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is an entertainment editor covering streaming, virtual worlds, and every single Pokémon video game. Andrew joined The Verge in 2012, writing over 4,000 stories.
Apparently, the “return of Xbox” means a retreat from other platforms. At its Xbox Games Showcase today, Microsoft revealed that Gears of War: E-Day — which was previously rumored for a PS5 launch in addition to Xbox and PC — will not be coming to PlayStation. It’ll be an Xbox console exclusive and is launching on October 6th.
The announcement was preceded by a trailer, which opened with a street-level view of an alien attack, with the extraterrestrial invaders being fought off in an urban landscape, including an electronics store and grocery shop. It looked like familiar Gears gameplay: lots of blood and lots of cover. It also may have been our first look at a Gears soldier wearing tight blue jeans, which was a nice, casual touch.
The Gears franchise made its PlayStation debut last year with the Gears of War: Reloaded remake, which was a continuation of Microsoft’s multiplatform strategy. However, ever since a major executive shake-up that saw Asha Sharma take over as the division’s new CEO, signs have been pointing toward a return to Xbox exclusives — which is something fans have been asking for. And today’s E-Day news is the clearest sign yet that Xbox is moving in that direction.
Correction: A previous version of this story said that E-Day was originally announced for the PS5, but it was actually a long-running rumor.
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