Pixel Sundays: Gears of War – 20 Years of War on Sera
The Gears of War franchise has been around since 2006, marking its 20th anniversary this year. Initially released exclusively for the Xbox 360, Gears of War was developed by Epic Games. Humanity lives on the fictional planet Sera, which is under attack by the Locust Horde. The Locust are humanoid monsters that suddenly emerged from the ground on what is known as Emergence Day. In the original games, you play as Marcus Fenix, who fights alongside his friend Dominic Santiago, known as Dom. Both are part of the COG, the primary human government and military force.
Summary
- The Origins of Gears of War
- Gears of War – The Battle for Sera Begins
- Gears of War 2 – The War Goes Underground
- Gears of War 3 – The End of the Locust War
- Judgment and Gears Beyond the Main Series
- Microsoft Takes Over – A New Generation Begins
- Gears 5 – Kait Diaz Becomes the New Lead
- Back to the Beginning – Reloaded and E-Day
- Conclusion: 20 Years of Gears of War
The Gears games are renowned for their brutal combat and distinctive cover system, featuring the iconic Lancer—an assault rifle with a chainsaw attached beneath the barrel. Over time, the series evolved into one of the largest Xbox franchises and was later fully acquired by Microsoft. On October 6, 2026, coinciding with the anniversary, Gears of War: E-Day will be released. E-Day tells the story of the very beginning of the war, when Marcus and Dom were still young soldiers, but we will discuss this in more detail later. Let us start at the beginning.
How Gears of War Was Created
The first Gears of War installment was developed by Epic Games, a studio previously best known for the Unreal shooter series. The designer and mastermind behind the franchise was Cliff Bleszinski. The concept was not to create fast-paced arena shooters like Unreal Tournament, but rather a heavy, tactical third-person gameplay experience. The camera rests over the protagonist’s shoulder, and taking cover is central to the combat.
To survive, you must sprint from wall to wall, fire from cover, and find opportunities to flank the enemy. The game felt entirely different from many shooters of its time, and the characters were intentionally designed to be highly muscular and heavily armored. The world itself was very bleak, filled with destroyed cities, concrete, and ruins, offering a unique blend of military sci-fi and horror.
The story does not take place on Earth, but on the planet Sera. Humans have lived on Sera for generations, and shortly before the Locust attacks, a prolonged war between human nations had just ended. Humanity was therefore already weakened when the next massive catastrophe struck. To stand a chance against this new enemy, humanity had to unite, forming the Coalition of Ordered Governments, or COG.
On Emergence Day, the Locust suddenly burst from the ground. They are a subterranean humanoid species organized as a military force. The Locust simultaneously attacked numerous cities worldwide, cementing this event as E-Day. This marked the beginning of the decades-long Locust War. The franchise’s trademark is the Lancer Assault Rifle, a standard assault rifle equipped with a chainsaw on its barrel. This allows you to dismember enemies in close combat as well as shoot them from afar. The weapon quickly became the defining symbol of the entire series.
Gears of War – The Battle for Sera Begins
Gears of War takes place 14 years after Emergence Day. The war has been raging for a very long time, and humanity has lost a significant portion of Sera. At the beginning of the game, Marcus Fenix, the main character, is in prison. Marcus was once a highly respected COG soldier who disobeyed orders during the war. He was convicted for this, but his old friend Dom Santiago eventually breaks him out, as the COG desperately needs every available soldier to stand a chance in the ongoing conflict.
After his release, Marcus joins Delta Squad, which becomes the central group of the original trilogy. Marcus Fenix is a grim veteran who later steps up as the leader; Dom Santiago is his best friend and a skilled fighter. Damon Baird is technically gifted and highly sarcastic, while Augustus “Cole Train” Cole is a former sports star who is loud, confident, and a fan favorite. These four form the core team of the series.
Throughout the game, the squad battles the Locust. Humanity is trying to determine the extent of the subterranean Locust network. Their central hope lies in the new Lightmass Bomb, which is designed to destroy large sections of the underground Locust territories. The first installment is particularly dark, featuring narrow streets and dimly lit buildings, giving the game an almost horror-like atmosphere at times. Alongside the story, the game offers a PvP mode, a feature that continued in all subsequent titles.
Gears of War 2 – The War Goes Underground
In Gears of War 2, the Locust have still not been completely defeated. The war has actually escalated, with entire human cities now disappearing into the ground. As a result, humanity launches a desperate, large-scale offensive against the Locust Horde. The COG decides on a counterattack, sending soldiers directly into the subterranean homeland of the Locust. This game features significantly larger battles than the first, with more vehicles, massive monsters, and spectacular cinematic sequences.
During the game, Marcus’s best friend, Dom, searches for his wife Maria, who disappeared during the war. This develops into one of the most emotional storylines in the series, proving that despite the muscular heroes and chainsaws, Gears is deeply characterized by personal loss. Gears of War 2 also introduced the new Horde mode, where multiple players fight together against increasingly difficult waves of enemies. This mode became a permanent staple of the franchise, a concept that will be further expanded with E-Day in 2026.
Gears of War 3 – The End of the Locust War
Even after the second installment, the squad’s story is not over. In Gears of War 3, humanity is practically at its end. COG structures have collapsed, and survivors are scattered across Sera. Alongside the Locust, a second, more powerful threat emerges: the Lambent. These are mutated, heavily altered life forms created through exposure to Imulsion, a crucial energy source on Sera. The Lambent prove to be a massive biological hazard, but the worst part is that humanity suddenly finds itself fighting a two-front war against both the Locust and the Lambent.
In Gears of War 3, Marcus’s father, Adam Fenix, plays a pivotal role. He is a scientist who has amassed extensive knowledge about the Locust and the Lambent, seeking a permanent solution to end the war. This chapter is highly emotional, focusing heavily on themes of loss, even within the core group. The original Locust conflict reaches its conclusion, and Marcus’s story as the central protagonist comes to a close.
Judgment and Gears Beyond the Main Series
Gears of War Judgment was released in 2013 and marks the first major prequel. The game is set shortly after Emergence Day, very early in the Locust War and before the events of the original series. As a result, Marcus is not the main focus this time. The new protagonist is Damon Baird, already known as a technically gifted member of Delta Squad. Here, he is noticeably younger, and Cole is also back. The game clearly depicts how chaotic the early days of the Locust attack were.
Judgment offered a slightly different gameplay experience compared to the original trilogy. The missions, for example, are shorter, and you receive ratings for your performance. Additionally, there are optional challenges called Declassified Missions. In these, you might face stronger enemies or suffer from reduced visibility. This gives the game a much more arcade-like feel. Ultimately, this installment did not leave as defining a mark as the main trilogy.
Alongside Judgment, there were other spin-offs like Gears Tactics from 2020. This is not a third-person shooter, but a turn-based strategy game. In its core mechanics, the game was similar to XCOM. Tactics is set twelve years before the first Gears, and the main character is Gabe Diaz. Gabe is the father of Kait Diaz, who later becomes one of the most important figures in the franchise. You witness events from the early phase of the Locust War and experience entirely different gameplay. There was also a mobile spin-off called “Gears Pop!”. The characters in the game are designed in the style of Funko Pop figures. The game is highly comedic and not a crucial part of the story.
Microsoft Takes Over – A New Generation Begins
The original games were developed by Epic Games. However, in 2014, Microsoft purchased the complete rights to Gears of War from Epic. Development shifted to Black Tusk Studios, which later became The Coalition. The studio focuses exclusively on Gears and brought Rod Fergusson on board as a key developer. Fergusson had previously worked on Gears at Epic.
Gears of War 4 was subsequently released under Microsoft in 2016. There was a significant time jump leading into this game, as it takes place roughly 25 years after the end of the original story. Marcus is noticeably older, and the narrative centers around his son, James Dominic Fenix, or JD for short. He is meant to represent the next generation of Gears. Additionally, Kait Diaz, a young woman from an Outsider settlement, is introduced. Outsiders live beyond the direct control of the COG. She later becomes exceptionally important to the overarching story. Del Walker also joins the new squad; he is a friend of JD and a former COG soldier.
New monsters have appeared on the planet Sera, known as the Swarm. Many people wonder if they are connected to the old Locust. JD, Kait, and Del must rescue abducted loved ones and investigate the origins of this new enemy. Marcus is also present in the game. Initially a reluctant veteran, he eventually aids the new group regardless. This creates a satisfying connection between the old and new generations. Through this, The Coalition attempts to retain familiar characters while simultaneously building up new ones.
Gears 5 – Kait Diaz Becomes the New Protagonist
The next title in the series was released in 2019. The title was shortened from “Gears of War” to Gears 5. JD is no longer the sole focus of the game, as Kait Diaz takes on a central role. Her family history is, in fact, closely tied to the new enemy. Throughout the game, she tries to discover why she has this connection. She is accompanied on this journey by Del Walker; Marcus is still part of the story as well, though not as relevant as he once was.
Kait suffers from visions and attempts to uncover their source. Particularly important is Queen Myrrah, the former Queen of the Locust. In this way, Gears 5 links the new storyline directly back to the original trilogy. Kait must confront her own heritage, making the story more personal than in Gears 4. Furthermore, the game opens up significantly, featuring larger, freely explorable areas for the first time.
To navigate this world, players use the Skiff, a wind-powered vehicle. There are also new locations and side missions, though it is not yet a fully open world. The classic linear missions remain a crucial part of the experience. Jack, the group’s small hovering robot, receives a new upgrade system in the game. These upgrades provide more assistance in combat and puzzle-solving. Yet, the classic cover system is preserved, and the Lancer and Gnasher continue to be central weapons.
Multiplayer continues to play a significant role. The Versus PvP mode and Horde mode return. Adding to this is a new co-op mode called Escape. In this mode, players infiltrate a Swarm hive, plant a bomb, and must ultimately escape before time runs out. A story expansion called Hivebuster was released later. Following that, the franchise remained quiet for many years, and fans long expected a direct Gears 6, but The Coalition later decided on a return to Marcus and Dom.
Back to the Beginning – Reloaded and E-Day
In 2025, Gears of War: Reloaded was released. This is a modernized version of the first Gears of War from 2006. The game was technically adapted for current platforms, featuring 4K resolution, 60 FPS in the campaign, and 120 FPS in multiplayer. Cross-play and cross-progression were also added. With this release, Gears of War appeared on the PlayStation 5 for the first time. For nearly 20 years prior, Gears had been closely and exclusively tied to Xbox. This allowed PlayStation players to experience the Gears games for the very first time.
On October 6th, coinciding with the 20th anniversary, Gears of War: E-Day is scheduled to launch, rather than the expected Gears 6. E-Day is a prequel to the entire series, set 14 years before Gears of War 1. The game showcases Emergence Day—the day the Locust first emerged from underground in massive numbers. This event had never been depicted in any Gears game before. In Gears of War: E-Day, Marcus Fenix returns as the protagonist, but this time he is significantly younger than in the first Gears. Marcus has just survived the Pendulum Wars, a conflict that raged for decades among humanity on Sera.
Initially, Marcus believes the war is finally over, but shortly afterward, the next catastrophe begins with the Locust. Dom Santiago also returns in the game; they are not yet best friends, but they are connected by the loss of Carlos Santiago. Carlos was Dom’s brother and a close friend of Marcus. Because the Locust are completely unknown at this point, the enemies feel more like horror adversaries, as no one knows how to fight them. This introduces more uncertainty than in later installments. The game is much more modern than previous titles and runs on Unreal Engine 5.
The classic cover system remains, but modern movement mechanics are introduced. The game also features both familiar and new weapons. The campaign has a strong co-op focus, and multiplayer remains highly important. Horde Siege is added as a new variation of the Horde mode. In it, up to 12 players fight simultaneously against hordes of Locust across larger maps with multiple mission objectives. The Open Beta test begins on August 13 and runs until August 17, 2026.
Conclusion: 20 Years of Gears of War
Over the past 20 years, Gears of War has evolved into one of the most renowned Xbox franchises. What began in 2006 with Marcus Fenix, Dom, and the fight against the Locust has been continually expanded across multiple titles. Through it all, the series remained true to itself with its cover system, brutal combat, and signature weapons like the Lancer. At the same time, new characters like Kait Diaz were introduced, and different genres were explored with games like Gears Tactics.
Despite this, Marcus and Dom continue to play an essential role in the franchise even two decades later. With Gears of War: E-Day in 2026, the series actually returns to the very beginning, showcasing one of the most critical events in its history firsthand. Rather than immediately continuing the plot after Gears 5, this gives fans a fresh perspective on Marcus, Dom, and the early days of the Locust War. After 20 years, Gears of War is, in a sense, starting anew exactly where it all began.
Hey, I’m Kilian, but online you’ll probably know me as “Tux1243.” I've been part of the team for almost two years now, always trying to keep you in the loop with the latest and coolest gaming news. I also have a huge passion for doing deep dives and detailed analyses of entire game series and franchises. I love getting to the bottom of things and exploring the little details and backstories that make game worlds so fascinating.
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