E-Day’s Focus on Kalona Makes It Sound Even More Like a Horror Game
Gears of War: E-Day still has a lot to show off, but The Coalition (its developer) has confirmed that the game will take place solely in the city of Kalona. With a story that uses one city as its centerpiece, Gears of War: E-Day aims to make sure players feel every moment of brutality Marcus and Dom face in the fight against the Locust Horde. Longtime Gears of War fans know that E-Day is the most pivotal moment in the game’s lore, but this upcoming prequel marks the first time that players will get to fully experience an up-close and personal first-hand account of what transpired on the worst day in Sera’s history.
Gears of War‘s 20th anniversary is this year, and it’s sometimes hard to believe that the franchise has been going strong for so long. The first game picks up 14 years after the events of E-Day, so the promise of finally getting a look inside the series’ most notable moment is both thrilling and terrifying. Gears of War deals with a lot of heavy subjects when it comes to the toll that war takes on people, but the prequel is bound to dive even deeper into those themes. Keeping the narrative confined to Kalona makes sense, and it also hints that Gears of War: E-Day may have deeper notes of horror.
Gears of War: E-Day’s Kalona Setting Puts the Horror of Fighting the Locusts Front and Center
E-Day was an event that affected the entirety of Sera, but certain places on the planet became key battlegrounds during the Locust invasion. One of the most notable was Kalona. Being one of the first cities to fall under the unexpected invasion, Kalona is going to reveal the worst of the worst in terms of civilian death and pure terror. Out of all Gears of War games, Gears of War: E-Day is being set up to be the darkest chapter yet. Many of the finer details are being kept under wraps, but The Coalition’s creative director, Matt Searcy, recently offered some insight into what setting the game in Kalona will mean for players.
Kalona Teases Claustrophobic Immersion
When speaking to GamesRadar about choosing Kalona, Searcy said, “Our story is set over consecutive days so that players can become intimate with the city. We want them to feel the loss of what was here: the history, the people, and the lives they were living.” So, The Coalition is working to ensure that players are as immersed in the city as possible in order to really feel the tragedy of the horrific things taking place. Gears of War: E-Day‘s story follows Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago, and Searcy’s words make it clear that longtime fans will quickly understand how the two became so hardened. They were already toughened soldiers to begin with, but E-Day and the long years after shaped them for the rest of their lives.
Between failing to save doomed civilians and Marcus and Dom realizing the sheer hopelessness of the situation, Gears of War: E-Day is going to be dealing with moments that feel like real-life horror. The Gears of War franchise may be set in a fictional sci-fi world, but the horror of war and citywide tragedy, akin to something like an uncontrollable natural disaster, is deeply grounded in reality.
Gears of War: E-Day’s Linear Story Will Show Kalona Deteriorate Right Before Players’ Eyes
Searcy confirming that the story is “set over consecutive days” is really fascinating because it means players will get to see Kalona fall in real time. As each day passes, the bodies will only pile up more, and the city will crumble even further. The destruction will continue to unfold, and there’s nothing Marcus and Dom can do to stop it. Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago’s relationship is a cornerstone of the series, and seeing the tragic reasoning behind such an intensely strong bond is bound to put players through the emotional wringer.
Seeing how the city evolves from the beginning of the story to the end is setting the prequel up for some of the most harrowing and shocking moments in the franchise. Gears of War: E-Day‘s setting could really bring forth the emotional depth that the franchise has been working to achieve over the years. Each game has gotten closer to hitting these deep emotional notes, but E-Day presents even more material to work with in that regard.
“We want them to feel the loss of what was here: the history, the people, and the lives they were living.”
Voice actors John DiMaggio and Carlos Ferro will be reprising their roles as Marcus and Dom.
The Next Gears of War Chapter Hopefully Remains On Schedule For Its 2026 Launch
- Right now, Gears of War: E-Day does not have an official release date besides a 2026 window.
- Marcus Fenix will be the main, and potentially only, playable character.
- The campaign length is unknown at this moment.
- Multiplayer has yet to be officially confirmed by The Coalition.
There were hopes that Gears of War: E-Day would be present at Xbox’s first showcase of the year, but that wasn’t the case. Instead, games like Fable and Forza Horizon 6 were front and center. As exciting as a look inside Fable‘s gameplay was, the absence of Gears of War: E-Day was disappointing. As far as it’s known, the game is still on track for a 2026 release date. Hopefully, it stays that way. With 2026 marking 20 years of Gears of War, it would be a letdown if its prequel were delayed into 2027.
Gears of War: E-Day may have been left out of the Xbox showcase, but there is still plenty of time this year for the prequel to make an appearance. Between Summer Game Fest and the expected Xbox summer showcase, more Gears of War: E-Day news is on the horizon. This year is already shaping up to be a big one for the gaming industry, and Gears of War: E-Day is going to be a great addition to the growing 2026 lineup.