DDoS attack disrupts Gears of War: E-Day

The Coalition developers confirmed that Gears of War: E-Day suffered a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack during the weekend, causing intermittent disconnections and connection issues for players on Xbox Series X|S and PC over the past two days. The studio stated that the issue was eventually resolved and attributed the disruptions to the cyberattack, which involves overwhelming a server or network with a massive influx of requests from multiple sources.

Speculation about attack's motives continues

Speculation about the motivations behind the attack is ongoing, with some suggesting a persistent vendetta against the game, which some players consider too "woke." However, the game has received mostly positive user reviews on Steam. E-Day is now operational, though concerns about its sales performance remain.

E-Day's sales and platform impact

Earlier this month, marketing analyst Rhys Elliott from Alinea Analytics estimated that E-Day sold approximately 230,000 copies during its first week, a launch described as modest. These unofficial figures suggest that the Xbox Game Pass subscription service may be cannibalizing sales.

Developer highlights non-sales success

The head of The Coalition, Mike Crump, recently told the BBC that the game's success was not limited to sales figures, emphasizing the importance of platform promotion and showcasing the capabilities of Xbox hardware. Earlier this month, Eurogamer reported internal concerns within The Coalition about potential layoffs following the release of E-Day. Sources described the atmosphere as cautious, with some expecting a new wave of layoffs or restructuring under Activision or another company later this year.

Microsoft's restructuring affects multiple studios

Microsoft's ongoing restructuring of its gaming operations, led by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, has already resulted in the elimination of nearly 2,000 positions this year, with more layoffs expected. Several studios have left Microsoft's oversight or are in the process of closing. The reorganization has placed Rare, the developer of Halo and Sea of Thieves, under Activision's supervision, and Obsidian, the developer of Grounded, under Bethesda's supervision.

E-Day's exclusive release on Xbox platforms

Gears of War: E-Day was released as an Xbox Series X|S and PC exclusive, omitting a PS5 version that could have boosted its sales. Crump stated that the game's primary goal was to provide the most visually impressive experience on Xbox and to demonstrate the hardware's capabilities to the industry.