Gears of War: E-Day Channels the Original’s Isolationist, “Alien” Style Horror, Says Art Director

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While the Gears of War series has grown and changed over time, it’s lost some of the scary, intense feeling of the first game. Luckily, the developers at The Coalition are returning to those roots with Gears of War: E-Day, a new game set right after the Locust first appeared.

This new installment sounds promising, particularly because the developer intends to recapture the terrifying atmosphere of the first game. Art director Jerry O’Flaherty explained the difference well: he compared the original game to the suspenseful horror of Alien, while later games were more action-packed like Aliens.

When FRVR asked about whether the upcoming ‘E-Day’ would recapture the horror elements of the first game, he responded, “Absolutely.” He explained that while the sequels – ‘2, 3, and 4’ – were popular monster games, the original had a different feel. It started as a genuinely scary, isolated horror experience, and then shifted focus. He acknowledged the sequels were great, but noted the first game’s horror was more contained and atmospheric.

You know, the first Gears of War really felt like the movie Alien to me – that sense of dread and being hunted. But the sequels? They were more like Aliens – bigger, more action-packed, and focused on a constant chase. I especially loved how the first game built up tension and horror in every environment. It wasn’t just about shooting; it was about being genuinely scared, and that’s what I really enjoyed about it.

Epic Games, the creators of the original games, showcased the Unreal Engine 3 with Gears of War 1, opting for a visually dramatic style featuring darker tones and a limited color range.

I remember from the very beginning, the team was really focused on making something that felt like a movie. We started experimenting with cinematic stuff even before ‘Gears of War’ was really taking shape. We’d constantly be putting together little video clips to show to Peter Moore, just to give him a feel for what we were going for. And the whole vibe was horror, which meant a really dark and gritty look – a limited color palette, lots of shadows. It just naturally lent itself to that kind of aesthetic.

The next Gears of War game, Gears of War: E-Day, will be released in 2026 for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Developers at The Coalition say the game will take place over several days and offer a fresh experience for fans of the series.

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2025-11-03 18:41