Gears of War: E-Day Preload and Launch Times Revealed

Gears of War: E-Day preloading begins September 29, with early access on October 1 for Premium and Collector's Edition owners. Install size is 115GB on PC, and an SSD is required.

Ready to chainsaw some Locust? Gears of War: E-Day is almost here, and if you want to jump in the moment it goes live, you'll need to plan ahead. The game supports preloading, so you can have it ready to go before launch. Here's everything you need to know about install sizes, preload times, and early access.

First, clear some space. According to the official PC requirements, Gears of War: E-Day will need 115GB of storage. On Xbox Series X|S, expect a similar size, so aim for at least 100GB free. That's a step up from Gears 5, which launched at 80GB back in 2019. Also, PC players must have an SSD—it's a mandatory requirement for optimal performance.

Preloading kicks off on September 29 at these times: 11 AM ET, 10 AM CT, 9 AM MT, 4 PM BST, 5 PM CEST, 3 PM UTC, 5 PM SAST, and 1 AM AEST on September 30. So no matter where you are, you can get the download started and be ready to play.

If you bought the Premium or Collector's Edition, you get a five-day headstart. Early access begins October 1 at 11 AM ET, 10 AM CT, 9 AM MT, 4 PM BST, 5 PM CEST, 3 PM UTC, 5 PM SAST, and 1 AM AEST on October 2. That's five whole days before the standard launch, giving you a serious jump on the Locust horde.

It's been a while since the last new Gears game, so anticipation is high. E-Day is a prequel set before the original Gears of War, and it's one of October's biggest releases. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer, these times will help you plan your gaming session.

So, will you be preloading Gears of War: E-Day? Are you grabbing the Premium or Collector's Edition for that early access? Let us know in the comments!