Gears of War: E-Day offers campaign co-op, 12-player cooperative Horde Siege, and competitive 4v4 Versus. You can play the campaign solo, with two players in console split-screen, or with up to four players online. Xbox’s announced features describe what the modes are designed to offer—not how matchmaking, balance, or online performance will feel after launch.
What multiplayer modes does Gears of War: E-Day have?
Xbox’s announced multiplayer lineup has three distinct options: play through the story together, take on cooperative PvE missions in Horde Siege, or compete against other players in Versus.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Gears of War: E-Day | Standard Edition | XBOX Series X | $67.84 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360 (Renewed) | $18.72 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Steamforged Games Gears of War The Card Game: Core Game - 2 Players, 30-60 Minutes of Gameplay... | $14.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Gears of War 3 (Renewed) | $20.48 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Gears of War 4 - Xbox One (Renewed) | $31.03 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Mode | Group format | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign online co-op | Up to four players | Play through the story together. |
| Campaign split-screen | Two players | Play locally on console. |
| Horde Siege | 12 players across three squads of four | Work through cooperative PvE wave-survival missions on a shared stage. |
| Versus | 4v4 | Compete in team-based PvP modes. |
These formats are the announced design, not a report on live match quality. The official descriptions do not establish matchmaking speed, server performance, balance, or how quickly players progress.
Recommended Free Tools
How many players can play the campaign together?
Online campaign co-op: up to four players
The campaign supports solo play or online co-op for up to four players, according to Xbox’s game listing and its October 1, 2026 launch update.
#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.
Split-screen: two players on console
Local split-screen is for two players and is console-only. The announcement does not say that split-screen is available on Windows PC or Steam.
What is Horde Siege?
Horde Siege is E-Day’s cooperative PvE wave-survival mode. Xbox describes it as a 12-player experience made up of three four-person squads. The squads take on individual missions across the same large stage, with shared objectives and world bosses among the announced features. The launch description also points to classes, rewards, and loadout progression.
Rank #2
- 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.
This makes Horde Siege the largest announced cooperative group format in the game, but the feature descriptions do not establish how its difficulty, squad coordination, matchmaking, or progression will work in live play. Xbox introduced the mode as “the new 12-player, 3-squad PVE experience” in its July 30, 2026 multiplayer overview.
Is Gears of War: E-Day Versus 4v4?
Yes. Xbox describes Versus as competitive 4v4 PvP. The announced launch lineup includes four Versus modes and six new maps. Movement is being modernized, while cover-based combat remains central to the design.
Rank #3
- Listen up, soldier. The world is in ruin. The Locust Horde has risen. It’s Human vs Horde, and here’s your mission: Pick a side, build a powerful deck, and win the war. The fate of the world is in your hands!
- Experience the gritty gunplay of the video game in this official two-player card game. Take command of the COG forces or the Locust horde and seize control of the battlefield, one chapter at a time.
- Strategise your way through each chapter, bolstering your forces with classic characters like Marcus Fenix, General Raam, August “Cole Train” Cole, Dominic Santiago, and Damon Baird.
- Every battle counts. Whatever happens in each chapter will change what comes next, so you’d better be ready to dominate. The deck you build and decisions you make will change the way you play each campaign, making this a game you can reload time and time again.
- Whether you're a hardened vet or a grass-green rookie, get ready to take cover and lay down suppressive fire. Your enemies are trying to take the line, soldier. You’d better shove back hard.
Those are publisher-announced features, not evidence of match balance or network quality. The Gears of War multiplayer deep dive provides the mode and map details.
Do you need a subscription to play online?
Xbox says online campaign co-op, Horde Siege, Versus, and other online multiplayer features require a Game Pass subscription that includes online multiplayer, sold separately. Subscription availability and terms can vary by platform and region, so check the current Xbox listing for the plan that applies to your setup. The stated requirement is for online play; the store description does not apply it to solo campaign play or local split-screen.
Rank #4
- 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.
When does E-Day release, and where can you play it?
Premium Edition early access began worldwide on October 1, 2026. Xbox Wire lists October 6, 2026 as the worldwide launch date. These dates distinguish early access for eligible Premium Edition buyers from the general release.
Xbox identifies Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Steam as platforms. Xbox Play Anywhere supports play across Xbox Series X|S and PC with shared progression and achievements. The reviewed official descriptions do not fully specify cross-play rules for every platform and mode, so do not assume that every player can join every other platform’s matches.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 25 Years after Gears of War 3, spurred by a series of strange disappearances, JD Fenix must embrace his father’s legacy and battle a terrifying new enemy
- Never Fight Alone: Enjoy two-player co-op with friends locally via split-screen, over Xbox Live or LAN. Player 2 can select either Kait or Del
- Redefined Cover Gameplay: New close-cover combat moves and combat-knife executions turn each piece of cover into an offensive opportunity
- Brutal New Weapons: An incredible arsenal of new weapons includes the Buzzkill and Dropshot, which can shoot around and over cover, raining destruction from all angles
Which mode should you choose?
- For the story: Choose campaign co-op for online play with up to four people, or console split-screen for two players locally.
- For cooperative waves and a larger group: Horde Siege is the announced PvE option, with three squads of four operating on one stage.
- For competitive matches: Versus is the 4v4 PvP option, with four modes and six new maps announced for launch.
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.
