Viewers tuning into the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 hoping for Gears of War: E-Day news might have left disappointed. The event notably skipped several major Microsoft franchises—with no reveals for Forza, Halo, or the anticipated Fable reboot.
Xbox head Phil Spencer instead confirmed 2026 as the target year for Gears of War: E-Day alongside the next Forza installment, timed with Xbox's 25th anniversary celebrations.
The next Gears of War chapter was first revealed during last year's Xbox Games Showcase 2024. This prequel takes place 14 years before the original game, serving as an origin story for fan-favorite characters Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago—reprised by original voice actors John DiMaggio and Carlos Ferro.
"Gears of War: E-Day represents more than just our next major release—it's a homecoming to the franchise's core identity," explained The Coalition studio head Mike Crump in previous statements.
Development studio People Can Fly (known for Bulletstorm and Gears of War: Judgment) was announced earlier this year as co-developers alongside Xbox's internal team, The Coalition.
The showcase also included Phil Spencer teasing Halo's eventual return—possibly through a remaster of the classic original game. For complete coverage, see our breakdown of all announcements from Xbox Games Showcase June 2025.
