Microsoft Skips Gears of War: E-Day at 2025 Xbox Showcase, Confirms 2026 Release

If you tuned into the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 hoping for a glimpse of Gears of War: E-Day, you may have left feeling a bit let down. The event was notably light on reveals from Microsoft’s biggest franchises, with no sign of Forza, Halo, or the upcoming Fable reboot.

However, Xbox head Phil Spencer offered some clarity on what's ahead, confirming that 2026 will be a major year for Gears of War: E-Day and the next installment in the Forza series. Both titles are set to launch as part of Xbox’s 25th-anniversary celebrations.

Gears of War: E-Day was officially announced during the Xbox Games Showcase 2024. As a prequel set 14 years before the events of the original game, it serves as an origin story for iconic characters Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago—once again voiced by John DiMaggio and Carlos Ferro.

“Gears of War: E-Day is not just our next major game; it's a return to what makes Gears of War games special and authentic,” said The Coalition studio head Mike Crump in a previous statement.

In early 2025, it was revealed that People Can Fly—known for Bulletstorm and Gears of War: Judgment—would serve as co-developer alongside The Coalition.

During today’s showcase, Phil Spencer also teased a long-awaited return for the Halo franchise, hinting at a possible remaster of the original title. For more details on all the announcements made during the Xbox Games Showcase June 2025, [ttpp] stay tuned for further updates.