Gears of War: E-Day is taking a notably traditional approach to multiplayer rewards. The Coalition says the Xbox Series X|S exclusive will not use paid battle passes, and that players will be able to unlock almost all customisation items through normal gameplay.
The multiplayer showcase covered returning modes including Team Deathmatch and Conquest, alongside a new variation on Horde called Horde Siege. Rather than defending a fixed position against successive Locust waves, allied teams will move across maps, complete objectives and work towards a final extraction while other teams operate in the same environment.
No premium battle pass or forced grind
The Coalition says E-Day is designed around the idea that players should be able to build their collection after buying the game, without having to purchase premium bundles for its most desirable cosmetics. The studio outlined the approach in a new blog post.
Its reward plans include Legendary Character Skins, Epic Weapon Skin Sets and Rare Poses. The developers state that nearly every item can be earned by playing, with no battle pass, Tour of Duty system or similar progression structure.
For readers following the wider arcade and gaming news, this is a familiar point of tension in modern multiplayer design: whether cosmetic progression feels like a reward for play or a prompt to spend more money.
How E-Day’s Coins system works
Customisation rewards will be obtained in two main ways. Some will come from challenges, achievements and other in-game tasks. Others can be purchased with Coins, an in-game currency earned by completing matches and gaining levels.
E-Day will still feature a premium shop where players can spend real money. However, The Coalition says most items will remain obtainable without additional spending and that earning Coins is not intended to become an exhausting process.
The studio says it has tuned the Coin-earning rate around keeping the pursuit of skins enjoyable. It also plans to monitor player feedback after launch and adjust the economy when necessary.
A weekly limit remains
There is one important restriction: the number of Coins players can earn from matches each week will be capped. That limit could shape how quickly regular players complete their collections, even if the underlying rewards are not locked behind a paid pass.
Whether the system delivers on these promises will depend on the final balance of challenges, Coin income, item costs and the premium shop. For now, Gears of War: E-Day is presenting a multiplayer progression model that prioritises gameplay-based unlocks over mandatory premium access.
If this return to game-earned rewards has you thinking about dedicated multiplayer setups at home, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide covers the key decisions before choosing a cabinet. You can also compare arcade machines or explore upright arcades for a larger home gaming setup.
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