Gears of War: E-Day skipped The Game Awards, but The Coalition confirmed the prequel is set for a 2026 release.

Gears of War: E-Day is still set to launch in 2026, despite not making an appearance at The Game Awards 2025, as confirmed by developer The Coalition.

When a highly anticipated game skips a major awards show, it can sometimes hint at issues behind the scenes or even a potential delay. However, The Coalition wanted to clear up any confusion regarding the silence surrounding Gears of War: E-Day. The 2026 release window remains intact, though fans are eager for a more specific date or even a season.

“Emergence Begins. 2026,” was the message shared on the official Gears of War Twitter account right in the middle of the awards show.

Emergence Begins. 2026. pic.twitter.com/7rayOKYEL9

Aside from the absence at The Game Awards, The Coalition and Xbox have generally kept a low profile about E-Day since its announcement, so it’s reassuring to know the game is still on track for 2026.

Set 14 years before the original Gears of War, the game focuses on younger versions of Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago, with original voice actors John DiMaggio and Carlos Ferro returning to their roles. The narrative unfolds during Emergence Day, when the Locust Horde launches a coordinated assault on Sera, igniting the Locust War that fans know well. Announced in 2024, it was initially rumored for a release this year, but Xbox later confirmed the 2026 timeline, which remains unchanged.

In the meantime, there are plenty of great Xbox Series X games to dive into right now.