What E-Day's $500M Budget Means for Gears' Future

If the $500 million figure is accurate, it highlights the rising costs of AAA development and could influence Microsoft's strategy on exclusivity and Game Pass. For players, it means more big-budget g…

If the $500 million figure is accurate, it highlights the rising costs of AAA development and could influence Microsoft's strategy on exclusivity and Game Pass. For players, it means more big-budget g…

Key points - Multiple reports claim Gears of War: E-Day had a $500 million budget, excluding marketing costs. - The game reportedly sold 230,000 copies across Xbox and PC but reached nearly 2 million players via Game Pass. - A PS5 version was reportedly planned but canceled at the last minute by Microsoft. - Xbox CEO Asha Sharma aims to bring back exclusives, reversing the previous multiplatform strategy. - Game Pass generates almost $5 billion annually from subscriptions.

Timeline - Today: Kotaku and Chris Dring report E-Day's $500 million budget. - At launch: E-Day reportedly sells 230,000 copies but reaches nearly 2 million players via Game Pass. - Before release: Microsoft reportedly cancels a planned PS5 version of E-Day at the last minute.

FAQ

Q: Is the $500 million budget confirmed? A: Not officially. Reports from Kotaku and others suggest the figure, but Microsoft hasn't commented. It's unclear if it includes marketing or studio costs.

Q: Why did E-Day skip PS5? A: Reports say Microsoft canceled the PS5 version last minute, though reasons are unconfirmed. Some speculate it was sent out to die, but that's not verified.

Q: Will there be an E-Day sequel? A: No sequel has been announced, but The Coalition says the foundation is in place to make one faster if they proceed.