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Gears of War: E-Day Reaffirms 2026 Release Window After The Game Awards 2025
A Noticeable First-Party Absence at The Game Awards
As one of the industry’s biggest annual showcases, The Game Awards 2025 once again doubled as both an awards ceremony and a launchpad for major reveals. While the show delivered plenty of high-profile announcements, Microsoft’s first-party lineup was notably absent. Titles such as Gears of War: E-Day were nowhere to be seen, raising questions among fans expecting updates on Xbox’s upcoming slate.
Microsoft’s presence at the event leaned heavily toward promoting Xbox Game Pass, with little emphasis on future releases. With several Microsoft-backed projects targeting 2026, the lack of concrete showcases quickly sparked speculation about delays or shifting priorities.
The Coalition Confirms Development Is Still on Track
Shortly after the ceremony, The Coalition addressed the growing concern directly. Via the official Gears of War social media channels, the studio confirmed that Gears of War: E-Day is still scheduled to launch in 2026, despite its absence from The Game Awards.
The timing of the statement strongly suggests it was intended to reassure fans following Microsoft’s understated showing. While brief, the confirmation was enough to quiet immediate fears that the project had encountered major development issues.
Story Details Remain Under Wraps
Even with the reassurance, Gears of War: E-Day remains largely shrouded in mystery. No new gameplay footage or extended trailers have been released since the initial reveal teaser, which set a darker and more unsettling tone than recent entries in the franchise.
Narratively, the game is positioned as a pivotal prequel. E-Day will depict humanity’s first encounter with the Locust Horde, a foundational event within Gears lore. The story introduces Kalona, a previously unexplored city, expanding the series’ setting beyond its most recognisable locations.
Platform Questions Still Unanswered
At present, Gears of War: E-Day is officially confirmed only for Xbox Series X|S consoles and PC. However, Microsoft’s increasingly open publishing approach, which has seen select first-party titles arrive on PlayStation 5, has led some fans to wonder whether E-Day could eventually follow suit.
For now, no such plans have been announced. With development still progressing and a 2026 release window intact, further updates are expected as Microsoft begins outlining its next wave of first-party showcases.
