Xbox announced two Gears of War: E-Day controller options on August 12, 2026, giving fans a way to bring the series’ Emergence Day aesthetic to their gaming setup. The limited edition XBOX Wireless Controller is available for preorder at participating retailers worldwide, while a Design Lab version will become available on September 30.
The announcement comes with a reveal of the Gears of War: E-Day controllers, including a design built around the destruction caused by the Locust invasion.
The limited edition controller channels the E-hole scars
The limited edition model uses a dark, damaged-looking shell inspired by the E-holes that tear through Sera. Raised 3D details and laser etching recreate cracked asphalt, with red sections that resemble an E-hole opening beneath the surface and reveal the Crimson Omen.
Black ABXY buttons give the controller a stark look, with a transparent red X button providing the main splash of color. Red triggers, a transparent D-pad, textured grips, and a dark silver COG tag on the battery door complete the design. The tag carries the message “Never Fight Alone.”
The controller is priced at $89.99, and preorders opened on August 12. The product is being offered through participating retailers, including the Microsoft Store.
Xbox Design Lab adds a second E-Day design
Starting September 30, fans will be able to create a Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition XBOX Wireless Controller through XBOX Design Lab. The custom top case features a skull above crossed Lancers, along with extra skulls and worn battle details tied to the conflict between the COG and the Locust Horde.
Customization options include metallic triggers and D-pads, rubberized side and rear grips, and personalized engraving. The artwork comes from heavy metal illustrator Luke Preece, giving the Design Lab model a different look from the red-and-black limited edition controller.
Both controllers are scheduled to appear publicly for the first time at the Xbox booth at gamescom 2026. Visitors will also be able to play the Gears of War: E-Day campaign during its public playable debut.
An 8BitDo charging dock joins the collection
The controller collection also has a matching accessory in the 8BitDo Ultimate Charging Dock for XBOX Controllers – Gears of War: E-Day. The officially licensed dock works with XBOX Series X|S and XBOX One wireless controllers and includes a rechargeable battery pack.
Its magnetic alignment supports drop-and-charge placement, while built-in safeguards protect against overcharging and overheating. The dock uses the same cracked, battle-scarred visual language as the controllers, so it can charge the pad while displaying it.
Which Gears of War: E-Day controller would you choose for your setup? Tell us what you think in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
Gears of War: E-Day
Developed by The Coalition
Experience the brutal horror of Emergence Day through the eyes of Marcus Fenix in the origin story of one of gaming's most acclaimed sagas.
Fourteen years before Gears of War, war heroes Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago return home to face a new nightmare: the Locust Horde. These subterranean monsters, grotesque and relentless, erupt from below, laying siege on humanity itself.
Built from the ground up with Unreal Engine 5, Gears of War: E-Day delivers unprecedented graphical fidelity.
- Genre Shooter, Adventure
- Platforms Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
- Modes Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
- Release October 6, 2026
- Publisher Xbox Game Studios
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Age Rating
