Gears Of War devs explain missing features: “We started E-Day with an empty hard drive by building our entire gameplay sandbox from scratch”

Gears of War: E-Day is available starting today, October 1, for those who have purchased early access to the latest Xbox console exclusive. But the cover-based shooter may not have all the features fans might expect to see, at least not at launch. The developers say this is partly because Electronic day was an effort to recreate the Gears formula from scratch using new technologies.

“We started Electronic day with an empty hard drive, building our entire gameplay sandbox from the ground up to ensure a more unified gameplay experience across campaign, PVE, and PVP,” reads a blog post published last night. “This new sandbox also allowed for innovation in cover, combat, and enemies. The compromise being to include all the features inherited from War equipment launch was not possible.

He continues: “These features, like Meat Shields, Chainsaw Duels, some weapons from the franchise’s past, and online work like lobbies and leaderboards, have not disappeared from the franchise. Our team is working hard to deliver the strongest and most stable launch experience possible, keeping in mind how and what to deliver and improve fan-favorite features, either post-launch or in our next title.”

Some players were upset and confused by the delay, particularly for private lobbies and ranked play, a staple of the series’ multiplayer experience for longtime fans. Electronic day is the first new entry since Speeds 5released seven years ago.

While the new game features stunning visuals and overhauls to traversal and other essential elements of the moment-to-moment experience, it’s not exactly clear why development may have been rushed enough that some core features were dropped or delayed. Developer The Coalition reportedly worked on two smaller projects before the new one Gears entry, both of which would have been canceled.

“I want to show the Coalition some love because I feel like they took the feedback well and I’m curious to see how Electronic day evolves,” wrote the former pro Gears player Guy “Blaze” Spencer. The studio outlined a number of mechanic and weapon balance adjustments following feedback from the beta, and also provided an overview of the schedule for when content will roll out. Electronic dayThe seasonal live service journey begins.

Versus Classé will be available from October 13. Season 1 will include limited themed events like Halloween, 20 Years of Gears, and Thanksgiving, before ending on December 1. Season 2, called Legacy and Beyond, will begin after that with content themed to a 20-year celebration of the franchise’s “greatest hits.” The studio also previewed the names of the remaining seasons on Electronic daySchedule for: Season 3: Infiltration, Season 4: Pendulum and Season 5: Devotion.