Emergence Day is coming back to XBOX, and this time you can hold a piece of it in your hands. XBOX just pulled back the curtain on the Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition Wireless Controller, and honestly, it might be the most brutal-looking accessory the brand has put out in years.
Starting today, you can pre-order the controller at participating retailers worldwide, including the Microsoft Store. That’s a big deal for longtime Gears fans, since this drop ties directly into the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day launch, which tells the origin story of humanity’s first war against the Locust Horde. And yes, XBOX made sure to lean into that lore hard with this design — more on that below.
If pre-ordering hardware isn’t your thing, XBOX has you covered a different way too. Starting September 30, players will be able to jump into XBOX Design Lab and build their own custom Gears of War: E-Day controller from scratch, with exclusive artwork from heavy metal illustrator Luke Preece.
What the Storm King-Style Controller Actually Looks Like
This isn’t just a reskinned controller with a logo slapped on it. The design team clearly went deep on the lore. The controller features 3D molded, laser-etched cracked asphalt details with glowing red cracks, meant to look like an E-hole has just erupted right through the surface — with the iconic Crimson Omen peeking out underneath.
Here’s the full breakdown of what you’re getting:
- Blacked-out ABXY buttons with a transparent red X button
- Matching red triggers and a transparent D-pad
- A dark silver metallic COG tag on the battery door (a nod to “Never Fight Alone”)
- Textured grips for better handling mid-firefight
You can pre-order the Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition Wireless Controller for $89.99 by heading to XBOX.com or checking your local retailer.
XBOX Design Lab Customization Drops September 30
If you’d rather design your own version, XBOX Design Lab opens up Gears of War: E-Day customization starting September 30. The centerpiece is a custom top case featuring a skull perched on crossed Lancers, surrounded by more battle-worn skull details straight out of the COG vs. Locust conflict.
You’ll also be able to add upgrades like metallic triggers and D-pads, rubberized side and back grips, and personal engraving — so no two controllers have to look exactly alike.
You Can Go Hands-On at gamescom 2026
Not ready to commit to a purchase yet? Both controllers will make their public debut at the XBOX booth at gamescom 2026, where attendees will also get the first playable hands-on time with Gears of War: E-Day itself.
Don’t Forget the Charging Dock
XBOX also gave a nod to the 8BitDo Ultimate Charging Dock for XBOX Controllers – Gears of War: E-Day as the perfect companion piece. It’s officially licensed, works with both XBOX Series X|S and XBOX One wireless controllers, and comes with a rechargeable battery pack, magnetic alignment, drop-and-charge functionality, and overcharge/overheat protection — all wrapped in the same battle-worn aesthetic as the controller.
Bottom Line
Between the pre-order controller, the Design Lab customization option coming in September, and the Gamescom reveal, XBOX is clearly leaning hard into hyping up Gears of War: E-Day ahead of launch. If you’ve been waiting for merch that actually feels like it belongs in the Gears universe instead of just slapping a logo on stock hardware, this is probably the one to grab.
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