Every official video drop for Gears of War: E-Day, in order. All videos premiere on the official Gears of War and Xbox YouTube channels.
The dates tie into the release timeline; the two June 2026 videos are recapped as the E-Day Direct.
| Date | Video | What it showed |
|---|---|---|
| June 9, 2024 | Announce Trailer (in-engine) | Armorless young Marcus overpowered by a Drone; bayonet Lancer (pre-chainsaw era); an E-Hole swallows him, Dom's arm reaches down; pull-back reveals Kalona falling. Set to a new rendition of "Mad World" |
| June 7, 2026 | Gameplay Demo Reveal | Opened the Xbox Games Showcase, first gameplay: the movement overhaul, the Locust debut, Kalona's streets. Release date confirmed |
| June 7, 2026 | E-Day Direct | Dedicated deep-dive: Bravo Squad, Kalona, "empty hard drive" tech story, Horde Siege and Versus first looks |
| June 2026 | "Emergence" (main theme) | Original track by Adam Lastiwka released to streaming |
| July 30, 2026 | Multiplayer Overview | Horde Siege and Versus deep dive, set to Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" |
| August 25, 2026 | Story Trailer (Gamescom Opening Night Live) | 2-minute story focus; debut of Vraahk "in the most brutal way possible"; the Scorched Legion; the mayor and colonel of Kalona |
| October 1, 2026 | Launch Trailer | Dropped as early access opened and the review embargo lifted; the release-week beat of the campaign |
The launch trailer's official YouTube link is being verified and will be added to the Where to Watch table as soon as the upload is confirmed on the official Gears channel.
The "Mad World" Parallels
The 2024 announce was engineered as a mirror of the legendary 2006 Gears trailer: a new rendition of "Mad World" (the Gary Jules version scored the original), an E-Hole fall, a Dom rescue, and Corpsers in the closing pull-back. Composer Adam Lastiwka later released his own reworked version for the reveal, and the in-game menu carries four soundtrack choices including Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (instrumental).
The antagonist the story trailer introduced is covered on the enemies page.
Where to Watch
Both headline reveals are embedded below, click a thumbnail to play. The full archive lives on the official channels:
- Official channel: youtube.com/@GearsofWar
- The Xbox YouTube channel carries Showcase-stage versions of the 2024 and 2026 reveals
Note: the two headline reveals above are embedded with video IDs verified against the official channel. Exact titles and durations for the remaining drops are still being pulled from the channel, those entries link out until verified.
Questions
What was the first E-Day trailer?
The in-engine announce trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 9, 2024, a "Mad World" homage showing young Marcus and Dom's first meeting amid the Locust eruption.
When did the story trailer come out?
August 25, 2026, at Gamescom Opening Night Live, a 2-minute trailer that introduced the main antagonist Vraahk.
What song is in the E-Day trailer?
The 2024 announce uses a new rendition of "Mad World" (Tears For Fears, as famously covered by Gary Jules for Gears 1). The multiplayer overview uses Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls."