The long-term life of a Gears of War title has often been defined by Versus and Horde (alongside anomalies like Hivebusters). However, the campaign remains an essential part of the experience – the glue that ties it all together. That’s never been more true than with Gears of War: E-Day, which resets the clock and takes us to Kalona after the Pendulum Wars ended.
But even with a more detailed city and optional objectives, The Coalition is sticking to a linear story. That said, creative director Matt Searcy told IGN that it will be “longer than any campaign” from the studio yet at over 14 hours. He also promised even more collectibles, including the returning COG Tags.
Of course, there was also some clarification on mechanics like jumping. In short, don’t expect E-Day to turn into the next 3D Mario. It’s meant more for exploiting those fancy new flanking routes instead of jumping “across multiple levels.” And if you’re looking to freshen things up even while solo, all of Bravo Squad is playable when the campaign starts, says brand director Nicole Fawcette.
Gears of War: E-Day is out on October 6th for Xbox Series X/S and PC. An open beta kicks off in August, but The Coalition promises more details on multiplayer in the future after choosing to focus on the campaign in its first Direct. Here’s hoping we learn more about the ambitious 12-player Horde Siege alongside the post-launch plan.
