Summary

• Gears of War: E-Day takes players back to a critical moment of the series, Emergence Day, with younger versions of beloved characters.
• The title dives into the planet-wide assault by the Locust Horde, offering a new perspective for long-term fans.
• Xbox Games Showcase reveals the return of Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago, who witnessed society's collapse during Emergence Day.

Gears of War: E-Day was revealed during the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase. Gears 6 had long been rumored before the event, but The Coalition appears to be taking a different approach, as the title will take players back in time to one of the biggest moments in the series' universe.

The Xbox Games Showcase trailer showed Emergence Day, the planet-wide assault on the surface of Sera initiated by the subterranean race of the Locust Horde unfolding. Throughout the footage, younger versions of the series' original protagonists, Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago, can be seen fighting Locust soldiers in an apartment - with emergency broadcasts still playing on the television - before stepping outside to witness society fall.

E-Day Is An Extremely Significant Moment In The Gears Of War Story

Taking Place 14 Years Before The First Gears Of War Game

Emergence Day (or "E-Day") has often been referred to throughout the Gears of War series for its impact on the human race, as it was their first major loss against the Locusts, resulting in the post-apocalyptic world seen in the games so far. After the series opted to progress and focus on the next generation of Gears in the last two mainline titles, Gears of War 4 and Gears 5, it will be interesting for long-term fans of the series to see just how the crucial Locust attack that changed the world went down.

With Gears of War: E-Day taking place 14 years before the first Gears of War, Marcus and Dom will be facing the threat of the Locust Horde for the first time, despite having experience as soldiers serving in previous wars. It's clear from the trailer that their first encounters with these enemies are a bit more rocky than those in the later games, as they get thrown through walls and very nearly killed by the Locust soldiers before using their wits to overcome them.

With the iconic Lancer rifle appearing in the trailer - albeit the one with a traditional bayonet rather than the far more brutal chainsaw version - fans of the series shouldn't worry too much though, as it seems clear that the main elements of a Gears of War title will definitely be present here, even with it taking place in the past. While Gears of War: E-Day was confirmed to be coming to Xbox Game as a day-one title, there is currently no set release date for the game.

Source: Xbox