Microsoft has opened preorders for a limited edition Gears of War: E-Day Xbox wireless controller, IGN reports. It costs $89.99 / GBP 84.99 / EUR 89.99, the same price as the earlier Forza Horizon 6 limited edition pad, and launches on September 30.
The design leans on the game's premise. The controller is black with a gaping red hole opening across its faceplate, the cracks of which spread down the grips, and the 3D-moulded, laser-etched detailing means the cracks can be felt as well as seen. The series' skull emblem, the Crimson Omen, sits in the centre of the red hole. Both triggers are transparent red plastic, and every face button except the Xbox button is left unlabelled.
Three items were announced together:
- Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition Xbox Wireless Controller, with charred black 3D-sculpted grips and a blood-red core, $89.99, out September 30.
- Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition with Xbox Design Lab, carrying a silver skull and two crossed Chainsaw Lancers and open to further customisation, also available September 30.
- An officially licensed 8BitDo Ultimate Charging Dock for Xbox controllers in Gears of War: E-Day trim, compatible with Xbox One and Xbox Series X and S pads.
The dock uses magnetic alignment and drop-and-charge placement, has built-in protection against overcharging and overheating, and ships with a rechargeable battery pack, so no other hardware is needed to charge the controller. Its red cracks are designed to line up with those on the controller.
As with any modern Xbox controller, the pads work on Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, Windows 10 and 11 PCs, and mobile phones and tablets.
Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel covering Emergence Day, when the Locust Horde emerged from underground on the planet Sera and attacked humanity, setting off the conflict the original games depict. It is Microsoft's major Xbox exclusive for the coming holiday season and arrives October 6 on PC and Xbox Series X and S, confirmed as a console exclusive that will not launch on PlayStation. An open beta is running now.
