Players worldwide can now mark their calendars for the long-awaited return to the world of Gears of War, as Microsoft and The Coalition have confirmed the release times for Gears of War: E-Day. The prequel, which dramatizes the catastrophic Emergence Day invasion of the city of Kalona and the beginning of the war against the Locust Horde, will open its doors to early access on Thursday, October 1 at 11 a.m. EDT for pre-order owners and Game Pass subscribers, with the standard global launch following a week later on Tuesday, October 6 at the same time.
Set before the events of the mainline series, the game chronicles the moment the tide of humanity’s struggle turned dark, delivering the franchise’s signature blend of visceral combat and brutal, gory storytelling. With the launch now just days away, here is everything players need to know about when the game becomes available in their time zone, along with details on how to preload it ahead of time.
Early Access Opens Thursday, October 1
Those who pre-ordered the game or plan to access it through Game Pass will be the first through the doors, gaining early access on Thursday, October 1 at 11 a.m. EDT. For players on the west coast of North America, that translates to 8 a.m. PDT, while those on the east coast can jump in at 11 a.m. EDT. Across the Atlantic, the game launches at 4 p.m. BST in the United Kingdom and 5 p.m. CEST across western Europe, with Brazil able to play at 12 p.m. BRT. Players in the Asia-Pacific region will be up late, with Japan gaining access at 12 a.m. JST on Friday, October 2 and the east coast of Australia at 1 a.m. AEST on the same day.
Standard Launch Follows Tuesday, October 6
For everyone else, the full release lands on Tuesday, October 6 at 11 a.m. EDT, mirroring the early access timing across every time zone. West coast players will again be first in North America at 8 a.m. PDT, followed by 11 a.m. EDT on the east coast. The United Kingdom sees a 4 p.m. BST launch, western Europe at 5 p.m. CEST, and Brazil at 12 p.m. BRT. Japan will open its doors at 12 a.m. JST on Wednesday, October 7, while the east coast of Australia can play at 1 a.m. AET on the same morning.
How to Preload the Game
The community has been eagerly anticipating the return to this beloved franchise, with the early access window offering a taste of what promises to be one of the most anticipated launches of the year. The game’s commitment to the series’ signature intensity has set high expectations, and the staggered release structure allows the most dedicated fans to dive into the origins of the Gears of War universe first.
Looking Ahead
With the release times now locked in, all that remains is for players to preload the game and prepare for the emergence of the Locust Horde. Whether jumping into early access on October 1 or waiting for the standard launch on October 6, players across the globe will be able to experience the story that started it all. As the countdown continues, fans can expect the full Gears of War: E-Day experience to deliver on the franchise’s legacy of intense, story-driven cooperative and multiplayer combat.
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