Gears of War: E-Day Developers Fear Layoffs Could Put Bonuses at Risk

The reported bonus depends on a Metacritic score, while recently laid-off staff should still qualify if the game reaches it.

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An armored Gears of War: E-Day soldier looks toward a burning, devastated city while silhouetted office figures meet behind glass.

Employees at The Coalition fear another round of layoffs could follow Gears of War: E-Day‘s launch, but the game’s performance bonus is not an automatic casualty for everyone recently affected by cuts. The contracted payment reportedly depends on the game reaching a certain Metacritic score, and recently laid-off staff should still qualify if that target is met.

September job cuts hit multiple Xbox studios, while The Coalition largely avoided the worst of them. The studio was not untouched, however. Story director Juan Vaca was laid off last week, and several other employees were quietly let go. Interviews with anonymous Coalition employees also described the departures as demoralizing, leaving staff unhappy and on edge.

Some employees had expected layoffs after the game shipped, but now fear another wave or a possible reorganization under Activision later in 2026. Staff reportedly believe Xbox’s planned layoffs for the fiscal year are not over. They described the studio as not being on a “full death march,” but said they would “not celebrate the game until we’re three months post launch, just in case” in interviews with Eurogamer.

The Premium Edition’s early-access window is scheduled to begin on October 1, ahead of the full launch on October 6. That leaves the studio facing its most visible public test while employees continue to weigh what could happen after release.

Staff were told the contracted bonus would be payable if Gears of War: E-Day reaches a certain Metacritic score, with payment expected near the end of October. The reported terms also say recipients must remain full-time employees when the bonus is paid. However, Video Games Chronicle understands that employees recently affected by layoffs, including Vaca, should still receive the payment if the score target is met. A layoff after release would therefore not automatically make a developer ineligible under that understanding, although one source remains concerned that Microsoft could find a way not to pay. Microsoft declined to comment.

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