamic lighting and detailed geometry. The team is focused on achieving 60 frames per second on Series X, although on Series S it could be reduced to 30 FPS to maintain visual quality. The game is expected to leverage SSD storage for fast transitions between areas, but there will be no cooperative campaign mode at launch.
Microsoft announces two years in advance so you buy an Xbox 🕹️
Announcing a game for two and a half years from now is like booking a table at a restaurant that hasn't even bought its stoves yet. The strategy is clear: they want you to rush out and buy an Xbox before stock runs out. But let's be honest, if you don't have one yet, you're probably waiting for them to release Gears 6, not a prequel to something you already know how it ends. Meanwhile, Sony keeps selling PS5s like hotcakes.