Hardware Ready Ready to Bench?
The preload for Gears of War: E-Day is active starting now, September 29, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app on PC, and Steam. Starting the download requires a valid Game Pass subscription or a pre-order of the game.
Here are the key details regarding the preload:
E-Day preload available: why it matters
- When: Global simultaneous launch set for UTC.
- Where: Xbox digital stores on console and PC, as well as Steam.
- How: By selecting installation from the account that owns the game or the required subscription.
Access to the preload is included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, or via pre-order of the title. Microsoft announced a global unlock time at UTC, taking into account European Central Summer Time still in effect at the end of September; therefore, this is not an opening tied to local midnight.
On Xbox Series X|S, the download can be managed from your personal collection or the game page in the Microsoft Store. The PC version distributed by Microsoft installs via the Xbox app for Windows, while those who pre-ordered on Steam must open their library and select the game.
The official communication does not include Xbox One, Epic Games Store, or other digital stores among the platforms offering the preload.
The right to pre-install is available with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. The Italian Xbox page confirms the inclusion of the game in the subscription on Xbox Series X|S and Windows 10/11. On Steam, however, a pre-order is necessary because the Game Pass subscription does not assign a license in the Valve library.
It is important to note that pre-installation downloads files in advance but does not immediately enable access to the game. Early access will begin on October 1 for those who own the Premium Edition, while the worldwide launch and access via Game Pass are scheduled for October 6.
What Changes and What Are the Effects
Microsoft warns that the initial download will be substantial and further updates may be released. It is therefore recommended to check free disk space and keep your internet connection and automatic updates active.
Gears of War: E-Day is one of the main Xbox exclusives of 2026, telling the events of the Day of the Emergence, fourteen years before the first Gears of War, following the story of Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. The simultaneous pre-installation on console and PC allows users to prepare the title ahead of their respective access windows.
The game includes the main campaign, co-op mode, Horde Siege, and competitive multiplayer. To perform the preload on Xbox versions and the Xbox app for PC, a Microsoft account is required; on Steam, however, a license associated with the account that made the pre-order is needed.
The Premium Edition is not required for the preload but offers up to five days of early access and additional content. Please note that updates may be published before the game unlock; it is therefore recommended to keep automatic updates enabled on your chosen platform.
Source and further reading on E-Day preload available: original article.
* Content created with the assistance of artificial intelligence systems.