I greatly enjoyed what I played of the Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer beta. The movement changes made the classic Gears of War PvP experience feel fresh yet familiar at the same time, and I can’t wait to play more once the full game launches on October 6. But while I have often had great experiences with Gears PvP over the years, the big selling point for me has always been the campaigns. The Gears of War series has consistently delivered explosive campaigns full of exciting action and jaw-dropping moments, and I am expecting the same from Gears of War: E-Day.
GameRant was recently given the chance to go hands-on with the Gears of War: E-Day campaign, with our preview covering the first two chapters of Act 2. My time in the Gears of War: E-Day campaign only lasted about an hour or so, but it left me with the same feeling I came away from the multiplayer beta with: incredibly optimistic that classic Gears is back in full force.
Bravo Squad
Jumping into a Gears of War campaign at the beginning of Act 2 isn’t exactly the ideal scenario, but I was able to get my bearings quick. The chapter started with fan favorite franchise heroes Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago officially forming Bravo Squad with newcomers Mags Carter and Lucas Reyes. Seeing Marcus and Dom in street clothes is still weird, but they officially suit up at the beginning of Act 2.
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After they’re fully armored, Bravo Squad and other Gears (including Tai from Gears of War 2) set out to take back a bridge that has been infested by Locusts. What proceeds is standard Gears of War cover-shooting fare. I tried to bum-rush enemies a few times and was downed whenever I did so, so moving thoughtfully through the game world is as important in E-Day as it’s always been.
The difference in E-Day, of course, is the movement changes. E-Day lets players jump, climb on top of objects, and slide, dramatically expanding the combat and traversal options at one’s disposal. These changes make the minute-to-minute Gears of War combat more engaging than before, and they don’t come at the expense of that classic cover-shooter feel.
These new movement abilities came in handy when snipers started shooting at me and my teammates from afar, giving me the chance to get closer and flank them. After killing the Locust snipers, I was able to take their powerful Breechshot weapons for myself and use them to pop off enemy heads with satisfying pops from afar.
The push across the bridge ended with the debut of Gears of War‘s deadly Boomers, giant Locusts armed with grenade launchers called Boomshots. I severely underestimated the Boomers and wound up downed more than once. This was due to poor placement on my part, but the Boomshots also feel more effective in E-Day compared to previous games. The Boomers themselves look more menacing than they ever have before. My brief encounters with them in E-Day so far were challenging and left me excited to face off against other classic Locust enemies when the full game launches.
While the focus in this section was on straightforward moving and shooting, which felt great, I still found reasons to go off the beaten path. Even in an area that’s more or less a straight shot like a bridge, there were collectibles to find, like a damaged helmet and Locust sniper goggles, not to mention ammo and weapons. E-Day is going to be a mostly linear experience, but it has some tricks up its sleeve to make things feel more open.
Hold the Line
After crossing the bridge, Marcus and the gang group up with fellow soldiers at a Thrashball field that appears to have been converted to a temporary base of operations. There they meet Russ, who is inspired to build the prototype version of the iconic Chainsaw Lancer. I am not a Gears of War lore master, but this does seem to contradict the previously established claim that Adam Fenix made the Chainsaw Lancer. There’s also some timeline confusion, but perhaps this will be better explained in E-Day‘s opening chapters that I didn’t get to play, or maybe the exact origins of the Chainsaw Lancer are being tweaked.
Regardless, it’s at this base that I was able to equip Tactical Gear, with the choice between an adrenaline injector for quick heals and a sonic disruptor to stun enemies. I went with the former after finding it highly useful during my time in Gears of War: E-Day‘s Horde Siege mode, and then set off on the next mission.
Act 2 Chapter 2 takes place in a large, open zone with far more freedom to explore than some may be used to from classic Gears of War games. There’s even side quests, with one tasking Bravo Squad with defending a car dealership from invading Locusts, and another all about saving a family that’s trapped in a convenience store. These side quests are completely optional, but those that go out of their way to complete them will be rewarded with helpful weapon mods that can give Bravo Squad an extra advantage in the battlefield.
Prequelitis
My time with the Gears of War: E-Day campaign ended shortly thereafter, but I was left wanting more. Gameplay-wise, E-Day seems to have absolutely nailed it, and even though I was playing an unfinished build of the game, technical issues and other problems were almost nonexistent. E-Day is already incredibly polished and looks great, with impressive scope and smart changes that successfully bring Gears of War to the modern age.
Playing solo was the only option during the preview, but the full game will have two-player split-screen and up to four players online.
My only reservations about E-Day mainly come down to the fact that it’s a prequel, and so it may lack the sense of urgency and shock factor present in other Gears of War games. I’m a little worried that the Gears of War: E-Day story will lack the bite that fans have come to expect from the franchise, but I haven’t played nearly enough to make a final call on that front. Without getting to experience the start of the adventure, it’s also hard to get a good read on the new characters and if they will add anything meaningful to the cast, but even if they don’t leave much of an impression, fans can still look forward to a very promising, brand-new, full-length Gears of War story with Dom and Marcus front and center.
- Released
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October 6, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Publisher(s)
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Xbox Game Studios
Gears of War: E-Day launches October 6 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
