Gears of War turns 20 on November 7, and The Coalition is celebrating inside its latest game. Gears of War: E-Day Season 2, titled Legacy, starts on December 1, and until then every player can claim RAAM as a free multiplayer character and jump into a two-week anniversary event with limited-time modes.

The announcement came alongside a weapon tuning update, so it is a good moment to return if you put E-Day down after the campaign.

Official Gears of War 20th anniversary artwork for Gears of War: E-Day
The Coalition is marking 20 years since the original Gears of War launched on Xbox 360. Image: Xbox Game Studios

How to claim the free RAAM in Gears of War: E-Day

According to The Coalition's post on Xbox Wire, RAAM, the Locust general who served as the first game's final boss, is a gift to everyone who plays E-Day. You do not need to buy anything: just log in to claim him. He is a multiplayer character, so he is used in the online modes rather than in the campaign. The Coalition has not announced an end date for the giveaway, so claiming him early is the safe move.

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20th anniversary event: limited-time modes

The anniversary event began this week and runs for two weeks, with new rewards and two limited-time modes:

  • Guardian (Versus): a leader-based mode where only one leader makes it out alive.
  • For the Queen (Horde Siege): a harder take on the PvE mode with the supply cache disabled, so you cannot rely on restocking between waves.

Both modes are online, which means you need a Game Pass plan that includes online multiplayer on console. If you want to squad up with friends on Xbox and PC, our guide to Gears of War: E-Day co-op and crossplay explains how it works.

Official Gears of War: E-Day combat screenshot
The anniversary event adds Guardian in Versus and For the Queen in Horde Siege for two weeks. Image: Xbox Game Studios

What Gears of War: E-Day Season 2 Legacy brings

Season 2 starts on December 1 and, as the name suggests, looks back at two decades of the series. The Coalition says it will bring back fan-favorite maps, modes and multiplayer skins from Gears history, though it has not named the maps or modes yet.

The first confirmed piece is the Solemn Memories Dom skin, based on the suit Dominic Santiago wears in the photo with his wife Maria, one of the most remembered images from Gears of War 2. If you own the Premium Edition, keep in mind that it includes five seasonal customization packs, released over time.

Official Solemn Memories Dom skin for Gears of War: E-Day Season 2 Legacy
The Solemn Memories Dom skin is inspired by the photo of Dom and Maria from Gears of War 2. Image: Xbox Game Studios

November 6 tuning update: Striga, Lancer and Gut-Puncher

The Coalition also shipped a balance update on November 6. Because E-Day uses one shared sandbox for campaign, PvE and PvP, the changes apply everywhere:

  • Striga: headshots now down enemies instead of killing them outright, gib range drops from 10 m to 3.5 m and lethal range is now 14 m.
  • Retro Lancer (Lancer Mk1): the Active Reload damage bonus falls from 15% to 10%, and damage falls off sooner at medium and long range.
  • Gut-Puncher: the Active Reload damage multiplier drops from 1.5x to 1.25x.

The studio says it is also working on changes to the mantle kick and will keep tuning weapons based on data.

Why it matters, and what comes next

E-Day launched on October 6 on Xbox Series X|S and PC, with Game Pass access and Xbox Play Anywhere support, and reviews were strong. The anniversary is a chance to keep the online modes busy between launch and the first big seasonal update. Season 2 is the next milestone, and The Coalition should reveal its full map and mode list closer to December 1.

New to the series, or want to revisit it for the anniversary? Our guide to the Gears of War games in order covers every entry from E-Day to Gears 5.

Official Gears of War: E-Day screenshot from the Emergence Day campaign
Gears of War: E-Day is set on Emergence Day, 14 years before the original game. Image: Xbox Game Studios

Is RAAM free in Gears of War: E-Day?

Yes. The Coalition is giving RAAM to every E-Day player as a multiplayer character. Log in to the game to claim him.

When does Gears of War: E-Day Season 2 start?

Season 2: Legacy starts on December 1, 2026.