After spending six hours with Gears of War: E-Day's multiplayer modes, it's clear that The Coalition is reviving the franchise's old-school heart. The upcoming prequel brings back classic modes with a splash of the new, resulting in a mix where some gameplay hallmarks feel creakier than others, but the 'all killer, no filler' approach shows promise.
First Impressions and Design Changes
The roadie run is now mapped to L3 instead of the classic A button, a change quickly embraced for its alignment with modern shooters. The active reload bar has moved from the top-right to behind the character. These tweaks feel fresh yet familiar, onboarding newcomers while welcoming veteran players.
PvP Modes: Team Deathmatch and Conquest
Team Deathmatch features teams of four pulling from a shared pool of 15 lives, emphasizing revives. The downed mechanic returns with brutal finisher kills that look even more visceral thanks to improved graphics. Conquest works like a tactical headquarters mode, with both teams wrestling for a changing control point, creating chaos that highlights the series' cover-shooting principles.
Maps: Market and Outpost
Two maps were played: Market, with an inner undercover section hot for carnage and outer lane-based structure; and Outpost, which relies on brownish murkiness but offers varied vantage points and uneven ground. Both showcase Kalona as the new planet setting before Locust forces fully took hold.
Horde Siege: The Star of the Show
Horde Siege is a large-scale PvE mode where three squads of four cooperate across a map to complete objectives like killing a specific target, defending a point, or capturing a cache. Despite the 'Horde' name, it feels entirely new. Inspired by modern offerings like Helldivers 2, the mode demands communication and coordination, and missions can stretch over 30 minutes. Everything feeds into a class system unlocking weapons and gadgets for custom COG characters.
Gears of War: E-Day releases on PC and Xbox on October 6, 2026.
