Highlights
- Halo: Campaign Evolved launches July 28 on Xbox, PC, and PS5 with a $49.99 standard edition.
- Gears of War: E-Day releases Oct 6 as an Xbox console exclusive, ending speculation about a PS5 launch.
- Gears of War: E-Day offers open beta access and pre-order bonuses, with Indian pricing starting at INR 5,499.
Microsoft has opened pre-orders for Halo: Campaign Evolved and Gears of War: E-Day following the Xbox Games Showcase on June 7, 2026. The announcements confirmed pricing, release dates, and platform details for both first-party titles.
The announcements resolved several questions that had circulated ahead of the event through retailer listings and insider reports. Halo: Campaign Evolved will launch on July 28, 2026, for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, while Gears of War: E-Day is scheduled for Oct 6, 2026, as an Xbox console exclusive.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Arrives Below Standard AAA Pricing
Among the biggest takeaways from the showcase was Halo: Campaign Evolved's $49.99 USD standard edition price, placing it below the $69.99 price tag common among major releases. Physical and digital pre-orders are now live for Xbox and PlayStation 5 (PS5) through retailers including Best Buy.
Similarly, in India, Gears of War: E-Day is available for pre-purchase on Steam for INR 5,499 (~$58) ahead of its Oct 6, 2026, release. The Premium Edition, priced at INR 7,999 (~$84), includes five days of Advanced Access starting Oct 1, 2026. Globally, players who pre-order either edition will receive early access to the game's open beta beginning Aug 6, 2026, along with the Exfil Dom Character Skin and Exfil Weapon Skin Set at launch.
Developed as a ground-up remake of the original 2001 Halo: Combat Evolved, the project rebuilds the campaign in Unreal Engine 5 (UE5). Retail listings describe remastered 4K visuals, returning Halo weapons and vehicles, and additional story content. The game also supports four-player online co-op and two-player split-screen play.
A Premium Edition priced at $69.99 will grant early access beginning July 23, 2026, five days before the standard release.
Gears of War: E-Day Exclusivity Questions Settled
Gears of War: E-Day entered the showcase amid uncertainty surrounding a potential PS5 version. A Walmart product page, backend retail information, and a Pan European Game Information (PEGI) listing that referenced the PS5 fueled speculation that the title could launch on Sony's platform.
Meanwhile, Dealabs reporter, billbil-kun, later reported evidence of a physical PS5 stock keeping unit (SKU) and assigned universal product code (UPC), while noting that the platform's status remained unclear. Microsoft has now confirmed that Gears of War: E-Day will launch as an Xbox console exclusive.
Pre-orders for the game are live at $69.99 for Xbox Series X|S and PC. The title, developed by The Coalition, serves as an origin story set during Emergence Day.
The showcase gives Xbox two major first-party releases in 2026 while highlighting Microsoft's evolving platform strategy.
