Microsoft Skips Gears of War at E3, Confirms 2025 Launch

If you were hoping to see Gears of War: E-Day featured in the Xbox Games Showcase 2025, the event may have left you disappointed. This year's presentation lacked major Microsoft franchise updates, with no news on Forza, Halo, or the upcoming Fable reboot.

Xbox head Phil Spencer instead confirmed that Gears of War: E-Day is planned for a 2026 launch, aligning with the next Forza release and the brand's 25th anniversary celebration.

The next installment in the long-running Gears of War series was officially revealed last year at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024. E-Day serves as a prequel set 14 years before the original game, offering an origin story for beloved characters Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. The roles will once again be voiced by John DiMaggio and Carlos Ferro.

"Gears of War: E-Day isn't just our next big release—it's a return to the core elements that make Gears of War unique and authentic," explained Mike Crump, head of The Coalition studio.

Earlier this year, People Can Fly—the studio behind Bulletstorm and Gears of War: Judgment—was confirmed as a co-developer for E-Day, working alongside Xbox's in-house team, The Coalition.

Today’s Xbox Games Showcase also included a hint from Phil Spencer regarding a long-awaited Halo revival, which may include a remaster of the original title. For more coverage, explore all the announcements from the June 2025 Xbox Games Showcase.