Gears of War E-Day Set for 2026 Release Window; Check Details

At Summer Game Fest 2025, Xbox brought out quite a strong lineup, and one of the biggest reveals came during their official Xbox Games Showcase. Gears of War E-Day, the long-rumoured prequel, has finally received its release window: sometime in 2026.

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer made the announcement, although no fixed date was confirmed. Still, fans were excited to hear that the wait may be shorter than they thought. Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago's return is on its way.

E-Day Brings the Origins Back to Life

Gears of War: E-Day is not just another sequel. It goes back — way back — to the Emergence Day, a key event in the Gears timeline. Set 14 years before the original game, this title will explore the early days of Marcus and Dom as they faced the Locust Horde for the first time.

The original teaser from 2024 described it this way:

“Experience the brutal horror of Emergence Day through the eyes of Marcus Fenix in the origin story of one of gaming’s most acclaimed sagas.”

And if early reports are right, Insider Gaming suggests that November 2026 might be the target launch month. That lines up perfectly with the 20th anniversary of the first Gears of War game, which launched on November 14, 2006.

Gears of War: Reloaded Also Incoming

There’s more than just one Gears title to be excited about. Coming August 26, 2025, Gears of War: Reloaded, a reimagined version of the original game, is hitting both Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.

Shown off in a fresh trailer during the showcase, this remake promises updated visuals, smoother gameplay, and a return to the gritty war-torn settings that made the franchise so memorable. It’s also the first time a core Gears title appears on PlayStation, which is a big step forward.

After years of silence, the Gears franchise is coming back with force. First, fans can revisit the saga’s beginnings in Gears of War: Reloaded this August, and then dive deep into the brutal, emotional prequel story in Gears of War: E-Day in 2026. The wait is almost over, and the war is just beginning again.