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The Xbox exclusive Gears of War: E-Day has reportedly experienced a slow commercial start, with estimated sales reaching 230,000 copies during its first week. These figures, provided by Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics, remain unofficial and have not been confirmed by Microsoft.
Data indicates that Steam accounted for 168,000 units, while combined Xbox console and PC sales totaled 62,000. Elliott suggests that the Xbox Game Pass subscription service is cannibalizing premium revenue, as players increasingly prefer subscription access over purchasing individual copies.
Despite low standalone sales, the game has seen significant engagement through Game Pass, with an estimated 1.7 million players accessing the title via the service. Additionally, 722,000 users reportedly paid $30 for the Premium Edition to secure early access, contributing to total estimated earnings of $37 million.
Elliott characterized the $70 premium SKU as functionally dead on Xbox, noting that for every copy sold on the platform, nearly 12 Premium upgrades were purchased. While the title received a 9/10 in IGN's campaign review, the reliance on Game Pass continues to spark debate regarding the long-term impact on base game sales.
