Gears of War: E-Day hides tribute note to those lost during development

Players searching Gears of War: E-Day will find a letter that breaks character.

The note is titled "Message from the Coalition". It is one of 140 collectibles hidden through the game, according to Video Games Chronicle.

It sits at the start of Act 4, a late chapter in the story. In the game it appears as a printed page. The headline reads "Remember the Fallen".

The text is addressed to "all our fellow Gears". It reads: "We take a moment to remember those that are no longer with us."

It continues: "Wishing they could be on our journey and by our side, we hold their memory in our hearts. Never Fight Alone. Thank you for being part of our Gears family." It is signed The Coalition.

That signature matters. The logo at the foot of the page belongs to The Coalition, the development studio behind the game. It is not the badge of the Coalition of Ordered Governments, the fictional authority in the Gears story.

The same remembrance closes out the game. The end credits include the line "In remembrance of the loved ones we lost during the development of this game."

For players keeping count, the tribute is a small part of a large hunt. A 100% completion requires 140 collectibles, 125 Hardcases, 36 Supply Caches and 17 Secondary Objectives. Collectibles are optional items tucked into levels. Hardcases, Supply Caches and Secondary Objectives are other in-game tasks and pickups tracked for completion.

E-Day was developed by The Coalition with co-development from People Can Fly.

What makes this stand out is its placement. It does not play as a cutscene. Players have to find it.