Much ofGears of War: E-Dayis still a big mystery, but the promise of getting to see Emergence Day through the eyes of Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago is incredibly compelling. Set 14 years before the first game,Gears of War: E-Daywill immerse players in the franchise’s most important moment in its lore. This is the first time that longtime fans will get to see what Marcus and Dom experienced, which could set the stage for some harrowing, action-packed moments.
AfterGears 5, it was unclear what the next chapter in the series would be. The natural assumption would be for a sixth mainline chapter, butGears of War: E-Daybeing a prequel for the entire franchise is an exciting subversion of expectations. Of course,E-Daywill have a high bar to meet, especially considering the significance of the event. Getting to witness the arrival of the Locust Horder is intriguing enough, but there is another war that could pave the way for more prequels in the future: the Pendulum Wars.
Gears of War: E-Day Could Leave the Door Wide Open for the Franchise to Continue Diving Deeper Into the Past
A Game Centered Around the Pendulum Wars Would Shake Up the Series in a Big Way
While E-Day was the event that threw Sera into full-blown survival mode, the planet was embroiled in a massive decades-long conflict beforehand. There is nearly 80 years' worth of storytelling potential that could show a different side totheGears of Warfranchise. The outcome may already be known, since the Coalition of Ordered Governments clearly gained the upper hand at the end, but that doesn’t mean a story centered around the Pendulum Wars wouldn’t have plenty of compelling material to work with.
The series has already ventured this far into the past before. Between the prologue ofGears of Wars 4andGears of War: Aspho Fields, a novel spin-off detailing a turning point inthe Pendulum Wars, the subject has been touched on a little bit, but not with a full-blown game.
TheGears of Warmovie has finally found a director in David Leitch, who is known for his work onBullet Train,The Fall Guy, andAtomic Blonde.
The Biggest Issue With a Potential Pendulum Wars Prequel is Obvious
If the team at The Coalition ever wanted to make a spin-off that revolves around the Pendulum Wars,Gears of War’s biggest threatwould be missing: the Locust Horde. Since the first game, the Locusts have been the central villain in the story, and a Pendulum Wars game would pit Seran against Seran, which may be jarring for fans who prefer the fight against the franchise’s established enemies.
While it would be a bold change for the franchise, it could prove to be just the right kind of shake-up. TheGears of Warfranchise is filled with compelling lore beyond the threat of the Locust Horde, and spin-off chapters and prequels could be a great way to explore more of that world.Marcus and Domhave been the heart of the series, but a Pendulum Wars prequel could pave the way for a fresh duo, as well.
The Wait for Gears of War: E-Day Continues
Next year will beGears of War’s 20-year anniversary, makingthe arrival ofE-Dayextra exciting. As the year continues, The Coalition will hopefully reveal more about what to expect with the highly anticipated prequel. Until then, there is plenty of time to get a refresher on theGears of Warlore, Pendulum Wars included.
