For most players, the right buy for Gears of War: E-Day is either the $69.99 Standard Edition or no purchase at all, because the game is included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on day one. The $99.99 Premium Edition only earns its extra $30 if you want to play five days early and plan to spend months in Horde Siege and Versus, where its cosmetic packs and premium currency live.
Below we cover every edition, the upgrade, the pre-order bonus and Game Pass. This guide covers the launch editions on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC and Steam, verified against the official store pages and Xbox Wire as of September 28, 2026. There is no PlayStation version announced; our PS5 and Game Pass guide covers that question in full.
Every Edition at a Glance
| Edition | Price | Format | Early access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $69.99 | Digital and physical | No |
| Premium | $99.99 | Digital only | Yes, from October 1 |
| Premium Upgrade | $30 | Digital add-on | Yes, from October 1 |
| Collector’s | $299.99 | Xbox Series X disc or Steam code | Yes, from October 1 |
Prices are US list prices. Every edition gets the same pre-order bonus if bought before launch.
Standard Edition
The Standard Edition is the base game: the full campaign, Horde Siege and Versus. It is sold digitally on Xbox, the Xbox app on PC and Steam, and as a physical disc for Xbox.
Per The Coalition, a copy bought from the Xbox or Xbox on PC store is an Xbox Play Anywhere purchase, so one purchase plays on both Xbox Series X|S and PC with shared progression. A Steam copy plays on Steam only. Our Steam and PC guide compares the two PC storefronts.
Premium Edition and the Premium Upgrade
The Premium Edition costs $99.99 and adds the following on top of the base game, per The Coalition’s official editions breakdown:
- Up to five days of early access, starting October 1. Our release time guide has the exact unlock time in every region.
- Bravo Squad Signature Weapon Pack, which is for use in the campaign only.
- Emergence Customization Pack at launch, headlined by the Death’s Rendezvous Marcus Fenix Legendary skin and the Bloodied Hunter Tai Kaliso Epic skin, plus two poses, two weapon skin sets, a banner, emblem and icon.
- Four more Seasonal Customization Packs, released “as available.” Each contains two character skins, two weapon skin sets, two poses, and a banner, emblem and icon.
- 1,000 Iron, the game’s premium currency.
The Premium Edition Upgrade is $30 on the Xbox store (Steam lists no upgrade yet) and adds the same content to a Standard copy. The fine print on the upgrade’s store page says it requires the base game or a Game Pass Ultimate membership. Since $69.99 plus $30 equals the Premium price, starting with Standard and upgrading later costs nothing extra. Waiting past October 1 only costs you the early access.
Collector’s Edition
The Collector’s Edition is $299.99 through the Xbox Game Studios Shop and select retailers, in limited quantities. It exists for Xbox Series X (the game on disc) and Steam (a digital code). It includes the full Premium Edition content, plus:
- A 15-inch diorama statue of Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago with a light effect (it needs three AAA batteries, not included)
- A 1:1 replica of Carlos Santiago’s COG tags in zinc alloy and brass
- A SteelBook case designed by illustrator Luke Preece
- An art print, a replica in-game photo, and a thank-you note from The Coalition
- Display packaging with a sliding drawer for the tags
As of September 28, the official shop listing shows the Collector’s Edition as sold out, so any remaining copies are at third-party retailers.
Pre-Order Bonus and the Gift Card Offer
Pre-ordering any edition before October 6 at 7:59am PT unlocks the Exfil Dom Legendary Character Skin and the Exfil Legendary Weapon Skin Set. Both apply only in Horde Siege and Versus, not the campaign. Digital pre-orders get them automatically, starting with early access on October 1. Physical pre-orders may come with a code on your receipt or by email, depending on the retailer.
Microsoft adds a small extra. Per the offer’s terms, buying the Standard Edition, Premium Edition or Premium Upgrade from Microsoft Store in the US earns a $5 digital Xbox gift card (£4 in the UK, €5 in participating eurozone countries). The Premium and Upgrade deadline is 11:59pm ET on October 1, and the Standard deadline is October 6. The card arrives within 35 days of launch under “Offers and credits.”
Which Game Pass Tiers Include It
Per Xbox Wire, E-Day is included on day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, from October 6. The September Game Pass lineup also lists it for cloud play. Game Pass Premium is not named for launch.
Two catches. First, Game Pass alone does not unlock early access: subscribers play from October 6 unless they buy the upgrade, whose fine print names Game Pass Ultimate specifically. Second, the official fine print says online campaign co-op, Horde Siege and Versus require “a Game Pass subscription that includes online multiplayer,” and the open beta FAQ puts that at Game Pass Essential or higher. Our co-op guide covers what that means for playing with friends.
Which Edition You Should Buy
- You have Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass: buy nothing and play October 6. Consider the $30 upgrade only if five days early matters to you, and on PC Game Pass, confirm the store accepts your membership before paying.
- You want to own it and just play the campaign: the Standard Edition. The Premium extras are mostly multiplayer cosmetics.
- You will live in Horde Siege and Versus: the Premium Edition, since the seasonal packs and Iron pay off over months of play. Our multiplayer and Horde guide explains how those modes work.
- You collect statues: the Collector’s Edition, if you can still find one.
Our Gears of War: E-Day guides hub collects everything else, and our gone gold report covers the launch plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Standard and Premium Editions?
Premium adds up to five days of early access, a campaign weapon pack, five seasonal customization packs and 1,000 Iron. The base game is identical.
Can I upgrade from Standard to Premium later?
Yes, on the Xbox store. The $30 Premium Edition Upgrade adds all the Premium content, so the total matches the Premium price.
Does Game Pass give early access to Gears of War E-Day?
No. Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members play from October 6. Members can buy the $30 upgrade to start on October 1.
Is the Collector’s Edition available on PC?
Yes, on Steam, as a digital code alongside the physical collectibles. The Xbox version includes a Series X disc.
Does the pre-order bonus work in the campaign?
No. The Exfil Dom skin and Exfil weapon skins apply to Horde Siege and Versus only.