Gears of War: E-Day Launch Verdict: Critics Love It, Steam Players Are Split
Gears of War: E-Day launched on October 6, 2026 on Xbox Series X|S and PC, arriving on day one for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. Developed by The Coalition, the prequel returns to Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago during the Locust invasion and is the first major Xbox exclusive in years. Critics have been enthusiastic, with the game sitting at 87 to 88 on Metacritic, but Steam players have been more divided.
Critics Praise the Campaign and the Gunplay
Before launch, the game had already earned an 86 on Metacritic across both Xbox and PC versions, and the score edged higher once the full review wave landed. Reviewers praised the weighty shooting, the pacing of the 10 to 12 hour campaign and a return to the heart of the series. One review gave it a perfect 10 out of 10 and called it the strongest Gears game and Xbox’s best exclusive since the Xbox 360 days. Others were more measured, describing it as a solid prequel with relentless action that leaves the story in the background.
One caveat applies to most of the early coverage. Versus and Horde Siege modes were locked during the review period, so scores reflect the campaign. That leaves multiplayer sentiment as the next big test, and it could move opinions in either direction over the coming weeks.
Steam Numbers and Player Reactions
The PC numbers tell a nuanced story. During early access, which opened to pre-order customers ahead of launch, the game hit a peak of 20,374 concurrent players on Steam, passing the series record of 10,196 set by Gears 5. On launch day the peak climbed above 31,000, roughly triple the previous best for any Gears game, and the game reached second place on Steam’s sales chart. Still, the figure looks modest next to Forza Horizon 6, which passed 300,000 concurrent players on Steam, and the day-one Game Pass availability likely held back standalone sales.
User reviews were more mixed than critic scores. Early Steam sentiment started in the low 70 percent range and varied between trackers as more reviews arrived, with some tallies showing roughly 79 percent positive. Common complaints include missing series trademarks such as chainsaw duels and meat-shield grabs, along with comments that the story feels dull and that Marcus and Dom are toned down compared with earlier games.
On Xbox, the numbers look stronger. Player engagement tracking showed the game ranked fourth in global players on Xbox on October 6, behind only Fortnite, Roblox and NBA 2K27, with the average player spending more than 200 minutes in the game that day. That also made it the top single-player title on Xbox by engagement.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has positioned the game as an Xbox console exclusive, and its arrival is a key part of the platform’s 25th anniversary year. For players deciding whether to jump in, the campaign is the main attraction, and the reviews suggest it delivers on the shooting and spectacle. Anyone mainly interested in competitive modes may want to wait for multiplayer feedback before committing, especially given the split between critic praise and Steam user sentiment.
