The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Gears of War: E-Day keeps the series’ cover-based combat, but its prequel setting gives the Chainsaw Lancer a new role: it is a battlefield prototype assembled during the first Locust invasion. Official gameplay details point to changes in movement, cover, and weapons, while early campaign impressions praise the shooting and chainsaw presentation and question parts of the campaign’s structure. Those impressions are not a verdict on the final game or its multiplayer.
What is Gears of War: E-Day?
Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel set fourteen years before the original Gears of War. Xbox’s official description follows Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago as the Locust Horde erupts from beneath the surface. The invasion is also the setting for the Chainsaw Lancer’s origin: Xbox Wire describes the weapon as assembled from a prototype on the front lines. Xbox Wire’s franchise feature provides that story context.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Gears of War: E-Day | Standard Edition | XBOX Series X | $67.84 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Gears of War E-Day | Premium Edition | XBOX Series X|S and Windows Digital | $99.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Gears of War 3 (Renewed) | $20.48 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Xbox One - Gears Of War 5 - [PAL EU - NO NTSC]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51duB8cYpdL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Xbox One - Gears Of War 5 - [PAL EU - NO NTSC] | $16.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Gears of War 3 | $5.87 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
How does the chainsaw work in E-Day?
The chainsaw is not merely a familiar weapon returning unchanged. The official account frames it as an improvised answer to the invasion: a chainsaw attached to a prototype Lancer in the field. In Xbox Wire’s campaign preview, the weapon looks crudely assembled but purpose-built, grounding its place in the fiction rather than making an unsupported promise about damage or performance. The campaign hands-on also describes supply caches where players can replenish ammunition, switch loadouts, and equip weapon modifications; one cited mod causes a reload after a chainsaw kill.
The Coalition says a weakened Boomer can be finished with a Lancer chainsaw, making enemy state and attack timing matter. Its gameplay update describes that interaction, but does not establish that every enemy can be executed this way or quantify the weapon’s effectiveness.
#1 Best Overall
- AN ORIGIN STORY BEGINS — Fight alongside Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago in the gripping origin story of Emergence Day, as the Locust Horde erupts from below.
- A DARKER, GRITTIER THREAT — Face reimagined enemies and a terrifying underground invasion that restores the fear, dread, and intensity at the heart of the Gears of War series.
- MULTIPLAYER EVOLVED — Battle in Horde Siege for large‑scale PvE action or prove your skill in refined Versus PvP with greater precision and competitive depth.
- CLASSIC COMBAT, MODERNIZED — Experience signature cover‑based gameplay enhanced with updated movement, traversal, and controls that feel like Gears while playing like something new.
- CO‑OP YOUR WAY — Play online with up to four players across Campaign, Horde Siege, and Versus, or team up locally with 2‑player split‑screen co‑op on console.
What’s new in Gears of War: E-Day gameplay?
The Coalition says E-Day was built from scratch around movement, cover, weapons, and enemies. Its official description is a design goal, not an independent assessment of how the final game feels. The announced changes include:
- More cover variety: The Coalition describes additional cover types, heights, and actions. Low cover and changes in posture when protection is destroyed are among the details it has highlighted.
- More traversal: Windows Central’s reviewer reports more immediate sprinting, climbing, and vaulting in the preview build, alongside lower cover. That is one outlet’s impression, not a settled comparison across the finished game.
- Changed shooting: The Coalition says projectiles use simulated ballistics and travel time, and players can shoulder-swap while aiming. It also says the Prototype Lancer has a higher rate of fire and a deeper magazine than Lancers in recent entries; this is a developer description, not a benchmark result.
- Weapon choices at close range: PC Gamer’s reviewer describes combat decisions such as setting up a sniper shot, trying for a chainsaw kill, or dashing to cover. The account suggests the familiar Gears rhythm remains, with movement and weapon options shaping how a fight unfolds.
That combination is the clearest basis for saying E-Day updates the Gears loop: cover remains central, but traversal, cover interactions, and weapon behavior are being changed around it. The available preview impressions do not establish how consistently those changes work throughout the campaign.
Rank #2
- PREMIUM EDITION — Includes Bravo Squad Signature Weapon Pack, five Seasonal Customization Packs starting with the Emergence Pack, plus 1,000 Iron to unlock additional in‑game content.
- AN ORIGIN STORY BEGINS — Fight alongside Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago in the gripping origin story of Emergence Day, as the Locust Horde erupts from below.
- A DARKER, GRITTIER THREAT — Face reimagined enemies and a terrifying underground invasion that restores the fear, dread, and intensity at the heart of the Gears of War series.
- MULTIPLAYER EVOLVED — Battle in Horde Siege for large‑scale PvE action or prove your skill in refined Versus PvP with greater precision and competitive depth.
- CLASSIC COMBAT, MODERNIZED — Experience signature cover‑based gameplay enhanced with updated movement, traversal, and controls that feel like Gears while playing like something new.
What do the early campaign impressions say?
Early reactions are positive about the core combat, but concerns differ by reviewer and should be read as individual judgments from review-in-progress coverage.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
- Windows Central praises the chainsaw’s sound and gore presentation, as well as the increased immediacy of sprinting and traversal. The reviewer criticizes the weak reactions of some large enemies and describes exploration as awkwardly open without feeling genuinely open. Read Windows Central’s review in progress.
- PC Gamer says the shooting and movement feel strong, but criticizes campaign pacing and length. Its pre-release page says multiplayer was not available for its assessment, so its impressions cannot settle the quality of the full multiplayer package. Read PC Gamer’s review in progress.
These are not contradictory measures of a finished product: they are early, outlet-specific views of campaign material, with different criticisms of pacing, exploration, and enemy response. They support cautious interest in the shooting and presentation, not a blanket conclusion about every part of the game.
Rank #3
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
What platforms and modes are announced?
Xbox’s product information lists Xbox Series X|S and PC, with Xbox Play Anywhere, Game Pass, and Steam also identified. It describes campaign play solo, in two-player split-screen, or online for up to four players across campaign and multiplayer. Xbox Wire’s June 2026 feature separately describes Horde Siege as a 12-player PvE mode and Versus as 4v4 PvP. These are official descriptions; availability can vary by platform and may change, so consult the current Xbox product page for current platform, subscription, and mode details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What remains unknown from these impressions?
A campaign preview and review-in-progress coverage cannot establish the final campaign’s overall quality, the full range of enemy encounters, or how multiplayer performs and holds up. PC Gamer explicitly had not evaluated multiplayer for its pre-release assessment. The official mode descriptions establish what Xbox has announced, not how those modes will play in practice.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- This item does not work outside US. We cannot guarantee compatibility. You can contact the call center for more information on compatibility.
- Enthralling cinematic story. Experience the epic finale to the Gears of War trilogy
- Unparalleled gameplay
- One of the definitive multiplayer experiences on Xbox LIVE
- Gears of War 3 pushes the envelope for stunning visuals on Xbox 360
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
