Gears of War: E-Day, the prequel to the popular Gears of War series, launched without some of the signature features found in earlier games, such as the ability to take enemies hostage for use as human shields and chainsaw attachments on Lancer assault rifles for duels. According to a developer blog by The Coalition, these features were omitted from the initial release because E-Day was built from the ground up rather than using the framework of previous titles. The Coalition explained that starting fresh allowed for a more cohesive experience across the campaign, JcE (Joint Campaign Experience), and JcJ (Joint Combat Experience), as well as innovations in cover mechanics, combat systems, and enemy behavior. The developers mentioned that they are working to add these features, along with private lobbies and leaderboards, either after launch or in their next title. The first season of E-Day is available in early access starting today at 8am PT / 11am ET and 5pm Paris time. The early access period will last eight weeks, ending on December 1st. This season includes all maps, game modes, and cosmetic items available at launch, as well as three seasonal events: Halloween, "20 Years of Gears," and "Thanksgibbing." Ranked modes, which allow players to compete in structured matches, will be added later on October 13th. The blog also outlined changes to the Gnasher, the iconic shotguns featured in Gears of War. In previous games, firing the Gnasher at the hip caused an explosion in the direction the character was facing. In E-Day, this system has been updated to combine camera aiming and the position of the barrel, giving players more control over their last-minute shots. Last month, Xbox announced the layoff of an additional 268 employees, including the narrative director of E-Day. In June 2024, Microsoft committed to continuing the story of Gears of War and resolving the unresolved plot points from the ending of Gears 5, even though it had initially planned to create a prequel with E-Day. Whether this project moves forward will likely depend on the success of E-Day. Developers from The Coalition have expressed concerns about potential staff reductions after the game's release. A developer from The Coalition told Eurogamer, "We have trouble believing anything they say now."