Lots of different gamers tuned in to the Xbox Games Showcase today, but we can guess that there was a majority that were expecting news about Gears of War: E-Day. And we are so very sorry to say that we got next to nothing. What we got instead was a single sentence confirming the game would release in 2026.
So, no gameplay footage, no behind-the-scenes breakdown, not even a new teaser. For a franchise that helped define the modern Xbox brand, the absence is very obvious. We did get news that Gears of War: Reloaded is coming out this August, but the last entry in the franchise was Gears 5, which is now nearly six years old.
Gears of War: E-Day gets no news or teaser at Xbox Games Showcase
Originally announced at the 2024 Xbox Showcase with an exciting cinematic reveal, Gears of War: E-Day has been one of the most anticipated Xbox titles in recent history. As a prequel set 14 years before the original Gears of War, the game will tell the origin story of fan-favorite heroes Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago.
‘GEARS OF WAR: E-DAY’ will release in 2026. pic.twitter.com/VySgNuEujn
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) June 8, 2025
In terms of the setting, we will be experiencing a depiction of Emergence Day, the brutal event that unleashed the Locust Horde on humanity. So it’ll be like a history lesson on the beginnings of this decades-long war. With veteran voice actors John DiMaggio and Carlos Ferro returning, expectations were sky-high. But this weekend, Xbox gave fans little more than déjà vu.
Phil Spencer, Xbox head, confirmed during the presentation that Gears of War: E-Day will launch sometime in 2026 as part of Xbox’s 25th anniversary celebration. But since we didn’t even get a new teaser or any sort of reveal, it does make us wonder how far along the game truly is. We might get the movie first at this rate(we’re joking, please don’t be real).
Welcome back to the army, soldier.
Pre-order Gears of War: Reloaded to lock into back-to-back Multiplayer Beta weekends, starting this Friday. pic.twitter.com/me1McvDjCP
— Gears of War (@GearsofWar) June 8, 2025
It’s also confusing when you look at exactly how many games were showcased. Spencer teased a possible Halo return, but again, nothing concrete. The lack of an update is also annoying when you consider how long it’s been since Gears 5 launched in 2019. That’s nearly six years ago, the longest gap between releases in the series’ history.
Don’t worry though, we get a consolation prize
All is not over, though, for Gears fans. Xbox Games Showcase did give us a consolation prize in the form of Gears of War: Reloaded, a remake of the 2006 original. Slated for release on August 26, the remaster features updated visuals, revamped multiplayer support, and—for the first time ever—is launching on PlayStation 5.
To be fair, Xbox might be saving a full reveal for another event later this year, like The Game Awards, or early next year. But as of now, the lack of E-Day content here leaves a bad taste in our mouths. The Gears community has been nothing if not patient. After all, we’ve waited through inconsistent sequels, spin-offs, and now a remake as we wait for actual new content.
There’s still hope that Gears of War: E-Day will deliver when it finally arrives. But until we see something more than marketing blurbs and recycled logos, it’s hard to shake the feeling that Xbox is underplaying one of its most iconic series.
So thanks for the release year, Xbox. We’ll just be over here, imagining what E-Day might look like
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
