Gears of War E-Day, a prequel to the popular Gears of War franchise, has launched in late 2026, marking a major comeback for Xbox in its efforts to strengthen its lineup of exclusive games. The game's solo campaign, which is the main focus of early reviews, has been widely praised, while multiplayer and Horde modes remain unavailable for testing. Set 14 years before the original Gears of War, the story follows a younger Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago as they form a team to fight against the Locust, a fictional alien species. The narrative is described as more emotionally rich and character-driven than previous games, with moments of vulnerability and deep interactions between characters. Visually, Gears of War E-Day is considered one of the most impressive games of recent years. It uses Unreal Engine 5, a powerful game development tool, featuring advanced lighting and rendering techniques such as Lumen and ray tracing. The game's environments, animations, and lighting effects are described as stunning, creating a vivid and immersive world. On Xbox Series X, the game runs smoothly at 60 frames per second in Performance mode, though some users have reported occasional frame drops and texture loading problems. The PC version offers even more graphical detail, though it may require a high-end system to run effectively. Gameplay in E-Day retains the signature cover-based combat that the franchise is known for, but adds new mechanics such as jumping, sliding, and a more fluid combat system. Players can customize their weapons using a mod system, allowing for greater tactical choices. The game also introduces semi-open areas, which offer variety but have been criticized for causing repetition and pacing issues in some reviews. The campaign lasts approximately 11 hours in normal mode and is praised for its immersive experience, with the option to play cooperatively with up to three friends. The French dubbing has sparked some debate, as the original voices of Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago are no longer available, leading to replacements that some players found less compelling. However, the overall sound design and music are highly praised for their ability to enhance the game's atmosphere and tension. While E-Day has received many positive reviews, it is not without its flaws. Some critics found the middle section of the campaign to be slower and less engaging, and the lack of multiplayer and Horde modes in testing left parts of the game unreviewed. Despite these issues, the campaign is seen as a successful return for the Gears of War franchise.