Credit: Xbox
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Xbox Reveals Two New Gears of War: E-Day Controllers
August 13, 2026·3 min read
Xbox has officially pulled the cover off two new Gears of War: E-Day controllers, and one of them is already available to pre-order. The limited-edition Xbox Wireless Controller has a cracked asphalt design and glowing red details. A large Crimson Omen sits on the front, and the controller costs $89.99.
A second design is coming through Xbox Design Lab on September 30. That version uses a heavier Gears design instead of the battlefield look of the regular controller. Together, the two controllers give fans very different ways to match their setup with E-Day before the game arrives later this year.
Its front shell is styled after the damage caused by Emergence Day, with broken asphalt patterns surrounding the Crimson Omen. Xbox has also used molded and laser-etched details, so the design has some texture rather than looking like a flat print.
The red and black details fit well without making the controller look too busy. The triggers are red, the D-pad is transparent, and the X button uses clear red plastic. A metallic COG tag appears on the battery cover, while the remaining buttons and sticks keep a darker finish.
Underneath the artwork, this is still a standard Xbox Wireless Controller rather than an Elite-style model. It works with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PCs, Android, and iOS. Players are paying for the limited-edition design, not new hardware features. That is why some players are unhappy with the $89.99 price.
Heavy metal artist Luke Preece created the design around a skull, crossed Lancers, bones, and the rough style Gears is known for. It feels less like a piece of Emergence Day scenery and more like something pulled from a Gears poster.
Because it is a Design Lab release, players can change more than the face artwork. Metallic triggers, D-pads, different button styles, rubberized grips, and engraving can all be added. Those extras will raise the final price, and Xbox has not yet confirmed the starting cost for this version.
The two designs work well as a pair because they are not competing for the same look. The retail pad is better and more focused on E-Day itself. The Design Lab version is louder, heavier, and closer to the wider visual identity of the series, which should make the choice mostly come down to taste.
The reveal comes during a busy period for Gears of War: E-Day. The Coalition has shown more of the prequel, including multiplayer and campaign footage. Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago also return to the start of the Locust War.
Xbox is also releasing an officially licensed 8BitDo charging dock built around the same battered Gears styling. The dock includes a rechargeable battery pack and is designed for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One controllers. It gives buyers of the retail pad a matching accessory instead of leaving the design limited to the controller itself.
Both controller designs will be shown publicly at Gamescom 2026, where E-Day will also have a playable campaign demo. The limited-edition Xbox Wireless Controller is available for pre-order now. The Design Lab version will be available for customization on September 30.
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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 s
Released
October 6, 2026
Developer
The Coalition
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios