Gears of War: E-Day is set 14 years before the original Gears of War, at the start of the Locust War. Its campaign follows Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago through the first three days of the invasion in Kalona. For a newcomer, the broad story order is E-Day, Judgment, the original trilogy, then Gears 4 and Gears 5.
What is Emergence Day?
Emergence Day, usually shortened to E-Day, is when the Locust emerge from beneath Sera and launch a sudden attack on humanity. It marks the beginning of the Locust War. The planet was not at peace for long: Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago are described as veterans recently returned from the Pendulum Wars, which had lasted almost 80 years before peace was declared. The official account establishes that history in relative terms, not as a precise calendar chronology. Xbox Wire’s E-Day interview gives the background.
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Where does Gears of War: E-Day fit?
E-Day is a prequel set 14 years before the original Gears of War. Rather than tell the invasion as a planet-wide overview, its campaign follows Marcus and Dom in Kalona over three days. The Coalition says the story stays with Bravo Squad: Creative Director Matt Searcy explained, “We never leave Bravo Squad for the entire game. The entire story is told from their perspective.” That limited viewpoint makes the global disaster a local story of what one squad sees and learns.
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Kalona is designed to feel like a lived-in city before its destruction. Art Director Aryan Hanbeck said, “We wanted Kalona to feel like another character in the story.” Brand Director Nicole Fawcette added, “Literally everything you see in E-Day did not exist before we made it for this game.” These are descriptions of the game’s design approach, not additional historical dates or events. The Coalition’s interview with Xbox Wire also says Karen Traviss, author of the Gears novels, consulted on the game; the developers specifically drew on Aspho Fields for Carlos’s backstory and Dom’s family life. That documents an influence, not a complete ruling on how every novel or comic fits into canon.
#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.
How the main games progress
Gears of War: Judgment
Judgment takes place in the immediate aftermath of E-Day. Its official synopsis follows Damon Baird and Kilo Squad early in the outbreak, making it the clearest game-length stop between the invasion’s first days and the original trilogy. The official Xbox listing for Judgment describes its placement.
The original trilogy
The original Gears of War begins after the Locust have already devastated Sera. Marcus, once imprisoned, is called back to help humanity survive; Dom fights alongside him. The game introduces a world responding to an invasion already underway rather than showing its first moment. The official game listing summarizes Marcus’s return to the fight.
Rank #2
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- Includes full game of the original Gears of War remastered in 1080p.
- Play five campaign chapters never released on console.
- Experience competitive multiplayer in 60FPS with 19 maps and six game modes.
Gears of War 2 escalates the conflict as cities sink and the COG commits to an all-out attack against the Locust. The official Xbox listing for Gears of War 2 frames the story around that worsening war. Gears of War 3 follows scattered survivors and Marcus’s group as they fight to save humanity. The franchise’s Gears 3 page provides the official summary.
Gears of War 4 and Gears 5
Gears of War 4 shifts the focus to a new generation: JD Fenix, Kait Diaz, and Del set out to rescue loved ones and investigate a new enemy. Gears 5 then follows Kait as she investigates her connection to that enemy and the threat it poses to Sera. The official Gears games page summarizes both stories.
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.
Story order versus a good first play
For broad fictional chronology, use this order:
- Gears of War: E-Day
- Gears of War: Judgment
- Gears of War
- Gears of War 2
- Gears of War 3
- Gears of War 4
- Gears 5
This is an orientation to the main games, not a chapter-by-chapter or cross-media timeline. The first two placements are explicit in official descriptions; the rest follows the numbered games’ story summaries.
| Starting point | What it gives you | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Gears of War: E-Day | The outbreak’s beginning, centered on Marcus, Dom, and the first days in Kalona. | Readers who want to see the crisis begin. |
| Gears of War: Reloaded | A modernized remaster of the original campaign, which begins in a world already devastated by the Locust invasion. | Readers who want the series’ original release-era starting point in a remastered version. |
The official franchise page identifies Reloaded as a remaster of the first game. A newcomer can start with either entry depending on whether they want the origin story or the original campaign; returning players may prefer release order to retain the original games’ reveals. See the official Gears games page.
Rank #4
- 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.
Does E-Day have an exact calendar date?
The official material cited here establishes the 14-year gap before the original game and the three-day span of the campaign, but it does not give an exact in-universe calendar date for E-Day or a full chronology of every novel, comic, DLC chapter, and flashback. Treat the sequence above as a guide to the main game stories, not a complete timeline of all Gears media.
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When is Gears of War: E-Day launching?
In an official update dated June 7, 2026, Xbox Wire and the Gears team stated that E-Day would launch October 6, 2026. The update also identifies November 7, 2026, as the franchise’s 20th-anniversary date. These are time-sensitive release details from that announcement; check the official Gears news page for any later changes.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Includes full game of the original Gears of War remastered in 1080p.
- Play five campaign chapters never released on console.
- Experience competitive multiplayer in 60FPS with 19 maps and six game modes.
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