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Gears of War: E-Day has cooperative Horde Siege missions and four 4v4 Versus modes: Team Deathmatch, Conquest, Demolition, and Crucible. Its campaign is also playable solo, in two-player console split-screen, or with up to four online players. Cross-platform play is advertised for supported platforms, but Steam players need to link an Xbox account to send cross-platform squad invites under the account rules described in the game’s beta FAQ.
What multiplayer modes are in Gears of War: E-Day?
The Coalition divides multiplayer into Horde Siege, a cooperative player-versus-environment (PvE) mode, and Versus, a competitive player-versus-player (PvP) suite. Boot Camp and Combat Training are separate ways to learn and practise rather than additional Versus modes. See The Coalition’s multiplayer overview for its mode descriptions.
| Mode or feature | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Horde Siege | Cooperative missions with objectives and waves of enemies; available in Blitz, Siege, and Horde playlists. |
| Versus | Four 4v4 PvP modes with distinct team objectives. |
| Boot Camp | Introduces controls and core mechanics. |
| Combat Training | Practice on a multiplayer map, with support for four-player co-op. |
How does Horde Siege work?
Horde Siege is an evolved wave-survival mode built around missions. A mission can ask a squad to secure an area, calibrate or repair a R.I.G., defend it, and survive a Horde sequence. Squads earn shared Energy, and optional secondary objectives can provide rewards.
The Coalition describes three playlists with typical, not guaranteed, session lengths:
#1 Best Overall
- AN ORIGIN STORY BEGINS — Fight alongside Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago in the gripping origin story of Emergence Day, as the Locust Horde erupts from below.
- A DARKER, GRITTIER THREAT — Face reimagined enemies and a terrifying underground invasion that restores the fear, dread, and intensity at the heart of the Gears of War series.
- MULTIPLAYER EVOLVED — Battle in Horde Siege for large‑scale PvE action or prove your skill in refined Versus PvP with greater precision and competitive depth.
- CLASSIC COMBAT, MODERNIZED — Experience signature cover‑based gameplay enhanced with updated movement, traversal, and controls that feel like Gears while playing like something new.
- CO‑OP YOUR WAY — Play online with up to four players across Campaign, Horde Siege, and Versus, or team up locally with 2‑player split‑screen co‑op on console.
| Playlist | Structure and developer-described typical length |
|---|---|
| Blitz | Short missions, usually about 15–20 minutes. |
| Siege | Standard missions, about 20–40 minutes. |
| Horde | 10 waves, potentially about 50–60 minutes. |
Extraction is the final objective. The Coalition says at least one squad member must get out for the mission to count as completed and for collected Weapon Parts to be kept. The cited official descriptions do not specify an exact maximum squad size, so the mode’s multi-squad structure should not be read as a confirmed player limit.
What are the four Versus modes?
Every core Versus mode is 4v4. Players begin with the same loadout weapons and equipment; weapon mods are disabled, and teams compete for power weapons placed on the map.
Rank #2
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
- Team Deathmatch: Eliminate enemy lives. E-Day introduces a dynamic respawn system.
- Conquest: A King of the Hill variation. Zones stay active until a team accumulates enough time in them.
- Demolition: Retrieve a neutral bomb, plant it at an enemy site, then defend it. The first team to three detonations wins.
- Crucible: Carry a Power Core into a shifting, shrinking zone and hold it to score.
The Coalition lists six launch maps: Outpost, Battleship, Park, Precinct, Market, and Skyward. Its multiplayer overview describes Ranked and Social playlists; Social includes Quickplay and Player vs Bot options.
Can you play the campaign or other modes in co-op?
Yes. Xbox says the campaign can be played solo, in two-player split-screen on console, or with up to four players online. Combat Training is another co-op option and supports four players. These are separate from Horde Siege, which is itself cooperative multiplayer. The Xbox product page gives the campaign formats; the exact Horde Siege squad maximum is not stated in the cited official material.
Rank #3
- Listen up, soldier. The world is in ruin. The Locust Horde has risen. It’s Human vs Horde, and here’s your mission: Pick a side, build a powerful deck, and win the war. The fate of the world is in your hands!
- Experience the gritty gunplay of the video game in this official two-player card game. Take command of the COG forces or the Locust horde and seize control of the battlefield, one chapter at a time.
- Strategise your way through each chapter, bolstering your forces with classic characters like Marcus Fenix, General Raam, August “Cole Train” Cole, Dominic Santiago, and Damon Baird.
- Every battle counts. Whatever happens in each chapter will change what comes next, so you’d better be ready to dominate. The deck you build and decisions you make will change the way you play each campaign, making this a game you can reload time and time again.
- Whether you're a hardened vet or a grass-green rookie, get ready to take cover and lay down suppressive fire. Your enemies are trying to take the line, soldier. You’d better shove back hard.
Does Gears of War: E-Day support crossplay?
Steam’s store listing advertises cross-platform play and invites across supported platforms. That supports cross-platform play, but it does not establish that every playlist or every platform pairing uses identical rules. The listing is available at Steam.
The Coalition’s August 3, 2026 open beta FAQ said a Microsoft/Xbox account was not required simply to play on Steam, but Steam players had to link an Xbox account to send a cross-platform squad invitation. That FAQ described beta conditions, so if the live game presents a different invitation or linking flow, follow its current in-game instructions.
Rank #4
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
Which platforms can play, and is a subscription needed?
Xbox lists Gears of War: E-Day for Xbox Series X|S and PC, including Steam. Xbox says online campaign co-op, Horde Siege, and Versus on Xbox require a Game Pass subscription that includes online multiplayer; the subscription is sold separately. Its page lists Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass availability for the game. This console online-multiplayer requirement should not be assumed to apply to Steam.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 25 Years after Gears of War 3, spurred by a series of strange disappearances, JD Fenix must embrace his father’s legacy and battle a terrifying new enemy
- Never Fight Alone: Enjoy two-player co-op with friends locally via split-screen, over Xbox Live or LAN. Player 2 can select either Kait or Del
- Redefined Cover Gameplay: New close-cover combat moves and combat-knife executions turn each piece of cover into an offensive opportunity
- Brutal New Weapons: An incredible arsenal of new weapons includes the Buzzkill and Dropshot, which can shoot around and over cover, raining destruction from all angles
Which mode should you start with?
- For cooperative objectives and PvE: Choose Horde Siege. Blitz is the shortest developer-described playlist; Horde is the longest listed format.
- For competitive team play: Pick a Versus mode based on its objective—eliminations, zone control, bomb planting, or carrying and holding the Power Core.
- To learn before joining a match: Use Boot Camp for controls, then Combat Training to practise on a multiplayer map, including with up to three other players.
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