Xbox Reveals Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition Controller After Leak
Xbox has officially pulled back the curtain on a limited edition Gears of War: E-Day controller, confirming the hardware after images leaked earlier in the week under the internal code name "Storm King" (VideoGamesChronicle).
The Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition Xbox Wireless Controller arrives on September 30 — one week before the game itself launches on October 6. It is priced at US$89.99, £84.99, or €89.99 depending on region, and pre-orders are live now through the Xbox online store.
The design leans hard into Gears' signature aesthetic. The controller body features 3D moulded, laser-etched cracked asphalt, with red, glowing cracks meant to evoke an erupting "E-hole" — the portals in Gears lore through which enemy forces emerge, known as Emergence Day. The cracks expose the Crimson Omen, the skull-and-gear symbol that has served as the franchise's logo since the first game in 2006. Blacked-out ABXY buttons sit alongside a transparent red X button, matching red triggers, and a transparent D-pad. A dark silver metallic COG tag — the military insignia of the Coalition of Ordered Governments, the franchise's protagonist faction — is mounted on the battery door.
Alongside the limited edition controller, Xbox is adding a new Gears of War: E-Day design to its Xbox Design Lab, the made-to-order service that lets players customise the body, back case, and components of an official Xbox Wireless Controller (Xbox Wire). The Design Lab option lands on September 30, the same day as the main limited edition controller.
The Design Lab artwork was created by UK-based heavy metal illustrator Luke Preece, whose previous clients include Metallica, Slipknot, and Ozzy Osbourne. His design for the top case features two crossed Chainsaw Lancers — the franchise's iconic assault rifle with a mounted chainsaw bayonet — surrounded by the skulls of enemies. Players who go the Design Lab route can mix and match that artwork with their own colour choices across the controller body and back case.
The announcement widens the Gears of War: E-Day merchandise rollout ahead of the game's October launch. A Collector's Edition was announced in June at the Xbox Games Showcase, launching October 1, 2026, with pre-orders available through the Xbox Game Studios Shop and select retailers in limited quantities (Xbox Wire).
For fans weighing their options, the split is straightforward: the limited edition controller offers a fixed, fully detailed design straight out of the box, while the Design Lab version hands over the artwork and lets players choose the rest. Both arrive six days before the game, giving players time to get hands on the hardware before Emergence Day.
