Gears of War: E-Day reportedly cost $500 million, but the figure is disputed

Gears of War: E-Day may have cost Microsoft $500 million to make, according to several new reports. That would put it among the most expensive games ever made, but nobody agrees on exactly what the figure includes, and Microsoft has not confirmed it.

Where the number came from

According to GameSpot, both Kotaku and Chris Dring of The Game Business reported the $500 million budget today. Kotaku's report says the figure does not include marketing costs.

Pure Xbox notes that Kotaku's claim comes from a "source familiar with Xbox's business." Pure Xbox adds that Microsoft apparently didn't respond when asked for comment, and that there are no official figures on what the game cost.

Not everyone agrees on what it covers

GameSpot says Jez Corden of Windows Central took a more cautious line. He said the $500 million figure is not wrong, but his own sources couldn't say for certain whether it covers the game's budget alone, or the budget plus other costs of running The Coalition, the studio that develops the game.

That difference matters. A number that includes studio running costs would say something different about this one game than a pure development budget would. Until Microsoft says otherwise, treat the $500 million figure as a report from anonymous sources rather than a confirmed fact.

The cancelled PS5 version

The figure has also drawn attention to Microsoft's decision not to release the game on PlayStation. Push Square describes the reported cost as making Microsoft's cancellation of an almost-complete PS5 version "even more bemusing." Push Square also cites Kotaku's report as the start of the speculation, which it calls an "eye-watering" $500 million.

Push Square's summary says that PS5 version was cancelled at the last minute. The reports gathered here don't say what Microsoft's reasoning was, and Microsoft hasn't addressed it in the coverage we've seen.

What we know about the game

According to its Steam listing, Gears of War: E-Day came out on October 6, 2026. It is developed by The Coalition and published by Xbox Game Studios. The listing describes it as the origin story of the Gears of War series, set on Emergence Day.

What to watch for

The key open questions are whether Microsoft comments on the budget, and whether any outlet can pin down what the $500 million actually includes. For now, Kotaku and The Game Business point to the same number, while Windows Central's sources say it may cover more than just the game. Players shouldn't read too much into the exact figure until that is settled.