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 Chronology
| 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 |
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).
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."