Gears of War: E-Day on Steam

Steam store details

The store page lists single-player, online PvP, online co-op and cross-platform multiplayer. It also flags full controller support, DualSense support, HDR, Family Sharing and in-app purchases. Fully voiced languages include English, French, Italian, German, both Spanish variants, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese and Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

Playing requires accepting the Microsoft Services Agreement and Privacy Statement. That is separate from linking an account, which stays optional.

Do you need a Microsoft account on Steam?

No. The official FAQ is explicit that an Xbox or Microsoft account is not required to play on Steam. You can launch the game and play every mode without linking anything.

Linking is optional but useful. It lets you send cross-platform invites to friends on Xbox consoles or the Xbox app, and it enables roaming saves. Progress also syncs to handhelds such as Steam Deck and Xbox Ally once linked.

1. Open the Social panel from the main menu.
2. Select Link Account in the top-left corner.
3. Follow the Microsoft sign-in steps.

Crossplay with Xbox

Every mode supports crossplay: campaign co-op, Horde Siege and Versus. Steam players can squad up with Xbox Series X|S and Xbox app players. The store describes 2–4 player online co-op and competitive multiplayer for up to 8 players across supported platforms.

Matchmaking works without linking, but inviting a specific friend on another platform needs a linked account. If your Xbox friend cannot see your invite, linking is usually the fix. Our PC page compares Steam and the Xbox app in more detail.

Steam Deck and handhelds

The Steam store says the game is fully optimized for handheld play on Steam Deck, Xbox Ally X and Xbox Ally. That makes it one of the ways to play without an Xbox console or a powerful desktop. Linking an account carries your progress between a handheld and other devices.

On desktop, the requirements are strict: a ray-tracing-capable graphics card and 115 GB of SSD space. Check the system requirements before you buy.

Steam user reviews

On launch day the rating was Mostly Positive: 3,472 positive and 1,062 negative out of 4,534 reviews, about 77%. Earlier, during early access, coverage reported roughly 79% positive from nearly 3,000 reviews. Critics were warmer, with a Metascore of 87.

Negative reviews mostly cited missing series trademarks such as chainsaw duels and meat-shield grabs, a dull story and toned-down leads. Some also felt Mags Carter got too much of the spotlight. Positive reviews praised the graphics and gun feel.

One report noted that negative reviews were especially prominent in Steam's most-helpful sorting, which can make sentiment look worse than the overall percentage. See our review roundup for the critic side.

Steam player count

During early access, E-Day peaked at 20,374 concurrent players on Steam. That is roughly double Gears 5's Steam record of 10,196. It is a strong start given that the game is also on PC Game Pass.

On launch day, October 6, the live Steam player count we checked was 30,228, already above the early access peak. Player counts change constantly, so treat this as a launch-day snapshot.

Refunds on Steam

Steam's standard refund policy applies: you can request a refund within 14 days of purchase if you have played for less than two hours. Players reported that Steam refunds were going through for those who met the requirements. Some players reported more trouble getting refunds on the Xbox side.

If you are unsure whether your PC can handle it, the two-hour window is enough to run the built-in benchmark and try the opening chapter. Our best PC settings guide helps you make the most of that time.

Steam or PC Game Pass?

Buying on Steam gives you a permanent copy in your Steam library, with Steam features such as achievements and Family Sharing. PC Game Pass includes the Standard Edition from day one, but access depends on keeping your subscription. Both versions play together through crossplay.

If you want early access or the Premium content, Steam sells the Premium Edition directly, while Game Pass members need the $30 Premium Upgrade. Our Game Pass page explains the tiers, and Premium Edition lists what you get.

Steam system requirements

These are the official figures from the Steam store page. A graphics card with hardware ray tracing is a hard requirement, and the game will not run without one. The Ultra tier and Intel Arc options are listed on our system requirements page.

Steam achievements

There are 55 achievements, shared with the Xbox version. Campaign ones include Remember Kalona for finishing every Act and Memories From E-Day for finding all collectibles. Others reward specific tricks, such as Explosive Indigestion for feeding explosives to a Bilefrog.

The hardest require long-term multiplayer play, including 25,000 Versus kills and reaching player level 100 before Re-Upping. See how long to beat for a breakdown, and the collectibles guide for the campaign set.

How it looks on PC

gameranx, whose review footage was captured on PC, called it easily one of the best-looking games of the year, citing art direction and environment design as much as raw graphical power. The PC version supports HDR and hardware ray-traced lighting, reflections and shadows. It also includes a built-in benchmark mode. Upscaling options include DLSS 4.5 and FSR "Redstone", with optional Frame Generation on supported hardware. See our PC page for the full feature list.