Playing Gears of War: E-Day solo offers a solid third-person shooter experience, but the developers at The Coalition consider the game to be transcendent when played cooperatively. According to brand director Nicole Fawcette, local split-screen co-op is a fundamental aspect of the Gears of War DNA, a feature that the team has prioritized in the development of E-Day.
"Splitscreen, specifically on console, that's core to Gears," Fawcette stated in an interview at Gamescom 2026. "That's always been the DNA of the game. Like we are… We’ve always been a co-op game."
Gears of War: E-Day, the series' first prequel, explores the inciting event known as Emergence Day. Developed by The Coalition, the game is available in early access on Windows PC and Xbox Series X, with a full release scheduled for October 6. While the single-player campaign has been described as good and solid, reminiscent of previous Gears of War titles, the local co-op experience is where the game truly shines.
Setting up local co-op is intentionally streamlined. Players can simply boot up the game, and a second player can join using their controller, with guest logins functioning seamlessly. This ease of access contrasts with the more complicated processes seen in some other games, particularly in the past.
The return to couch co-op has been met with enthusiasm, bringing back the familiar rhythm of communication, covering fire, and reviving teammates. The in-game dialogue even reflects this camaraderie, with characters shouting "Dibs!" when claiming items or reacting to impressive feats with exclamations like "Did you see that?!"
Art director Aryan Hanbeck noted the importance of these shared experiences, stating, "Every time a fan comes up like, ‘Oh, I used to play this game with my brother,’ ‘I used to play this game with my dad,’ whoever. We just kind of lean into it."
While Gears of War: E-Day supports parties of up to four players, it currently accommodates only two players per screen due to technical limitations. Features such as leaderboards and private lobbies, which have been staples in previous series entries, are absent at launch. However, the inclusion of local co-op was considered non-negotiable.
"Having different ways to play with friends is so integral, so part of Gears, that it feels weird to remove one of those," Hanbeck commented. "Even if it's not that popular anymore or not found in a lot of games."