It has been quite a while since the release of the last Gears game, and fans are eagerly waiting to hear about the progress on Gears of War: E-Day, which was announced at Microsoft’s last Xbox Showcase. However, there is no news yet on when The Coalition will be continuing the story from Gears 5. Recently, the executive producer of the game, Rod Ferguson, shared some insights into his original plan for the sequel, and it seems to be quite different from what many were expecting.
In Gears 5, players had the opportunity to explore an old space program that belonged to the UIR, as part of a mission to re-launch a Hammer of Dawn to fight against the Locust. This section of the game was visually stunning, with sandstorms, industrial ruins, and red sandscapes reminiscent of Mars. According to Ferguson, this section was a hint at what he had in mind for Gears 6. He mentioned that his plan for the sequel was to take players off the planet of Sera and into space.
Ferguson explained that the idea was to explore the UIR’s space program and what it could mean for the galaxy or the solar system. He envisioned space exploration in Gears 6 to be more akin to the Sputnik era of the 1950s space race rather than the fast-paced travel seen in games like Mass Effect. This would involve slow, costly, and strategic travel, as well as the introduction of new alien enemy types and sci-fi mysteries about the origins of human and Locust life on Sera.
However, it seems that these ambitious ideas were put on hold as The Coalition decided to focus on a prequel centered around Emergence Day, a pivotal event in the Gears universe. This prequel would delve into the Invasion of Normandy-like scenario where the Locust emerged from underground to attack humanity, leading to the use of devastating weapons that changed the face of Sera forever.
Additionally, Gears 5 ended with a cliffhanger involving a choice about which main character to rescue, with the consequences of this choice expected to play out in Gears 6. It was suggested that the most popular choice among players would become the canonical one. However, given the current direction of the franchise, it may be a while before fans get to see this storyline unfold in a new game.
While the original plan for Gears 6 may have involved venturing into outer space and exploring new frontiers, it seems that The Coalition has decided to focus on exploring the rich history of the Gears universe instead. Fans will have to wait and see how this decision plays out in future installments of the franchise.
