Celebrated among gamers, the original three Gears of War titles are iconic third-person shooters, yet their accessibility on contemporary systems remains limited. While the first installment received a remaster for the Xbox One and Windows PC years ago, the sequels, Gears of War 2 and 3, are only available on the Xbox 360. Modern Xbox consoles can still play these titles through backwards compatibility; however, the lack of native ports for Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S has led many fans to petition Microsoft for a remastered trilogy, akin to the successful Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Excitingly, recent rumors suggest that these long-standing fan desires may soon be fulfilled.
Spanish YouTuber and industry insider extas1s recently hinted at the development of a Gears of War collection that would encompass the franchise’s first three games. This anticipated announcement is expected to take place during the June 2025 Xbox Games Showcase, with a release planned for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PlayStation 5. While speculation surrounding a potential “Marcus Fenix Collection”has been rife for years, this marks the first indication that the collection could launch on PlayStation on its release day. However, this news is accompanied by a caveat that might disappoint some fans.
Limited Multiplayer Features in the Rumored Gears of War Collection
Recent Insights Indicate Co-Op Features, but No PvP
Following extas1s’ comments regarding the collection, another industry insider, known as DetectiveSeeds, shared additional details on Twitter. He claimed the release could occur as early as mid-August and suggested that it would support enhancements for the PS5 Pro, similar to past titles like Forza Horizon 5. Notably, DetectiveSeeds indicated that this collection had already been uploaded to the PlayStation Store’s backend but surprisingly would exclude any PvP modes, instead focusing on the single-player campaigns.
While DetectiveSeeds may lack a long history of reliable leaks, established insider Jez Corden confirmed elements of DetectiveSeeds’ claims. Corden stated that according to his sources, the collection would indeed lack multiplayer, offering co-op in the campaign instead. He emphasized the importance of verifying this information, encouraging caution regarding these assertions.
The Absence of PvP in the Gears of War Collection Could Be Disheartening
Multiplayer experiences have been a cornerstone of Gears of War since its first game. The franchise is credited with popularizing cooperative campaign gameplay, while its PvP modes have held a special place in the hearts of many fans, even if they never reached the heights of Halo’s competitive scenes. Therefore, a Gears of War collection lacking PvP, or even the integral Horde Mode, could feel like a significant step backwards, akin to releasing the Halo: Master Chief Collection without any multiplayer options.
For gamers who are primarily interested in the narratives of the Gears series—whether they progress solo or with a partner—the absence of PvP modes still presents concerns from a preservation perspective. As Gears of War 2 and 3 exceed 15 years of age, there is a looming risk that Microsoft might deactivate their online servers, potentially rendering their rich multiplayer content unavailable. While the prospect of enjoying cooperative campaigns in the upcoming Gears of War collection is certainly appealing, it raises concerns that new players may never experience the full multiplayer landscape that characterized the earlier titles—a loss that would be unfortunate for the Gears community.
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