We’re only a couple of months away from launch, and The Coalition have given us a in depth look at the multiplayer for the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day.
Gears of War: E-Day launches on 6 October 2026 for PC and XBOX Series consoles and many of us, myself included, have been keen to learn more about the game’s multiplayer offerings.
Versus is such a core component to the Gears franchise, and now we’ve had a our first look at what developers, The Coalition, are bringing to the table.
The new mutliplayer reveal video shows classic Gears multiplayer action, soundtracked by Metallica, followed by a deep dive into the Versus and Horde Siege modes. You can watch the full video below:
Horde Siege
Horde Siege is E-Day’s flagship multiplayer mode from the looks of things. Like Gears 5’s Escape mode, and Judgment’s OverRun mode, Horde Siege takes all the good stuff from the Gears multiplayer world to bring us something new. An evolution of Horde mode, Horde Siege brings your squad of four into a PvE game with two other squads, bringing the player count up to 12 on much larger maps than former Horde maps.
You’ll have your own set of objectives and tasks to complete as your fight against waves of Locust. Occasionally, you’ll cross paths with another squad, or be given an objective that requires the firepower of multiple squads to take down a wave or boss. Random in-game events called Invasions can happen at any point and bring in formidable boss enemies from the Locust ranks.
Class-y
You will pick classes to enter the game, much like in later Horde iterations, having a good mix of classes give you a range of abilities and tactics to take on the Locust scum. When you have successfully completed your missions, you will have to take on one final wave of enemies in order to safely extract. Bringing everyone home will ensure you net the best rewards for your successes.
Check out the descriptions from the Gears of War website for each of the classes:
- Assault: Focused on midrange weapons and flexibility in many situations, the Assault Class can deploy a Sonic Disruptor to stun waves of incoming enemies, particularly useful when defending an objective. This class also receives a damage boost when in cover.
- Breacher: Built to push hard into the frontline, the Breacher’s loadout focuses on close-range damage, paired with an Adrenaline Injector to refill health and reduce damage, allowing them to rush into high-risk areas for a clutch play. The Breacher Class also gets improved resistance to status effects and melee damage.
- Marksman: Able to take advantage of Horde Siege’s longer sightlines, this class is built around precision damage, using a Pulse Drone to tag Locust units for you and your squad. The Marksman Class also gets improved damage on critical hits.
- Medic: A mid-range revive specialist, the Medic Class is versatile and can hold its own in a fight, while deploying a Stim Vaporizer to heal and revive any Gear within range, even downed soldiers from other squads. This class also benefits from a faster health regen.
In for the Long Horde?
Gears of War: E-Day will revamp the modes and difficulties for Horde Siege. It seems that the classic 50 waves have gone (for now, they could well return in a future update). Instead there will be three mission types that offer different lengths of play, alongside three difficulty settings.
Mission types:
- Blitz: Short, intense missions that feature 1-2 objectives, perfect for when you only have time for a quick run, usually around 15 – 20 minutes in length
- Siege: Standard-length missions that can contain multiple objectives with more opportunity to traverse across the map. Missions range from 20 – 40 minutes
- Horde: For when you want a tougher grind, these missions will ask your squad to hunker down in one spot, setting up defenses against 10 grueling waves with limited support. These missions can last up to 50 – 60 minutes
Difficulty settings, the higher the setting, the greater reward, but the tougher the challenge:
- Infantry: Meant for experienced players who are ready for a challenge. Recommended for Class levels 10 – 20.
- Commander: Reserved for the most elite combatants with many successful completed missions. Recommended for Class levels 20 – 30.
- Allfather: Missions with a slim chance of survival, regardless of your combat record. Recommended for max level classes only.
Old Familiar
A lot of what we know and love from Horde is still going to be there too, of course. You’ll collect energy to buy defenses, weapons and grenades. You can revive your squad mates by collecting their COG tags, and there are plenty of the usual modifiers and ‘poisons’ to buff the enemies.
New additions include revival from other squad members, squad lives (if your whole squad gets wiped, you lose a squad life rather than fail immediately, and something completely new for a Gears title, weapon parts and modding.
Every class has up to 30 levels to progress through by earning Class XP in Horde Siege. Advancing through the levels will unlock new weapons and equipment. So, not only can you equip mods, but you can change up the kit of those classic weapons, like attaching a bayonet to a Gnasher shotgun!
Versus
The classic PvP versus mode is back too, of course. Bringing classic Team Deathmatch and several new modes to E-Day on launch. Ranked and social play are still present in the game. The Coalition are promising new modes, maps and content post-launch.
Game Modes include:
- Team Deathmatch – TDM centres around eliminating enemy lives, rather than getting the highest score
- Conquest – an updated take on King of the Hill. You will need to occupy and defend a zone on the map to score points. The zone moves when all the points from area have been claimed by a team.
- Demolition – this sounds like Search and Destroy. You will need to deliver and plant a bomb, then defend it until it explodes. Once armed, you will not get any respawns until the bomb has been dealt with.
- Crucible – Crucible centres around the Power Core, a heavy piece of COG equipment that you can pick up and carry. Your team will need to take the Power Core into the scoring zone, a zone that moves and shrinks over the course of the game. You can also use the Power Core as a weapon for a last minute defence mechanism.
Versus Maps
E-Day has six brand-new versus maps, all set in the war-torn city of Kalona, the setting for E-Day. They’ve all been designed to make the most use of E-Day’s new movement mechanics and gameplay features. I suspect this is why there are no classic maps being included at launch. They’ll likely be tweaked to work with the new movement mechanics before including. We’ll have to wait and see if that’s the case.
- Outpost – An abandoned military camp overlooking Downtown Kalona, featuring bunkers, rolling terrain and an elevated bridge that connects a well?trodden training facility. Multiple traversal routes, shifting elevation and long sightlines create opportunities for both aggressive pushes and tactical positioning.
- Battleship – A colossal wartime vessel in the middle of post?war deconstruction. Fight across the ship’s exposed decks, contested bridge crossings and smoldering docks, where control of key pathways can dictate the pace of battle.
- Park – Nestled along the coast of Downtown Kalona, battle in the bloody ruins of a zoo gone feral. Open sightlines converge on the iconic central fountain while winding pathways and surrounding exhibits offer alternative routes through the battlefield.
- Precinct – Prepare to clash in the close confines of the Kalona Police Department the day after it was decimated. Tight interiors, breached walls and improvised cover create constant opportunities for flanks and close-quarters engagements.
- Market – Battle through a once?thriving seaside market now shattered by invasion. Long streets, elevated balconies and densely packed interiors create layered engagements across every corner of the marketplace.
- Skyward – Fight on interconnected rooftops linked by perilous jumps and narrow pathways. Verticality, exposed crossings and commanding overlook positions reward players willing to risk the high ground.
Skins, Progression, Content and Currencies (oh my!)
In the deep dive, The Coalition have confirmed that almost all in-game skins and customisation can be earned by playing, completing challenges and unlocking achievements. The exception being collaborations and premium items (such as the excellent looking Metallica Ride the Lightning skins).
All items, including limited time event items, will be earnable at some point. Some items will become unavailable for a time, before being made available to purchase with the game’s in-game currency, Coins, which will be earned by playing, and do not cost. E-Day will have Iron, a premium currency if you want to purchase something immediately rather than having to grind a bit with Coins.
E-Day will have no battlepass, no shop exclusive items, and will feature ‘complete the set pricing’ so you can pick up remaining items from a set for a discount.
Anything else?
Post Launch
The Coalition have committed to five post-launch multiplayer seasons that will be themed. The first season, on launch, will be Season 1: Emergence. Each season will include maps, modes, characters, skins, new Horde Siege classes, limited time events and more. They promise to share a roadmap for the seasons as launch approaches.
Seriously?
Celebrate achievement hunters / masochists, Gears of War’s signature achievement, will be returning. The unlock conditions have yet to be confirmed but the achievement will be called “Dead Serious”.
Beta Time
Two multiplayer betas are going to take place during August. The Early Access beta takes places between 6 – 10 August, with the second Open Beta, taking place during 13 – 17 August.
To get into the Early Access beta you need to either be a PC or Ultime Game Pass subscriber, or preorder the game.
How excited are you for Gears of War: E-Day? I cannot wait to get my hands on it, and I will certainly be spending some time in the betas. Hope to see you there!
