Xbox fans are growing concerned about the status of Gears of War 6. The latest installment in the highly successful Gears of War franchise remains elusive after the release of Gears 5 in 2019. The Coalition, the studio that’s responsible for working on the series after taking over from Epic Games, has yet to make an official announcement, leaving many speculating about the game’s current state of development and expected features. But, some believe that news is coming soon after a trusted insider hinted at this following the end of the Xbox Games Showcase.
Since the release of Gears of War 5, rumors and reports have suggested The Coalition has been working on a new IP that has since been canceled. This has sparked concerns among fans about what the developer has been focusing on in the interim. However, it seems their attention is now firmly back on the Gears franchise.
Now, according to Jez Corden, fans should exercise patience and that he’s “heard some impressive things” about what The Coalition has in store for Gears of War fans.
Hmm more patience required lol. But I've heard some impressive things about what TC is cooking. Hang tight.
— Jez (@JezCorden) June 12, 2023
Is this a tease of something bigger coming soon? Or is this just Corden trying to reassure fans that the next Gears of War game still exists? At this point, only Microsoft, The Coalition, and Xbox Game Studios know.
Even Cliff Bleszinki, the lead designer of the first three Gears of War games, is shocked at the game’s no-show at the Xbox Games Showcase.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding its development, Gears 6 has a high bar to reach given the success of its predecessors. The Gears franchise has sold more than 22 million units and grossed over $1 billion since Microsoft acquired it from Epic Games in 2014. Furthermore, Gears 5, despite being technically impressive, didn’t receive the public attention it arguably deserved, possibly due to the fact that the franchise dropped out of mainstream consciousness after Gears of War 3.
The Coalition and Microsoft now face the challenge of revitalizing a beloved but tired franchise with Gears 6. It can be argued that it might be time for The Coalition to explore a new IP, much like FromSoftware, which transitioned from King’s Field and Armored Core to Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls, which all culminated in the most GOTY’ed of all time, Elden Ring. This isn’t to say that The Coalition should drop the Gears of War franchise for years but it wouldn’t hurt trying something new.
If nothing else, the Xbox’s plans to release four first-party titles annually and the excitement for upcoming games such as Fable, Avowed, Starfield, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, and Forza Motorsport, among others, indicates that there might be an appetite for something fresh.
