After 2 Hours, Gears of War: E-Day's Campaign Goes BRRRR In All the Right Ways

A Two-Hour Glimpse at Emergence Day

Early previews of Gears of War: E-Day's campaign offer a detailed look at the opening moments of the Locust invasion, as players step into the boots of a younger Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. The game, scheduled for release Oct. 6 on Windows PC and Xbox Series X, is the first Gears of War title in seven years, according to Polygon. It serves as a prequel that chronicles "Emergence Day," the event where the subterranean Locust Horde emerged and killed 25% of the human population overnight.

Polygon's preview was based on a two-hour Xbox Series X build that covered the first two missions of the second act. Windows Central played two missions from the campaign, both set in the town of Kalona. Both outlets came away impressed, with Windows Central suggesting that if the full game matches the preview's quality, it "could cement its place as the best Gears of War story in history."

The campaign picks up with Marcus and Dominic as they respond to the initial Locust attack. An introductory cutscene shows Marcus wearing a tanned suede jacket, a look previously seen in the 2026 Xbox Games Showcase, as reported by Polygon. The pair is joined by a squad, and a military commander barks orders to report for duty and get armor on, per Polygon's account.

Kalona's Structured Openness

Polygon described the first mission, titled "Bravo Squad," as a linear affair, with players moving down a highway and crossing a bridge to reach a forward operating base. The mission contains five collectibles, according to Polygon. The second mission, "Hold the Line," opens up structurally, adding a map, weapon customization, and side objectives. Polygon characterized the town of Kalona as a "miniature open-world" for this segment.

The side objectives include defending a car dealership and rescuing a family from a collapsing midrise, Polygon reported. Completing these tasks rewards weapon mods that can be used at drop points.

Windows Central echoed this focus on player choice, noting that the game features a mapping tool similar to Silent Hill's, allowing Marcus to sketch notes and routes on the map. Side objectives unlock weapon mods, equipment, and collectibles, the outlet said.

A Reactive, Lived-In World

Both outlets praised the environmental detail in the two missions. Windows Central highlighted a dynamic cover system that includes both chest-high and shin-high walls, and emphasized how the world responds to action: car tires deflate, windows shatter, and cover deforms under fire. This reactivity ties into the game's premise as a prequel—the world is not yet the gray, ruined battlefield of the original Gears of War, but a living town under sudden siege.

The game also runs at 60 frames per second on Xbox Series X, according to Windows Central, maintaining visual quality while delivering the series' signature heavy, methodical combat.

For those who've followed the franchise, the preview also reveals the origin of the chainsaw lancer assault rifle—a detail Polygon reported from the campaign section they played. Polygon's preview included context from earlier coverage of the Horde mode, which they played in July.

Over-Delivering on Nostalgia

Windows Central framed the upcoming release as a potential "renaissance" for the franchise, arguing that Gears of War 4 and Gears 5 strayed from the formula. In contrast, E-Day returns to the series' roots, with The Coalition taking what the outlet described as an "over-deliver" approach to meet expectations built over years of fan nostalgia.

Polygon's take was similarly positive but more playful, describing the characters as "kind of a dick"—a trait the outlet framed as praise, arguing the game has "fully understood the Gears of War assignment." The tone stays true to the franchise's meathead-shooter heritage, with its muscular heroes and bloody, brutal action.

Both previews emphasized that the two-hour session was just a slice of the full campaign, with the final game still months away. With its Oct. 6 release date, Gears of War: E-Day looks to be a deliberate, polished return to the series' defining era.