'Big' Gears of War announcement next week

Epic Games VP Mark Rein promises major news about highly anticipated Xbox 360 game soon; official fan-site kit also released.

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2005, Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates told Time Magazine that his company was planning a novel approach to blunt the launch of the PlayStation 3. "It's perfect," Gates told the magazine while "radiant with bloodlust." "The day Sony launches [the PS3], and they walk right into Halo 3."

A year later, though, Gates made his first-ever appearance at E3 to help unveil the first Halo 3 trailer--a trailer which revealed the game wouldn't be out until 2007, months after the PS3's November 17, 2006, launch date.

This week, a new theory began circulating that Microsoft will time the release of another top Xbox 360 game to trip up the PS3's launch. The source of the hypothesis is a cryptic post on the Gears of War forums from Mark Rein, vice president of Epic Games.

Though his one-sentence post only says "BIG announcement coming next week! :)" (emphasis in the original), many assume that the developer will reveal the final release date for the eagerly awaited horror shooter. Since Microsoft launched the Xbox, Xbox 360, and both Halo games in mid-November, many assume that Gears of War will hit stores then, especially now that the PS3 is going on sale during the time frame.

But while the Gears of War ship-date-announcement theory is an appealing rumor, it remains just that--a rumor. Rein had not responded to GameSpot's requests for clarification of his comments as of press time, although he did tease those who posted responses in his forum thread. "Sounds like maybe the announcement that is going to be made isn't what you think it is," he told one poster who implied it would be about the release date. This, in turn, spawned a second theory--that the announcement will be for a Gears of War demo on Xbox Live.

Meanwhile, in official Gears of War news, Epic and Microsoft Game Studios have released the first official fan-site kit for the game. Available on the official Gears of War Web site, the 102MB download features desktop wallpaper, forum avatar icons, and other items which sport artwork from the title.

270 Comments

  • natemanxxx

    Posted Aug 2, 2006 12:41 pm PT

    Its the Multi-Player. No doubt about it.

  • Pacemen2

    Posted Aug 1, 2006 10:31 pm PT

    everyones saying there are announcements about a release date or a demo . . . those are not big announcements . . . when we find out what it is . . . it will be huge . . . probably a special partnership between M$ and epic . . . does anyone really wana kno why UT 2007 is being delayed ???

    two words . . . . live anywhere . . . they are waiting till vista is out . . . the game will sell consoles . . . vista programs . . . and will be the first BIG game in the live anywhere's existance . . . besides when people learn this some ps3 fans will hold off to see what else M$ has up thr sleeves.

    makes sense to me. pls comment and let me kno what u think.

  • Zkeptik

    Posted Aug 1, 2006 6:56 pm PT

    So....it's been a week. :O Is the news tomorrow?

  • PESon360

    Posted Aug 1, 2006 7:21 am PT

    Hope its demo release and release date

  • KingoftheSobs

    Posted Jul 31, 2006 11:04 pm PT

    Bill Gates needs less money.

  • iebubu

    Posted Jul 31, 2006 10:10 pm PT

    I hope they give a release date soon

  • ASHLEY_123

    Posted Jul 31, 2006 5:28 am PT

    I hope that it's not the release date because I dont care when it's going to be released because it's going to rock anyway, it would be good if it were an announcement of an Xbox Live Marketplace demo, becasue then we could get a taste of the action!

  • 360guy

    Posted Jul 29, 2006 6:38 am PT

    Gears of war has to be good, very good, because if its released a day or on the day ps3 is gonna be released it has to be very good, part of microsoft's Xbox 360 Fate hangs with gears of war if Halo 3 isn't going to be released when ps3 will come out!

  • skatefreak89

    Posted Jul 29, 2006 4:36 am PT

    Maybe the game is gonna ship that day. LOL

  • doomfsea

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 9:10 pm PT

    You can't say any game good or not when the games don't come out yet, right? Like Gears of War or may be MGS4 too. You can't say a game good or bad by a little information or just few trailers, all are the same thing.

    You guys like MGS because the MGS1.2.3 that made before right? Or the great graphics or the amazing trailers. But how good the game will be, can you tell how the game play look like? We can just say" when the game comes out." Just like Gears of War. We can’t say if it’s good or bad, but look there are so many fans, lots of people love it. Maybe it’s not really bad as you think.

    Hey, why the MGS fans very mad of this game, I think it may because HIDEO KOJIMA said he think Gears of war is a great game right? He went to try this game on E3 right? Or you think the game has the power to shake PS3, or you just want to waste your power.

  • Sig12047

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 8:41 pm PT

    Gotta be the release date. That being said, it probably isnt.

  • ihatespam04

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 6:40 pm PT

    Just ship it already. Why is everybody worried about the PS3? It's vaporware right now. Plus after buying the 360, the smart consumer (provided there are any here) would just wait until there are soo many ps3s on the shelf that Sony needs to cut the price to sell them. The 360 Sold very well since there was this "shortage" that was more or less a marketing scheme. I doubt that Sony will have that sort of success unless they drop the price.

  • Sam_Lowery

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 6:33 pm PT

    "saturos - 10 bucks the game will be crap"

    I'll take that bet. I've got $10 that says the game gets an 8.0 or above. Hell, lets make it $20.

  • IvGot5onit

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 5:11 pm PT

    wow just great, GEOW is all mine

  • msim

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 4:12 pm PT

    bvinton45
    "Would MS be pumping this game that much if it sucked. It is not like these guys don't play their own game and know if it is good or not."
    -----wait a minute... doesn't every game company do this,lol. *cough cough* the bouncer. ahem. i'd do the same thing if i'd put millions into a game, regardless which system its on.i'd do it like this- Battlesport is the ass kickingest game ever!! fo serious yo you'll eat awesome and crap amazement!! was that over the top? oh well,damn you battlesport and your flying cars.

  • msim

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 3:09 pm PT

    i'll admit it, gears of war looks sweet, but it definitely wont be enough to stop sony's beast. i mean c'mon, do they really think releasing a relatively unknown title(to the mainstream anyways) will detract from the ps3's success. i agree sony needs to be humbled a little but i dont think this is going to do much.
    oh and to piestalker who said "Also i dare anyone here to name one good PS3 game, just one thats all i ask, one game thats not a rip off of a 360 version or a game that will be on the 360?......" . uuuum seriously? okay mgs4, warhawk(cant wait),resistance,Killzone,Virtua Fighter 5,Killing Day,Lair,Tekken 6. oh... wait thats more than one....my bad, i wont name the rest.

  • HotTopFade

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 2:22 pm PT

    It is not a FPS! 3rd person!

  • trigun123

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 1:38 pm PT

    Alright this game has some nice graphics going for it, but i mean, epic pretty much sucks....the only game they have ever done good is Unreal and i mean, all they do is put in some new maps and tweak the graphics every year, its nothing spectacular....its the same old recycled crap gameplay. id rather play a game that takes skill and not bunny hopping. I remember they attempted to release a different game (Pariah, which had terrible reviews) and it was guess what...an FPS running on the same crappy unreal engine with the same run and gun gameplay, blah. Gimme something new for god sakes.

  • EvanO_O

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 1:25 pm PT

    Maybe the announcement is 4 player online and offline co-op?

    hehe, I can dream, can't I?

  • 00Rambol00

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 12:56 pm PT

    looks good

  • PieStalker

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 12:01 pm PT

    Gears of War along with other great games for the 360 (Bf 2142, Halo 3, C&C 3, Fable 2, too Human, Mass Effect just to name a few) will be what breaks the PS3. That is Microsofts goal in life anyways isn't it? With the PS series dead the Xbox and its next gen version(s) will rule the gamming world! They will never want to kill Nentendo cause if they do that then Microsoft will have to make a kiddy version of the xbox so young gammers can learn the controls and have fun and relive that they want games!

    PS3 however is done really stupedly. The tilt on the controls is **** up! what if i wanna lean against my chair will i start to lean left in the game? will i Alway have to hold my control perfectly lvl in order to play the game right? like i said its **** up and once more poeple realive that they wont be buying it eather. Also i dare anyone here to name one good PS3 game, just one thats all i ask, one game thats not a rip off of a 360 version or a game that will be on the 360?...... Cant be done boys and if you buy a PS3 just for Final Fantisy then guess what....

  • Santas_Hitman

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 10:28 am PT

    I dunno, I just don't see why there is so much hype for the game. Tbh when I first saw the E3 trailer, I wasn't at all impressed. Sure it had nice graphics but for some reason, it didn't strike me as a game that will really be all that fun to play. Only time will tell I guess.

    However with the amount of hype this game is getting, and if they do in fact release it on the same day as the ps3 (which will add to the hype), I think its gonna be a letdown. I mean very few overhyped games ever live up to their expectation. Hell look at Halo 2. Most ppl were saying how much of a let down that game was when it first came out.

  • mc2k4

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 10:05 am PT

    Microsoft Game Studios.

    I'd rather play this in the 360 than the PS3, because it's for the 360. Gears is one of the games, OVERALL that I'm interested in. But, does Xbox really need another FPS? It seems that's all XBox has. FPSs, FPSs, FPSs! Besides, FPSs play better on PC because of better control, graphics, mods, guilds, websites, etc, etc, etc.

    HOWEVER, I'm not knocking that Gears looks like a good, maybe even VERY good game. I think Resistance has more innovation and a more interesting storyline, however, either game has been released, yet. So, we'll see.

  • WeeWeeJumbo

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 6:31 am PT

    And yeah, CliffyB has been trying for years to be this... l33+ G4m3r d00d or whatever. He would do SO much better for himself if he went by Clifford Bleczinski, or however it's spelled (Slavic names are such a challenge!) I guess he sort of hates his name, so he tries to make it cool, and fails utterly. Check out SomethingAwful for plenty of mean-spirited ribbing on that fellow.

  • WeeWeeJumbo

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 6:27 am PT

    "just another M$ FPS?" Dude, if you're going to be just another knee-jerk hater, regardless of how much you wish you could play this game on the PS3, at least know what you're discussing; otherwise people may realize that they need to ignore everything you say, the way they do now. Here's a hint, Gears of War isn't first person, and it isn't developed by Microsoft.

  • LomgHair

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 3:04 am PT

    what kind of grown man shortens his name to 'Cliffy' and then adds his surnames initial to it, I imagine he thinks it makes him 'down with da yoot' as Marcus Blackstock would say, anyway it just makes him sound like a creepy kids entertainer to me, but yeah GoW looks pretty cool, shame i won't be getting a 360 till microsofts next machine is out, Dead Rising looks cool too.

  • 1to34

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 12:13 am PT

    ok moldovan76 Halo launching the same day as the PS3 was NEVER a release date. It's never a release date until Bungie said so. And all we know is that Halo is coming out sometime in 2007.

    but going back on topic. I think it would be a smart move by Microsoft to release GoW near or when the PS3 comes out

  • Dragoon17

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 11:33 pm PT

    Has anyone stopped to consider that the anouncement might be something to do with the game like some new gameplay stuff?

  • vamroc

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 11:01 pm PT


    "Silence_XO
    "It won't trip the PS3, but it will possibly make some dent in the market."
    "One game cannot break a console"
    "That is true, but a game can sell a console."

    Tell that to Sega they didnt have that one game when Saturn came out and it broke the system. Of course the price didn't help either but it could have been competitive for a couple of years

  • mc2k4

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 10:49 pm PT

    I think Gears may be the best game on the 360 for a while. Too bad it's just another M$ FPS. Oh, well, I guess I'll go play MGS4.

  • vamroc

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 10:09 pm PT

    I have seen clerks II and was treated to the theatrical trailer for Gears of War. OH MY F**KING G0D It brought the house down.

  • power_rangerer

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 9:47 pm PT

    this game looks awesome. microsoft has every right to release this game at the same time as the ps3 launch.

    hey sony i know the secret to beat micorsoft for sure: dont make a game console $600 with only one compelling game (mgs4)

  • bvinton45

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 9:18 pm PT

    Would MS be pumping this game that much if it sucked. It is not like these guys don't play their own game and know if it is good or not. This game is getting the hype for two reasons...1. because it is going to be awesome ... 2. first big system game for the 360 and it is coming out near sony's launch

    Sony might win this console war, but the 80% mkt share will be long gone. Hard core gamers will by the PS3 but the average gamers will absolutely not at this price pt.

    What is the ps3 innovating this time around? Xbox has live...until I see Sony's online service there won't be a competition. Nintendo has the controller and 1st party games that will always sell consoles. Sony has tilt controller and blue ray. Tilt controller will be a gimmick and loss of rumble feature to me really sucks. Blu ray might win the format war, but even if it does will not add too much to the game content until probably the end of the consoles life. So for 600 bucks I will by a wii to go with my 360.

  • CaptainArcher

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 9:04 pm PT

    What i think the annoncement will be: GoW to come out either in august or september of 2006 and Halo 3 to come out either in November or December of 2006, would not be surprising if Microsoft is to counter the lunch of the PS3, it's got to be big and only Halo 3 is big enough don't you think ??

    That's my two cents.

    CaptainArcher

  • Solidesnake2004

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 8:35 pm PT

    My Response: Hmm to think about this... if GOW indeed comes out when PS3 comes out.... 360 Fans are going for the game and Sony Fans will go for the system with a game or two..... wouldn't that make sense? :/

  • MCCHA

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 7:27 pm PT

    Gears!

  • kallerant

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 6:59 pm PT

    The anouncement is gonna be that Gow is gonna be released much earlier than espected, and Halo 3 will have fight the Titan, Sony's PS3

  • kallerant

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 6:51 pm PT

    The anouncement could be that theyre relesing GOW earlier, so H3 could battle it out with the Titan Sony.

  • Xcams

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 6:46 pm PT

    Why is everyone being so nedative and critical of GoW now? I mean, Epic is known for great games like the UT series, so what would make people think that GoW will be any different? And anyway, all Rein said was that there was a big announcement, and now everybody assumes that GoW is replacing Halo 3. We all know that no one can replace Halo with anything, but then again, wouldn't you think Microsoft already knows that? Whatever this big announcement is, it's sure to be a success, because Microsoft is no pushover...they know what they're doing; they ARE the industry, er, at least one of the top dogs. I'm sure, whatever happens, GoW will be awesome, but I doubt it will take anything away from Halo 3's release or limelight. I mean, that's like competition between a new Zelda game and a new Mario game. Pick your poison.

  • JamesJPhelanIV

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 6:16 pm PT

    its pretty easy to to understand...microsoft is going to buy epic...there, the cat is out of the bag. or should i say, epic is out of sony's pocket.

  • moldovan76

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 5:44 pm PT

    This is completely idiotic. First, they push the release of Halo 3 back, WAY BACK, to 2007. Then they try to replace it's release slot with Gears of War, a game the was SUPPOSED to be released last February (one of the reasons I bought a 360 last year) and no one's played yet. Brilliant move. So not impressed.

    Mark my words though, in the months leading up to Gears of War/PS3 gaming media (Gamespot included) is going to hype this game so much to drive up readership you'll want to puke. I've seen so many previews of GOR they now seem as interesting as watching a slug crawl.

  • Rated_R_Gamer

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 5:21 pm PT

    Okay nev70 is just a sony fanboy with a dream. No way will GOW come out on the PS3. Cliffy is a microdoft guy.

  • halo2maniak

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 5:05 pm PT

    I cant wait for this game. Hey and Microsoft official reps said that they arnt using it as a PS3 killer it is the general game amount.

  • fireblazer236

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 3:49 pm PT

    Microsoft's trying to start a fight between Microsoft and Sony fanboys outside EB Games.

  • saturos

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 3:27 pm PT

    10 bucks the game will be crap, and trieing to set somone else up for failure usually backfires

  • Solidesnake2004

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 3:25 pm PT


    ryanisking i agree with your comment

  • Rato51

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 3:15 pm PT

    i think the demo may be a likely announcement, since they already have the E3 demo. They could do the same thing lost planet did.

  • hhhh

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 3:12 pm PT

    oh come on, no bodys mind is really going to change about whether its halo 3 or goW, if their gonna buy a ps3, one game wont make them change their mind

  • Philadendron

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 2:53 pm PT

    I think Sony walking right into Halo 3 is a beautiful plan. Halo 3 is big enough to compete.

    But is Gears of War? I don't think so. Releasing Gears of War with the PS3 could actually have a negative impact on GoW sales. It's just not strong enough to compete with the PS3.

    Besides, no matter what, millions of people will buy PS3s. It's got an established following, so Sony has nothing to worry about. I think the best Microsoft can hope for is a dent in PS3 sales.

    We'll see. It should be interesting. I'm an Xbox guy, but I can see the virtues of the PS3 as well.

  • FortuneC00kie

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 2:43 pm PT

    Why exactly would one be so excited for DMC4 on the 360, if it too will appear on the Revolution? All that means is that it will be yet another Xbox360 game that will not even come close to living up to the "Next Gen" hype still being shoved down our throats. How could it, when the graphics engine for Nintendo's innovative new console is going to be much less powerful then that of Microsofts Xbox? No games have been next gen yet. I like to site the increase of game power from the SNES to the N64, because it is obviously the biggest leap in gaming in history thus far. Can we compare the jump from the original Xbox to the Xbox 360 even close to that of Nintendo's? Ofcourse not. It doesn't take anything but a working brain to see that. But I do hope games in the future of Xbox will show us what the system and the minds behind it are truely capable of. Trust me, I don't want to dislike Xbox 360, I just want a reason to like it.

    Anyway, I don't believe the article about DMC4 one bit. I don't think Gates has enough money to buy off developers and their games who have had lasting, very profitable relationships with Sony and/or Nintendo. If he does indeed buy rights to such companies, many of those games turning into exclusive titles would drive that developer into the ground. I'd much rather keep games being made for all systems, because all different people would want them.

    Gears of War looks pretty cool, and I really do hope that it will be as great as some of the people on this thread think it will be. However, I don't agree with the idea that it may only show up on one console. It simply doesn't make sense ( from a business perspective ) to keep a blockbuster game from making all the money it can. I do understand that Bill Gates has lost immense sums of money on his Xbox project, and will continue to lose money as long as he competes with the two other gaming powerhouses the way he is. But he is a smart man and he knows business. Eventually he'll stop being a child and stop trying to win a battle that only he is fighting. With the specs for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 being so similar, there is just no reason for future games to be neglected by either Sony or Microsoft. Everybody knows business is always better when people work together. It's time for Xbox to get out of the red, get out of the hole and make some damn money for all the efforts put into it.

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