Gears of War: E-Day is a Marcus-and-Dom prequel with a new campaign and Horde Siege, while Gears 5 is a Kait Diaz-led sequel with Horde and Escape. Xbox’s published performance claims are not a like-for-like comparison: E-Day targets up to 4K/60 FPS across campaign and multiplayer, while Gears 5 advertises up to 120 FPS in Versus. Both are available on Xbox and PC, but their campaign co-op player counts differ.
At a glance: what is different?
| Decision | Gears of War: E-Day | Gears 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Story | Emergence Day origin story with Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, set fourteen years before the original Gears of War. Xbox | Kait Diaz-led campaign. Xbox |
| Combat and movement | Cover-based combat with modernized movement and traversal, according to Xbox. Xbox Store | Campaign, Versus, Horde and Escape. Xbox |
| Campaign co-op | Up to four online players; two-player split-screen on console. Xbox Store | Three-player online or split-screen co-op. Xbox |
| Other modes | Horde Siege and Versus. Xbox | Horde, Escape and Versus. Xbox |
| Published performance statement | Up to 4K and 60 FPS across campaign and multiplayer; a compatible display is required. Xbox Wire | Up to 120 FPS in Versus and 4K HDR Ultra visuals on Xbox Series X. Xbox |
| Platforms | Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC/Xbox on PC and Steam; cloud play is also listed through Game Pass Ultimate and GeForce NOW. Xbox Xbox Wire | Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Steam are listed by Xbox. Xbox |
How the gameplay and modes differ
E-Day: familiar cover combat, new setting and traversal
E-Day goes back to the first Locust attack rather than continuing Kait’s story. Xbox describes its combat as retaining the series’ cover-based foundation while updating movement and traversal to add freedom and verticality. Xbox lists campaign, Horde Siege and Versus. Horde Siege is described as a four-player, class-based survival mode set on larger maps. Xbox Store
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Gears of War: E-Day | Standard Edition | XBOX Series X | $69.00 | 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) | $19.73 | 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 | $3.81 | Buy on Amazon |
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TechRadar’s review characterizes the game as recognizably Gears, with somewhat more open levels and a refined weapon-upgrade system. That is the reviewer’s assessment, not a comprehensive developer specification. TechRadar
Gears 5: Kait’s campaign and a broader mode mix
Gears 5 centers on Kait and pairs its campaign with Versus, Horde and Escape. Its official page also describes campaign features such as carrying character and weapon skins into new playthroughs, plus bonus difficulties and modifiers. Xbox
#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.
Which game is better for co-op?
The documented campaign co-op setup favors different group sizes: E-Day supports up to four online campaign players, while Gears 5 supports three online or split-screen campaign players. For local play, E-Day lists two-player split-screen on console; Gears 5 lists three-player split-screen campaign co-op. Xbox Store Xbox
For E-Day, Xbox says online campaign co-op, Horde Siege, Versus and other online multiplayer features require a Game Pass subscription that includes online multiplayer. Xbox Store
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.
Performance: why the FPS figures are not directly comparable
E-Day’s 4K/60 FPS statement
Xbox describes E-Day as built for 4K resolution and up to 60 FPS across campaign and multiplayer, with a compatible display required. This is an official target, not independent proof that every platform or scene renders at native 4K or holds 60 FPS. Xbox Wire
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Gears 5’s 120 FPS Versus claim
Xbox says the Series X|S update for Gears 5 includes up to 120 FPS in Versus, variable refresh-rate support, reduced load times and instant resume; the same page separately specifies 4K HDR Ultra visuals on Series X. These are distinct claims about a game update and a particular mode or console. They do not establish that Gears 5 is faster than E-Day in a matched test: the stated modes and performance conditions differ. Xbox
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 PC testing can—and cannot—tell you
Tom’s Hardware’s October 1, 2026 CPU benchmark tested 25 Intel and AMD processors with an RTX 5090 at 1080p to make CPU differences more visible. The outlet omitted 4K from that CPU comparison because its graphics analysis found the game GPU-bound at that resolution. It reported that E-Day was CPU-demanding in its tested scenes; its built-in benchmark was a reasonable approximation, but did not exactly match those scenes. Those results describe that test setup, not a universal PC requirement or an Xbox performance result. Tom’s Hardware
Xbox said on September 17, 2026, that the team continued work on PC stability and performance after the multiplayer open beta and published final PC specifications. Since PC requirements can change with updates, check Xbox’s current specification page before choosing hardware. Xbox Wire
In its Xbox Series X review, Windows Central reported strong performance overall, with slowdowns in some especially heavy late sequences; the reviewer said they did not experience a crash. That is one reviewer’s experience, not a guarantee or controlled comparison with Gears 5. Windows Central
Platforms and availability
As of October 7, 2026, the announced October 6 worldwide launch date has passed. Xbox lists E-Day for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Steam, and names cloud gaming through Game Pass Ultimate and GeForce NOW. Availability and regional access may change. Xbox Xbox Wire
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
Xbox’s Gears 5 page lists Xbox Series X|S optimization and links to its Windows and Steam versions. Xbox
Accessibility considerations
Gears 5’s official page lists full controller remapping, single-stick movement, Adaptive Controller support, narrated UI and menus, and improved subtitles. The sources cited here do not establish whether E-Day offers matching options; check its current accessibility information for specific needs rather than assuming parity or absence. Xbox
Quick Recap
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