Xbox is trying to manufacture a comeback, and to some extent, I understand the strategy. If Xbox’s Project Helix is going to be a success after two abysmal console generations, there needs to be a reason for consumers to buy into Microsoft’s gaming ecosystem. This year’s Xbox Games Showcase made it clear that the return of console exclusives is that reason. It’s an unfortunate turn for consumers after Xbox’s multi-platform endeavors in recent years, but I understand the larger vision. Binning the PlayStation 5 version of Gears of War: E-Day, however, isn’t adding up.
The prequel will take place 14 years before the original Gears of War, finally letting longtime fans experience the single most consequential event in franchise canon, Emergence Day. With Gears of War: Reloaded marking the series’ debut on PlayStation last year, E-Day appeared primed for release on PS5. When E-Day‘s release date was announced and gameplay was finally shown, however, it was revealed that the game would only be released for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Waffling like this isn’t going to do Gears any favors.
So What Was The Point Of Gears Of War: Reloaded On PS5?
Listen, I had a great time revisiting the first game with Gears of War: Reloaded. My review is quite positive, but it has always been an odd release in larger contexts. Gears 1 barely scratches the surface of the franchise’s setting, and doesn’t have an exceptional amount of gameplay variety – it feels a bit aimless without Gears of War 2 and 3 accompanying it onto PS5. But it was the logical place to start as Xbox slowly brought its flagship games to PlayStation.
Perhaps Reloaded‘s biggest saving grace was Xbox’s apparent willingness to bring Gears of War: E-Day to PS5 as well. New fans may not be able to continue the story without the rest of the original trilogy, but at least there was a brand-new prequel on the way. Now that possibility has been nixed. Xbox’s big statement coming out of the Games Showcase is that exclusives are back, starting with Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution. “These are not timed exclusives,” says Xbox Wire, E-Day will never come to PS5 (until Xbox decides to change its mind again).
So what was the point of bringing Gears of War: Reloaded to PlayStation? It’s a remaster of a remaster of a game released in 2006, just one of five mainline releases, and seven major installments counting Gears of War: Judgment and Gears Tactics. Alone, Reloaded is a fairly weak attempt at cultivating a new audience, but at least it hinted at a multi-platform future for Gears, a future that’s now dead.
Reloaded was the simplest way to garner some interest in the franchise on PS5 before E-Day, even if it’s arguably a weak attempt. Bringing Gears of War to PlayStation was likely not a decision made lightly, and now Xbox reversing course has immediately destroyed any chance the franchise had at wider popularity.
Gears Of War: E-Day Is Being Sacrificed For Vague Branding Purposes
The reversal on Gears going multi-platform feels like unfortunate timing. Phil Spencer is out as CEO and Asha Sharma is in; Xbox is trying to rehabilitate its brand image. I can’t decide what’s more confusing: the insistence on it being XBOX now, or the seemingly random selection of games that are becoming exclusive again. Forza Horizon 6 is still coming to PS5. Fable is still coming to PS5. Halo: Campaign Evolved is still coming to PS5.
Gears of War: E-Day has all but assuredly been condemned to sell fewer copies now that it will be unavailable on the largest current-gen console market. If E-Day is ultimately deemed a financial failure, who is going to face the consequences, the C-suite Xbox executives who made the decision to drastically reduce its customer base, or the developers at The Coalition and People Can Fly? I’m willing to bet it won’t be the former.
The franchise’s cultural cachet has dwindled drastically during the Xbox One and Series X/S generations. This is partly because Gears 4 and 5 don’t have the same reputation as the original trilogy (Gears 5 is actually great, fight me), but also because they were but one component of the Xbox brand losing steam. A single PlayStation release was a lifeline, no matter how uninspired, and E-Day was the opportunity to capitalize on it.
Despite being 15 years removed from the hype of Gears of War 3, the franchise is still considered an Xbox flagship. It’s unsurprising to see it selected as the game to lead the return of Xbox console exclusives, but it still doesn’t make much sense. It’s going to make equally little sense when Halo: Campaign Evolved drops on PS5 next month, and Halo 7 is later unveiled to be an Xbox console exclusive.
A small contingent of console fanboys are going to be elated that E-Day is the first game to, as Xbox Wire puts it, “demonstrate the return of XBOX,” but a lot more consumers are going to shrug and continue with their indifference to Gears of War. As much as I’m looking forward to Gears of War: E-Day, it is not going to single-handedly sell more Series X and S consoles. Xbox is already struggling as a brand, and arbitrarily deciding that certain games are returning to exclusivity won’t save it.
- Founded
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November 15, 2001
- Owner
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Microsoft
- Known For
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Halo, Forza, Gears of War