E-Day Survivors

Lore & Background

The story unfolds on planet Sera fourteen years prior to the events of Gears of War, shortly after the conclusion of the Pendulum Wars. The city of Kalona, once an industrial hub known for Imulsion production, becomes the battleground as the Locust Horde erupts from underground. Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, their friendship strained by the recent death of Dom's brother Carlos, are forced back into combat when Emergence Day strikes. They join Mags Carter, a refinery employee, and Lucas Reyes, an inexperienced communications officer, to form Bravo Squad. As defenses crumble, the squad rescues survivors and confronts new Locust creatures from the Hollows alongside returning enemies like Drones, Boomers, Wretches, Corpsers, and Reavers. The narrative captures the fall of Kalona, the early development of the chainsaw-equipped Lancer assault rifle, and encounters with veteran Tai Kaliso and pilot Gil Gettner.

In Their Own Story

In the city of Kalona, Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago struggle to adapt to civilian life when the ground suddenly splits open. Emergence Day arrives without warning as the Locust Horde launches a devastating surprise attack across Sera. Forced back into combat immediately, Marcus and Dom team up with former Gear Mags Carter and communications officer Lucas Reyes. Together, they form Bravo Squad, fighting through the destruction of Kalona over the opening days of the invasion. The squad rescues civilians, organizes resistance efforts, and battles through dynamic Emergence Holes that allow Locust forces to appear at any moment. They witness the origins of key series lore, including the first use of the Lancer's chainsaw attachment, while facing the horror of a nearly unstoppable apocalypse. Their journey chronicles the loss, loyalty, and sacrifice required to survive humanity's darkest hour.

Reader's Guide

Players control Marcus Fenix in this third-person shooter set during Emergence Day, utilizing redesigned movement mechanics like sprint sliding, jumping, and climbing for greater verticality. Combat focuses on cover-based tactics against a variety of Locust enemies using returning weapons like the Lancer and Longshot, plus new additions such as the Gutpuncher grenade launcher and Incinerator shotgun. The Active Reload system returns with shell-by-shell reloading options, while expanded destruction systems allow players to destroy Emergence Holes with explosives. The campaign supports four-player online co-op and two-player split-screen on consoles, featuring all four members of Bravo Squad from the start. Multiplayer includes 4v4 competitive modes and a new twelve-player cooperative mode called Horde Siege, where three squads defend locations against large-scale attacks while choosing from Assault, Breacher, Marksman, and Medic classes.

Did You Know?

• The game is scheduled for release on October 6, 2026.
• It serves as a prequel set exactly fourteen years before the original Gears of War (2006).
• Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago are portrayed as youthful, vulnerable, and inexperienced in this origin story.
• The campaign runs at 60 frames per second with hardware-accelerated ray tracing enabled.
• Horde Siege allows up to twelve players divided into three four-player squads to operate simultaneously across the map.