Gears of War: E-Day has arrived for early adopters, granting access to players who purchased the Premium Edition, Premium Upgrade Edition, or Collector's Edition. However, some players have noted the absence of features previously integral to the Gears franchise, such as Meat Shields and Chainsaw Duels.
In a statement released concurrently with the game's early access launch, The Coalition addressed these concerns. The studio explained that these 'legacy features,' alongside certain older weapons and online functionalities like Private Lobbies and leaderboards, might be integrated post-launch or appear in a future title. The development team emphasized that these elements are not permanently removed from the franchise. "Our team is working hard to deliver the strongest and most stable launch experience we can with an eye to how, and what, to deliver and improve on fan-favourite features either post-launch or in our next title," the studio stated.
The Coalition elaborated that E-Day was built from the ground up with a new gameplay sandbox to ensure a unified experience across campaign, PvE, and PvP modes. This foundational rebuild, while allowing for innovation in combat and enemy design, meant that including every legacy feature at launch was not feasible.
The studio also commented on the iconic Gnasher shotgun, reassuring players that its core characteristics remain a priority. "The Gnasher is one of the most iconic and unique weapons in Gears of War," The Coalition said, "we believe it always needs to be punchy, visceral and consistent every time you pull the trigger." The way aiming and firing works has evolved over the series, but the goal of a consistent Gnasher experience remains. The game maintains the Gnasher's fire from the camera position when aiming down sights, a mechanic present since the original Gears of War, ensuring predictable shots from the ADS view.
The Coalition indicated they are actively seeking player feedback on the Gnasher's performance and aiming mechanics, intending to listen to player input for future adjustments.
Gears of War: E-Day's first season commenced with its early access release and will run for eight weeks, concluding on December 1. Ranked PvP modes are scheduled to arrive on October 13, with the game's general release set for October 6. Early performance on Steam and Xbox suggests a strong reception for the title.