Key information
Gears of War: E-Day is scheduled for a global release on October 6, while owners of the Premium edition can already play via early access which started on October 1. Developer The Coalition confirmed that the upcoming title will omit several classic franchise features at launch, as the studio started with a blank hard drive to rebuild all gameplay systems from scratch.
According to the developer, missing elements at launch include human shields, Lancer chainsaw duels, certain weapons from past entries, private rooms, and leaderboards. This rebuilding process aimed to create a more unified experience across campaign, PvE, and PvP, introducing new mechanics for cover, combat, and enemies at the cost of omitting these legacy functions.
Creative director Matt Searcy joked that characters in this prequel timeline simply have not learned those techniques yet. While these features are not permanently gone from the franchise, their return after launch or in a future title remains a possibility rather than a guarantee, as the studio's current priority is a stable launch.
Despite these omissions, the Gnasher shotgun features a new hybrid system that registers hits based on camera and barrel checks to better match player expectations. The full game launches on Xbox Series X|S and PC, and will be included in Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
