Xbox Game Studios and The Coalition’s upcoming third-person shooter, Gears of War: E-Day, is set for release during the second half of 2026, according to a new report.
According to a report from The Verge’s Tom Warren (via IdleSloth84_ on Twitter/X), Microsoft is lining up a major 2026 for Xbox, with two of its most important franchises targeting key release windows. Citing sources within Microsoft, he mentioned that Gears of War: E-Day is currently scheduled for release in the second half of 2026, while Halo: Campaign Evolved is tentatively aiming for a summer launch.
These releases are part of an internal push at Microsoft as Xbox approaches its 25-year anniversary. After a turbulent period marked by declining hardware sales and the decision to bring more Xbox games to rival platforms, the company looks to make 2026 a major year for the platform. It plans on doing so by asserting the value of Xbox by focusing on its core franchises, namely Forza, Halo, Fable, and Gears of War.
The year is expected to kick off with Forza Horizon 6, which is launching on May 19. From there, Halo: Campaign Evolved is targeting a summer release window, indicating that Microsoft’s aiming to have a steady lineup of first-party releases rather than having everything launch toward the end of the year. Fable is planned for a Fall release, while Gears of War: E-Day is scheduled for the latter half of 2026.
However, Warren also noted that Microsoft is aware of GTA VI’s November 19 release date. According to him, with Take-Two set to begin marketing in the summer, the software giant is trying to avoid launching its biggest titles in the vicinity of Rockstar Games’ juggernaut, leaving room for schedules to shift if needed.
Beyond these major releases, Double Fine is preparing to release its new game Kiln in April, while Bethesda is working on new Starfield content and possibly a PS5 version, both of which may arrive sometime soon. Furthermore, Warren mentioned that the previously rumored Fallout 3 remaster is still in active development, and that Bethesda Game Studios is keen to ensure it launches in a polished state.
