Gears of War has always been a squad game. You can tackle the campaign alone, sure, but the series feels different when someone is crouched behind the same cover as you. With Gears of War: E-Day open to everyone since October 6, the most common question is not about the story: it is how to play with friends.
The short answer: yes, the campaign has online co-op for up to four players, Horde Siege puts 12 people in the same match and Versus is 4v4. The game runs on Xbox Series X|S and PC, with Game Pass from day one. Below is what each mode offers, what you need to play together across Xbox and PC, and what to check before you call the squad.
Campaign: solo, as a duo or as a squad of four
The E-Day campaign can be played solo, in online co-op for up to four players, or in two-player split-screen on the same console. Split-screen deserves a note: the official Xbox page describes it as a console feature, and Gfinity's coverage also limits it to Xbox. In practice, if you play on PC, playing together means playing online.
If you plan to finish the campaign over several nights, agree up front on who hosts the session. It is the kind of simple detail that avoids confusion when the group comes back the next day.
Horde Siege: 12 players, three squads, one map
Horde Siege is a reimagining of the wave-survival mode that helped define the series. According to Xbox Wire, it is a cooperative PvE experience for 12 players split into three squads of four. Each squad gets its own missions, but everyone plays on the same stage, and the maps are the biggest ever built for the franchise's multiplayer.
The result, in the official description, is unpredictable battles: while your group holds a position, another squad may be completing an objective on the other side of the map. The optional objectives reward both players and squads. For anyone who likes playing in a big group, it is the mode that best justifies having everyone online at the same time.
Versus: four against four, everyone on equal footing
In competitive play, every match is 4v4 and every player starts with the same equipment. That removes the edge of whoever has unlocked more and leaves the result in the team's hands. The game launches with four modes, according to the official Gears of War site.
Team Deathmatch returns with a dynamic respawn system, and the winner is whoever eliminates all of the enemy's lives. In Conquest, zones stay active until one team banks enough time inside them. In Demolition, teams fight over a neutral bomb and must plant it at one of two sites, with no respawns during the round. And Crucible, a brand-new mode, revolves around a carryable Power Core: the team that holds it inside the zone builds progress, but the zone moves and shrinks as the round goes on.
There are six Versus maps at launch.
Crossplay: Xbox and PC in the same match
Press coverage reports that Gears of War: E-Day has crossplay between Xbox Series X|S and PC, in both the cooperative modes and multiplayer. On PC, the game is available through the Microsoft Store (the Xbox app) and Steam. Digital purchases support Xbox Play Anywhere: buy once and play on console and PC.
A practical detail comes from Windows Central's explainer on the multiplayer tests: if you play on Steam, you need to link your Steam account to an Xbox account to play with friends on Xbox. Do it before you schedule the session, not when everyone is already online waiting.
One honest caveat: the official Xbox page for the game, which we checked, does not explicitly mention crossplay. The information comes from reports. If it is a dealbreaker for your group, confirm it on the game's multiplayer screen on day one.
Game Pass, price and installation
The game is on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass from launch. It is not part of the Essential, Premium or new Starter tiers, Pure Xbox reports. Outside the service, the Standard Edition costs $69.99 and the Premium Edition costs $99.99, with up to five days of early access.
Clear space before inviting everyone: the download is over 120 GB and the PC requirements call for an SSD with 115 GB free. Reports on the game's size say the install manager separates Campaign, Horde Siege and Versus. If your group is only playing multiplayer, you can skip the campaign and save space, and the reverse is true too.
Our take
What stands out is the range. Instead of betting only on the campaign, The Coalition delivers three distinct ways to play as a group: duo or four-player story co-op, a 12-player PvE mode where squads have their own objectives, and a lean PvP mode with 4v4 matches balanced by identical loadouts.
Crossplay, if it works as the press reports, solves the classic problem of groups split between console and PC. Split-screen being limited to console is the only restriction that really matters to PC players. We have not put hours into these modes yet: this take is based on official information and press coverage.
If your group is small, the duo or four-player campaign is the entry point. If it is big, Horde Siege is the reason to get everyone online together.
Frequently asked questions
Does Gears of War: E-Day have co-op?
Yes. The campaign supports up to four players online and two in split-screen on console. Horde Siege is also cooperative, for 12 players.
Can you play split-screen on PC?
According to the official Xbox page and Gfinity, split-screen is a console feature. On PC, co-op is online.
How many players are in Horde Siege?
Twelve players, in three squads of four, on the same map.
Does Gears of War: E-Day have crossplay between Xbox and PC?
The press reports that it does, in the cooperative modes and in multiplayer. If you play on Steam, you need to link your account to an Xbox account to play with console friends.
Is Gears of War: E-Day on Game Pass?
Yes, on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, since October 6. It is not on the Essential, Premium and Starter tiers.
How much space does the game need?
Around 120 GB. On PC, the official requirement is an SSD with 115 GB free.
