Emergence Day

Lore & Background

Set fourteen years prior to the original Gears of War, Emergence Day occurs shortly after the conclusion of the Pendulum Wars. Humanity on Sera had entered a fragile peace, with many Coalition of Ordered Governments (COG) soldiers returning to civilian life in cities like Ephyra. This capital city, once known for its political and cultural significance, was transformed into a war zone when the Locust Horde unexpectedly erupted from underground. The attack plunged humanity into immediate survival mode as the Locust forces poured out of Emergence Holes across the city. Unlike later conflicts involving the Lambent plague or Imulsion corruption, this initial incursion was a purely military assault by the subterranean race. The event forced the collapse of civilian and military defenses alike, turning Ephyra into a battlefield where Retro Lancer assault rifles—not yet upgraded with chainsaws—were used to counter the overwhelming enemy numbers.

In Their Own Story

The narrative follows Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago as they struggle with strained friendship following the death of Dom's brother, Carlos, just before the war ended. Their civilian lives are shattered when Emergence Day strikes, forcing them back into combat alongside former Gear Mags Carter and inexperienced communications officer Lucas Reyes. Together, this newly formed Bravo Squad battles through the destruction of Kalona over the opening days of the invasion. They encounter veteran warrior Tai Kaliso and Raven pilot Gil Gettner while organizing resistance efforts and rescuing survivors as the city falls. The story chronicles these opening hours, depicting the origins of Marcus and Dom's brotherhood amidst the chaos. Players witness dynamic battles where Emergence Holes allow Locust to appear anywhere, forcing the squad to use explosives to destroy them while navigating a crumbling urban landscape filled with Drones, Boomers, Wretches, Corpsers, and Reavers.

Reader's Guide

Emergence Day serves as the primary setting for the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day, taking place entirely within the city of Kalona. The gameplay features a third-person perspective where players control Marcus Fenix but can utilize all four members of Bravo Squad from the start of the campaign. Combat relies on redesigned movement mechanics including sprint sliding, jumping, and climbing to navigate vertical environments and low-ground cover. Players must manage resources while facing returning enemies like Drones and Boomers alongside new creatures from the Hollows. The campaign supports four-player online co-op or two-player split-screen play, emphasizing a "Never Fight Alone" philosophy. Key mechanics include the Active Reload system with shell-by-shell reloading, dynamic destruction of Emergence Holes, and localized gore effects built on Unreal Engine 5. The experience runs at 60 frames per second in campaign mode with hardware-accelerated ray tracing enabled.

Did You Know?

• The original Gears of War takes place exactly fourteen years after Emergence Day.
• The city of Ephyra was the capital of the Coalition of Ordered Governments and the primary target of the initial Locust assault.
• Marcus Fenix was a lieutenant in the COG army on Emergence Day, not a member of a newly formed Bravo Squad.
• The Chainsaw Lancer was developed after Emergence Day; the standard Lancer on E-Day was the Retro Lancer.
• Humanity's first encounters with the Locust Horde occurred when they unexpectedly erupted from underground Emergence Holes.