Gears of War: E-Day is ditching battle passes entirely and letting players earn almost everything through gameplay
·
Copied
Microsoft
The Coalition has revealed Gears of War: E-Day's multiplayer in full, and the studio is making a deliberate point of walking away from modern monetisation. There is no battle pass, no tour of duty system, and no premium currency track. Nearly every cosmetic in the game can be earned by playing it.
The details:
The multiplayer reveal came alongside a new trailer and deep dive published July 30. The Coalition's stated approach: "No battle pass, no tour of duty, no gimmicks, no bullshit." Creative director Matt Searcy described it as an "old-school inspired approach" to cosmetic progression.
Cosmetics are unlocked through a Classic Medal System, seasonal challenges, and a free-to-earn Coins currency. Coins are earned by completing multiplayer matches, leveling up, and earning medals. The vast majority of items in the game can be obtained this way. The studio has acknowledged that not every single item will be earnable through gameplay, suggesting some paid cosmetics will exist, but the premium battle pass track is gone entirely.
E-Day's multiplayer includes two main modes: Versus, the returning competitive PvP format, and Horde Siege, a new 12-player, three-squad PvE experience. Both modes feed into the same cosmetic progression system.
Gears of War: E-Day launches on October 6, 2026, and will be available day one on Game Pass.
