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The Coalition Studio Head Mike Crump recently defended the decision to keep Gears of War: E-Day as an Xbox exclusive, despite reports that the title was pulled from a planned PlayStation 5 release earlier this year. Crump stated that the franchise has been deeply entwined with the Xbox brand for two decades and serves to carry the platform's banner.
While acknowledging that a multi-platform release might have yielded higher sales, Crump emphasized that success is measured by how well the game showcases Xbox hardware capabilities. The title aims to demonstrate the potential of the console ecosystem rather than focusing solely on unit sales or retention metrics.
Reviewer Ryan McCaffrey awarded the game a 9, praising its return to the series' roots with Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago. He noted that the title successfully evolves combat, weapons, and enemy encounters, delivering a campaign that stands alongside previous entries in the franchise.
Technically, the game is described as a marvel that runs well on both Xbox Series X and S, though the latter required specific optimizations. Despite critical acclaim, concerns regarding potential layoffs at The Coalition persist amidst Microsoft's ongoing restructuring, though Crump maintains the team's focus remains on delivering a high-quality experience.
