Metacritic 87, IGN 9, Pure Xbox 10, and a Steam player count double Gears 5’s record. Gears of War: E-Day launches tonight at 22:00 Vietnam time (15:00 UTC), and it is the Gears game critics have rated highest since Gears of War 3 in 2011.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Launch | 22:00 on October 6, 2026 (Vietnam time), 15:00 UTC |
| Platforms | Xbox Series X|S, PC (Xbox app, Steam), Game Pass from day one |
| Metacritic | 87 (Xbox Series X, 41 reviews, October 6) |
| OpenCritic | About 88 |
| Steam concurrent players | 20,374 on the first day of early access, double Gears 5 |
| Steam price in Vietnam | 1,499,000 VND and 2,199,000 VND |
Scores: the best Gears since Gears 3
On October 6, the Xbox Series X version of Gears of War: E-Day had a Metacritic score of 87 from 41 reviews, 93% positive and no negative reviews. That sits behind the first three games (Gears of War 94, Gears 2 93, Gears 3 91) but above Gears 4 and Gears 5 (both 84), making E-Day the highest-rated Gears game from studio The Coalition.
| Outlet | Score |
|---|---|
| Pure Xbox | 10/10 |
| TechRaptor | 9.5/10 |
| Destructoid | 9/10 |
| IGN | 9/10 |
| Video Games Chronicle | 8/10 |
| GameSpot | 7/10 |
| Gamekult | 5/10 |
Note: most reviews score only the campaign, since multiplayer was not open during the review period. See OtaHub’s detailed review roundup for more.
What is praised and what is criticized?
- Praised: the campaign’s atmosphere and tone, visuals and sound, the Marcus and Dom pairing, the new jump button and more fluid movement, and the new Horde Siege mode.
- Criticized: uneven campaign pacing, repetitive side missions, some bland open areas, and frame rate that occasionally dips in crowded scenes.
- Versus: according to Destructoid, only 6 maps and 4 modes at launch.
Double Gears 5’s Steam record
On the first day of early access (Premium edition, from October 1), Gears of War: E-Day reached 20,374 concurrent players on Steam, according to SteamDB data cited by Insider Gaming. That is double Gears 5’s all-time Steam record of 10,196. Note this is Steam only, not counting players on the Xbox app, Game Pass and console. On Steam, user reviews currently sit at “Mostly Positive” at about 75%.
What comes after launch?
The Coalition has promised at least five seasons of post-launch content, with no battle pass. Season 1, “Emergence”, runs from October 1 to December 1, with Halloween events and Gears’ 20th anniversary. Weekly challenges and ranked mode open on October 13. New post-launch maps are free.
PC specs
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 22H2 | Windows 11 25H2 |
| CPU | Ryzen 5 2600X / Core i5-10400 | Ryzen 5 5600 / Core i5-11600K |
| RAM | 12 GB | 16 GB |
| Graphics card | RTX 2060 / RX 6600 | RTX 3060 Ti / RX 6700 XT |
| Storage | SSD, 115 GB | |
The game requires a graphics card with hardware ray tracing support, so older cards like the GTX 1660 will not run it.
OtaHub’s take
After Gears 4 and Gears 5 both stalled at 84, E-Day is the first time The Coalition has come close to the original trilogy’s level. Going back to the beginning with young Marcus and Dom, plus being on Game Pass from day one, is the right formula to pull in both longtime fans and newcomers. If you have Game Pass, there is no reason not to try it tonight. If you plan to buy on Steam, check your graphics card first because of the hardware ray tracing requirement.
FAQ
What time does Gears of War: E-Day launch in Vietnam?
At 22:00 on October 6, 2026 (15:00 UTC). Premium edition buyers have been playing early since 22:00 on October 1 (Vietnam time).
Is Gears of War: E-Day on Game Pass?
Yes. The game is on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass from day one.
How much is Gears of War: E-Day on Steam in Vietnam?
When OtaHub checked on October 6, 2026, the Vietnam Steam page showed 1,499,000 VND and 2,199,000 VND for the two editions. In the US, the Standard edition costs $69.99 and the Premium edition $99.99.
What are the minimum PC specs for Gears of War: E-Day?
Windows 10 22H2, Ryzen 5 2600X or Core i5-10400, 12 GB RAM, RTX 2060 or RX 6600, and 115 GB of free SSD space. The game requires a graphics card with hardware ray tracing support.
Sources: Steam (Gears of War: E-Day, checked October 6, 2026), Xbox, Metacritic, OpenCritic, Insider Gaming, 80.lv, Destructoid, IGN, Pure Xbox, GameSpot, Gaming Trend, Windows Central.