Gears of War: E-Day is finally taking the franchise to the event that started it all. Through the years, the Gears of War franchise has been a staple for Xbox, and Gears of War: E-Day is promising a thrilling and harrowing new chapter. Seeing Marcus and Dom back in action is bound to bring waves of nostalgia, but this prequel also presents the chance for the series to grow and reach a brand-new audience.

For the past few months, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has made it clear that Xbox is no longer in the market for exclusivity. As the company is now open to sharing some of its biggest franchises with other platforms, the future of Xbox releases is bound to be more flexible. The recent announcement that Forza Horizon 5 will be coming to PlayStation 5 in the spring of this year is one of the biggest Xbox exclusive series to be ported to the console yet. This seemingly marks the beginning of Microsoft's push to other platforms, and Gears of War: E-Day should follow suit.

Gears of War: E-Day Could Potentially Be a Day One PS5 Launch

Just a few years ago, the thought of Gears of War coming to PlayStation seemed impossible, but Microsoft's newfound appreciation for multiplatform releases has completely changed that. After Forza Horizon 5's PS5 release was confirmed, rumors quickly began circulating that both Halo and Gears of War would also be coming to the Sony console. Of course, this is just a rumor until Microsoft confirms such a crossover, but if true, it would be a massive moment for the industry. If older Gears of War games come to PS5 before the launch of E-Day, it only makes sense for the prequel to be a day-one release.

Gears of War: E-Day features Marcus Fenix as the playable protagonist.

Reaching a Brand-New Audience on PS5

While there are plenty of gamers who play both Xbox and PlayStation, there are still those who have never experienced Gears of War due to being die-hard Sony fans. If E-Day were to launch on the PS5, it could open up a whole new franchise to numerous potential fans. Not only that, but E-Day could actually be a great starting point for many newcomers, since the game marks the beginning of the series. Rumors of a potential Gears of War trilogy collection coming to PS5 would introduce a lot of players to the series in the same order that Xbox fans experience the franchise, but there are bound to be plenty whose first experience with Gears of War is E-Day.

Forza Horizon 5 Has Opened the Floodgates

Now that Forza Horizon 5 is gearing up for a PS5 release, there's no telling which Xbox exclusives are next in line. It's highly possible that Forza Horizon 5 is an appetizer to prepare PS5 users for the arrival of even bigger heavy-hitters like Halo and Gears of War. Many are eagerly awaiting confirmation from Microsoft, which will hopefully arrive soon.

The events of Gears of War: E-Day take place 14 years before the first game in the series.

Microsoft's Expansion Could Give Its Exclusive Franchises New Life

Seeing exclusives like Forza Horizon 5 and potentially Halo and Gears of War lose their Xbox-only status is bittersweet in some ways, but it's also exciting. There is now the chance for some of gaming's best franchises to reach wider audiences and be enjoyed by every gamer.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has made it clear that Xbox is no longer in the market for exclusivity.

This wider reach could signal a new era for Xbox franchises, which may help ensure their longevity for years to come. Only time will tell, but major upcoming releases like Gears of War: E-Day making its way to the PS5 on day one could ignite a Gears of War renaissance.