A third-person tactical shooter from Epic, running on the Unreal Engine 3. Gears of War thrusts gamers into a deep and harrowing story of humankind’s epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet.

Unlike other shooters, Gears of War is all about teamwork in a big way. All game modes, levels and scenarios are designed specifically to encourage co-operative play, whether it be with A.I. partners or human players (with A.I. teammates designed with specific strengths, weaknesses and personalities.) On top of that, voice recognition will be available for players, and obviously voice chat to discuss strategy with your friends. In addition to voice chat, gamers will be able to experience individualized matchmaking, view player statistics, earn player achievements, customize their games, and build and personalize their gamer profiles over Xbox Live.

Gears of War Aussie Review - Australia, November 12, 2006
Now this is what next-gen gaming is all about.

Gears of War Review - November 7, 2006
One year in, the Xbox 360 has its Killer App. And we mean killer.

Reader Reviews
Find out what other IGN readers have to say about Gears of War.
Write your own review.

Gears of War: 10 Things - October 30, 2006
What exactly is Emergence Day? What's the Hammer of Dawn? We have answers.

Gears of War Map Quest - October 26, 2006
New info on multiplayer modes, multiplayer maps, the health system and weapons. And K-Fed.

X06: Gears of War Single-Player, Co-op Hands-on - September 28, 2006
Drop in at any time, drop Locust hoards, drop out.

X06: Gears of War Multiplayer Hands-on Part Deux - September 27, 2006
New build, new map, new weapon, same bloody chainsaw.

TGS 2006: Gears of War Impressions - September 22, 2006
Epic's juggernaut shown behind closed doors. Chainsaws included.

E3 2006: Gears of War Multiplayer Hands-On - May 10, 2006
Get down! Shut up! This game will own you.

E3 2006: Gears of War Preview - May 9, 2006
Microsoft kicks off E3 with a big bang. In-game footage, screens and everything we know.

GDC 06: A Glimpse of War - March 22, 2006
Epic shows off Unreal, Unreal 2007, and smidgeon of Gears of War.

X05: Gears of War: Behind Closed Doors - October 5, 2005
The full dark night level, screaming beasts, pot shots, and your very own Space Mountain with guns.

X05: Gears of War: Eyes-on New Level - October 4, 2005
CliffyB shows off a killer new level in the rain at night. First impressions.

TGS 2005: Gears of War, Round 2 - September 16, 2005
We sit down with Epic's Cliff Bleszinski and take another look at X360's killer app.

TGS 2005: Gears of War - September 15, 2005
CliffyB shows off Epic's third-person shooter at the MS press conference.

Every 360 Game - June 17, 2005
Every game we know of in the next generation of Xbox software.

E3 2005: Gears of War Hands-On - May 18, 2005
We are just cogs in Epic's brilliant, beautiful machine.

Pre-E3 2005: Xbox 360 Gears of War - May 12, 2005
The visuals in this Xbox 360 title are unreal.

The 2006 Xbox 360 Emergency Kit - December 12, 2006
Snowed in for a month? Need five essential 360 games? IGN has your number.

Game of the Month: November 2006 - November 30, 2006
One of the toughest decisions of the year.

Fall 2006: Where's the Beef? - November 29, 2006
Where are the exclusives? What is Microsoft doing? Will it take the console market?

Music: Gears Of War Composer Interview - November 29, 2006
Kevin Riepl discusses his involvement on the in-game soundtrack.

Insider: IGN Insider's Desktop Series - November 29, 2006
Custom-made wallpapers for your favorite games.

The Live Chronicles: Ch. 17 - November 22, 2006
Gears of War roars, but does it fizzle all too quickly? IGN looks into the heart of the online game.

Xbox 360: The One Year Retrospective - November 22, 2006
How has Microsoft's early bird console performed? Where have we come in one year's time? IGN takes a look back.

Movies: Gears of War: The Movie! - November 7, 2006
IGN's dream pick for studio, director, cast, etc. should the highly-anticipated Xbox title go the feature film route.

Music: Gears Of War Sonic Sneak Peek - October 24, 2006
We unveil snippets from the in-game soundtrack for your listening pleasure.

X06: The Big Picture - October 5, 2006
The show is over. What does Microsoft's European event mean to you?

X06: The Barcelona Top Five - October 4, 2006
We pick the best of X06.

Chris Di Cesare Interview - October 3, 2006
The Director of Xbox Marketing talks Gears of War.

X06: Barcelona Photo Collage - October 2, 2006
Examine the phenomenon of Microsoft's annual game show in Barcelona in 40-plus photographs.

X06: The Peter Moore Interview - October 2, 2006
Microsoft's VP gets surly. Read about HDMi support, Banjo-Kazooie, first-party delays, global launches in India and South Africa, and more.

The Xbox 360 Games of Fall 2006 - September 1, 2006
Xbox 360 begins to heat up as the weather cools off. Here are 15 games you shouldn't miss.

Gears of War Gets Personal - July 14, 2006
The Coalition of Ordered Governments says hello. New screens included.

E3 2006: The Final Word on Xbox, 360 - May 24, 2006
IGN breaks down the pros and cons of each system's performance. How did Microsoft do?

The E3 2006 Shane Kim Interview - May 23, 2006
Microsoft Game Studios' lead man talks about Halo 3, backward compatibility, MMOs, GTA IV, and more.

E3 2006: Thanks for the Memories - May 22, 2006
IGN Xbox remembers E3. Our top 10 moments of the show.

Xbox 360 Best of E3 2006 Awards - May 19, 2006
Read the damn title. Then click to see the results.

Gears of War: Road to E3 - May 18, 2006
We get a brief behind-the-scenes look at the MTV Special on Gears of War. New details revealed.

Games: E3 2006 Wrap-up Podcast - May 18, 2006
Now that the dust has settled, the IGN editors have regrouped to discuss the highs and lows of this year's E3.

The Top Five Editor Picks - May 18, 2006
The fully recovered Xbox 360 team picks their favorites games of E3. Which made the grade?

The Influence of Literature and Myth in Videogames - May 17, 2006
How have myth and seminal writers of horror, science fiction, and fantasy shaped today's videogame landscape? IGN taps the literary roots of the industry for answers.

Games: Pre-E3 2006 Podcast - May 4, 2006
The IGN editors discuss the conferences, the games, the rumors, the hardware, the booth babes, and the chaos that is E3.

Games: Peter Moore Speaks - March 28, 2006
Microsoft's VP fills us in on the Xbox 360's future.

GDC 06: Unreal Engine 3 Shows Again - March 22, 2006
A glimpse of the 360's Gears of War and PC/PS3 UT2007 accompany this year's GDC demo.

GDC 06: Peter Moore Talks Halo, E3, and PS3 - March 21, 2006
Microsoft's vice president discusses Xbox 360 plans for GDC, E3 and this holiday.

Comics: Games-to-Comics Wishlist - January 30, 2006
Halo, Gears of War and other games that should be turned into comic books.

IGN Predicts 2006, Pt. 2 - January 10, 2006
Will Halo 3 ship in '06? Will there be more Japanese support? Where's Jade Empire 2?

IGN Predicts 2006, Pt. 1 - January 9, 2006
What will 2006 bring? IGN's editors prophesize the future of Xbox 360 in 2006.

Editorial: Sony's Stringer Claims Xbox 360 Isn't a Threat - January 6, 2006
Sony counts on brand awareness over timing for PS3, but hubris doesn't win console wars.

Xbox 360 CES Announcements Podcast - January 5, 2006
The IGN Xbox editors discuss HD-DVD, 50 games before June, XBLA Marketplace, Street Fighter II and *gasp* Halo 3.

Xbox 360 Launch Guide: Beyond the Launch - November 30, 2005
What now? These are the games that will define 2006.

The Zero Hour Report - November 21, 2005
Gears of War, Halo 2, the origen.com tree and broken bean bags. It's about time the Xbox 360 launched.

IGN Xbox 360 Podcast - November 17, 2005
We talk X360 and strangle each other.

Insider Video Features: Gears of War HD Trailer - October 21, 2005
High definition, amazing footage.

State of the Xbox 360: Final Kits - October 2, 2005
Retailers are mumbling, gamers are worried. The launch is looming, yet Microsoft is mute. What the hell is going on? Our behind-the-scenes report.

NaturalMotion Advances Animation - September 14, 2005
A look at how the next generation will move.

Enter The Beta - July 22, 2005
We speak with a handful of developers on how they like Microsoft's advanced kits and what new tools mean for the future of the console.

Xbox 360 Best of E3 2005 Awards - May 27, 2005
Out with the old and in with the 360. We reward the best of the next.

The Five Best and Worst Things of E3 - May 26, 2005
The biggest game show of the year was a huge hit. It was also a giant stinker. Hear our post-E3 roar.

E3 2005: Our Closing Thoughts - May 20, 2005
Doug, David, and Hilary provide their parting shots on the crazy, insanely overblown circus act that is E3.

Insider Video Features: E3 2005: Microsoft Press Conference - May 16, 2005
Download the uncut, high-res version...only on Insider.

Pre-E3 2005: Our Take - May 14, 2005
What do we make of Microsoft's grand display? Is it primed to win the next gen? What's in store for the future? Here's our take.

Pre-E3 2005: Xbox 360 The Software - May 12, 2005
A handy index of all known Xbox 360 titles.

FAQs: Game Help Q&A; 2006 November 10 - November 10, 2006
Questions on Gears of War, NFS Carbon, and PSU answered.

Best-Selling Games: November 2006 - December 8, 2006
With three next-gen systems to choose from, PS2 still dominates the charts.

Selling Like Hotcakes - December 6, 2006
Analyst predicts big boost in software sales from last November.

Aussies Get Free Xbox Live Gold This Weekend - Australia, November 22, 2006
Thanks to Gears of War, play for free from Friday night.

Gears Churns out 360 Europe Bundle - UK, November 22, 2006
Three hundred quid for a Premium Xbox 360 and a bunch of really annoying bugs.

Gears Cranks Out a Million - November 21, 2006
People like it. They really, really like it.

Microsoft Takes Over Metro - UK, November 17, 2006
Free London paper swamped with Xbox 360 ads.

PC Games: Gears of War on PC? - November 16, 2006
A magazine photo may have leaked the truth.

Gears Marches to War - November 7, 2006
The hottest game of the year is showing up in stores today.

The Lust List: 11/07/06 - November 7, 2006
Proof that the world is eager for Emergence Day.

The Lust List: 10/30/06 - October 30, 2006
What could trump Halo 3 and Gears of War?

Gears Goes Hollywood - October 26, 2006
All Some of Tinseltown's biggest latest stars show up to peek at Microsoft's megaton.

Gears of War Emerges Gold - October 25, 2006
The anticipated shooter is readied for retail.

X06: Xbox 360 Movies Galore - October 3, 2006
Dozens of new movies rom the Barcelona showfloor.

Gears of War Public Preview - September 29, 2006
Chainsaw pairing gives fans a chance to play in advance.

X06: Live Microsoft News Conference Report - September 27, 2006
Microsoft hits Europe with news on Marvel's MMO, Gears of War, new XBLA and more.

TGS 2006: Microsoft's Game List - September 20, 2006
Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey to both make playable debut.

Gears of War Costs More - August 4, 2006
Will all Microsoft published games retail for $59.99?

Gears of War Emergence Day Revealed - August 3, 2006
Microsoft reveals the date the Gears of War start turning.

Gears of War Release Slip? - July 24, 2006
Megadeth somehow involved.

Gears of War Trailer Premieres in Theaters - July 13, 2006
Epic's latest blasts the big screen.

Spring Cleaning for Xbox 360 - May 25, 2006
Microsoft updates Xbox Live in a dozen handy ways. First details and images.

E3 2006: Download the Gears of War Docu-drama - May 9, 2006
Show kicks off on Xbox Live, finishes on MTV.

E3 2006: Microsoft Reveals X360 Lineup - May 9, 2006
The company reveals its showcase titles for the show.

E3 2006: Gears of War Trailer from Microsoft's Press Conference - May 9, 2006
Here's live impressions of the trailer of the Gears of War game.

Pre-E3 2006: Gears of War Update - May 5, 2006
Info recap and an additional screen.

GDC 06: GDC Gets Epic - March 3, 2006
The Unreal developer plans show floor "ownage."

Games: Gaming News Round-up Podcast - February 2, 2006
Feeling ignorant? Let us plant the seed of knowledge with a podcast about this past week's gaming news.

CES 2006: Downloadable Fight Night - January 4, 2006
EA and Microsoft to start the New Year with a free, downloadable bang.

TGS 2005 Index - September 16, 2005
All the TGS 360 coverage in one spot.

TGS 2005: Microsoft Keynote Address - September 15, 2005
Microsoft and Nintendo tag-team Japan.

TGS 2005: Microsoft Press Conference - September 15, 2005
Everything you want to know from Microsoft's pre-show conference. New details and eyes-on demo impressions.

TGS 2005: Xbox 360 Launch Date - September 14, 2005
The information you've been waiting for.

X360 Movie Explosion - August 12, 2005
Microsoft releases a new movie montage.

Gears of War High-Quality Trailer - August 4, 2005
Crisp in-engine footage shows what one of 2006's most anticipated 360 titles has in store.

Xbox Summit 2005: X360 Trailers - July 25, 2005
Little slices from a bunch of new games.

Xbox Summit 2005: Gears of War Shown - July 25, 2005
A short montage of footage.

Gears of War: Destroyed Beauty - July 6, 2005
Renders, art, and imagery from Epic's pretty little book.

Gears of War to PC? - May 25, 2005
Tasty speculation: Epic's cutting edge may slice two platforms.

E3 2005: Epic Games Announces Gears Of War - May 17, 2005
The first potential megahit for the Xbox 360 is finally announced.

E3 2005: The Complete MS Conference Guide - May 17, 2005
Impressions, trailers, and the newest announcements.

E3 2005: Microsoft News Conference Lineup Highlights - May 16, 2005
One massive list of Xbox and 360 games unleashed.

E3 2005: Microsoft Press Conference - May 16, 2005
Square Enix commits to Xbox 360; limited backward compatibility confirmed; full EA support, 160 Xbox 360 titles in development. First details.

More Gears of War Info Revealed - May 13, 2005
Epic developer lets the cat out of the bag.

Games: Samuel L. Jackson Back to Host Spike TV's Videogame Awards - November 9, 2006
It's the year's biggest celebration for gamers.

Games: Gears of Megadeth - October 30, 2006
Famed metal band promotes Emergence Day.

Games: Gears of War Invades Tinseltown for a Horrific Event - October 19, 2006
Microsoft Game Studios and Epic Games wake the dead with a celebrity launch event.

Games: Gears of War Chainsaws its Way to Big Screen - September 29, 2006
Gamers in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco will be among the first to play Gears of War after special pre-release screenings of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning.