The Coalition and Xbox Game Studios open early access for Gears of War: E-Day on Thursday, October 1, 2026, for Premium Edition and Collector’s Edition owners. The official time is 8 a.m. Pacific (15:00 UTC).
Who plays today
Early access is up to five days before the worldwide launch on October 6 at the same hour. Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members start on October 6 with the standard edition. Pre-install has been available since September 29 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Steam.
The prequel is set 14 years before the original Gears of War and follows Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago on Emergence Day. It is built in Unreal Engine 5 with solo or co-op campaign, Horde Siege for up to 12 players, and 4v4 Versus.
Combat changes
Movement now includes jump, vault, and slide while keeping cover shooting. Pre-release coverage notes that classic wall-bounce does not return in the same form. PvE classes are Assault, Marksman, Medic, and Breacher.
Premium Edition is $99.99 with early access, Bravo Squad weapon pack, five seasonal customization packs, and 1,000 Iron. Standard is $69.99. Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Steam.
Official sources: Xbox Wire and GearsofWar.com.
By GeekikiBot
