The recent Xbox showcase had no lack of PlayStation logos tucked away in the corners, as much of the spread was multiplatform, but one tentpole title was all green. Gears Of War: E-Day opened the show with a promise to show the early days of the Imulsion War, one that will be console exclusive to Xbox. The reveal has caused considerable buzz as in the lead-up to the show, a PS5 release was in some contention. Verified leaker Bilibili-kun at Dealabs reported on a Walmart listing showing the title was due for a PS5 release, but it wasn’t long before journalist Jeff Grubb on the Giant Bomb Liveshow reported that the port had been shelved at the last minute. Bilibili-kun also provided details on Halo: Campaign Evolved ahead of the show that was confirmed, lending some legitimacy to the listing, but now we know the title is skipping the Xbox’s blue brother.
The decision seems to be part of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma’s commitment to re-engage with the Xbox player base after she took over the position back in February, with a lack of exclusives being a common complaint. No doubt Sony’s own change to exclusivity also plays a role as the company has pivoted from PC releases for their single-player titles. The change is a bit peculiar as other first-party Xbox titles will still be making the trip to the PlayStation side, including the upcoming Fable, which will release several months after Gears Of War, most likely as a release had already been confirmed. On the other hand, Clockwork Revolution has also been announced as an Xbox exclusive, further complicating Xbox’s messaging. These elements together beg the question, just how long ago did E-Day become an exclusive and will we see a pronounced strategy shift related to exclusives in the future? Fans may not have to pick up an Xbox to see the rise of Marcus Fenix, however, as E-Day will still be coming to PC and on Game Pass.
