Gears of War: E-Day kicked off the recent Xbox Games Showcase, and it looks pretty awesome. Back in 2024, a dramatic cinematic trailer was released, but this year’s Xbox Games Showcase finally offered a sneak peek at gameplay and the horrors of what went down on Emergence Day. Gears of War: E-Day lifts the veil on the most important piece of Gears of War‘s lore, and it’s going to be exciting to see Marcus and Dom back in action.
The look at Gears of War: E-Day featured Marcus, Dom, and fellow soldiers running through the chaotic streets of Kalona as they try to rescue civilians and blast their way through Locust attacks. Beyond that, a Gears of War: E-Day release date was confirmed for October 6. That was extra exciting, but there is one thing that I can’t get out of my mind ever since seeing the footage: Marcus and Dom in street clothes just feels wrong.
Gears of War: E-Day’s Focus on Kalona Makes It Sound Even More Like a Horror Game
Gears of War: E-Day is taking the fight against the Locust Horde strictly to Kalona, opening the door to even more horror than anticipated.
After the Gears of War: E-Day Gameplay Preview, I Wish I Could Unsee Marcus and Dom in Normal Clothes
I’m clearly joking (kind of) about the duo’s shocking new look in the new teaser, but it was honestly pretty distracting at first. Yes, this is a prequel, and Marcus and Dom were just trying to live their normal lives when the Locust Horde emerged from the depths of Sera. The civilian clothes make sense for the story, but it’s jarring nonetheless.
What’s That Weapon?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
For some reason, Marcus’ appearance is the most shocking between the two. He almost looks like Days Gone‘s Deacon St. John if he had stumbled upon a stash of human growth hormone in the zombie apocalypse. Dom still looks strange at first, but his features don’t feel quite as exaggerated by the normal clothes as Marcus does.
Marcus and Dom Have Always Been Hulk-Like
One of the defining features of Gears of War‘s art style is the characters’ exaggerated bodies. Marcus and Dom have always been comically large. The main thing that helps make it not seem so weird, though, is the fact that they have also traditionally been shown wearing huge sets of armor throughout the Gears of War games.
The ridiculously oversized armor helps balance everything out. It plays into the power fantasy that playing as Marcus often is. Stripping him and Dom of their armor makes it abundantly clear how freakish Coalition soldiers look in everyday situations. Watching Marcus stomp around Kalona’s destroyed streets makes it look like he’s a mini version of the Hulk running about with a giant gun. Wielding the huge weapons in Gears of War definitely requires plenty of muscle, but the E-Day teaser had me asking if Marcus, Dom, and the other soldiers have to have their clothing custom ordered.
A lot of gamers were surprised at the Xbox Games Showcase when it was revealed that Gears of War: E-Day is an Xbox console exclusive. After last year’s Gears of War: Reloaded marked the first time that the series had ever been available on a PlayStation console, there were expectations that Xbox would continue this trend with E-Day. Xbox has been backpedaling its plans to get rid of exclusivity, and this decision has been one of the biggest examples of how the company is sticking with the new direction.
Marcus Fenix’s Time in Streetwear Will More Than Likely Be Short-Lived
Marcus fighting for survival in his brown suede jacket and jeans probably won’t last very long. As the Locust threat gets worse, it will inevitably be time for him and Dom to suit up. It’s already been confirmed that the two will have to don their armor at some point in the story. The first Gears of War: E-Day trailer showed Marcus and Dom in all their iconic gear. So, fans who have also been taken aback by seeing them looking like juggernauts living among the people of Sera will probably only have to see them in this state for a few moments.
A Jacket-Wearing Marcus is Still Far From a Deal-Breaker
Even if Marcus happens to be in his everyday clothing throughout most of the story, it’s not like I’m going to avoid buying the game because of it. It’s just that after growing up with the franchise, the thought of playing as Gears of War‘s Marcus Fenix without being encased in a giant metal suit is a change I wasn’t fully prepared for. In hindsight, it makes complete sense. It would actually be even weirder if he was gallivanting throughout Kalona decked out in a full suit of armor before there was even an invasion to worry about.
Netflix is currently working on a live-action Gears of War movie, but the cast and release date have yet to be revealed.
Getting Used to Marcus and Dom’s New Looks Will Probably Be Quicker Than Expected
Once the Locust Horde shows up and it’s time to blast through Kalona, the strangeness of Marcus and Dom wearing jeans is more than likely going to quickly fade away into the backs of most players’ minds. It might not even be something that newcomers to the Gears of War franchise will even notice, since they aren’t used to seeing the duo in such specific outfits. This is probably going to be an entry point for a lot of gamers who decide to check out the game at launch. In the past Gears of War games, Marcus and Dom were actually bigger, so their E-Day designs could have been even more shocking.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
In Gears of War: E-Day‘s story, Marcus and Dom are still soldiers, but they have yet to endure the years of trying to take out the Locust Horde. The two had no idea at the time of Emergence Day that they would be signing up for over a decade of conflict. Gears of War: E-Day was always promising a look into a different side of Marcus and Dom’s lives. The streetwear might be surprising, but it’s a great way to remind longtime fans that they were once expecting to live a normal life before the Locust Horde threw everything into chaos.
