For a long time, Gears of War was responsible for some of Xbox’s greatest heavy-hitters, but the franchise seemed to have lost its way in the modern gaming landscape. However, with the reveal of E-Day, The Coalition seems to be taking the series back to its roots with a prequel that may reignite some life back into the devastating tale.
Originally created by Cliff Bleszinski, the former designer of arguably the best Gears of War games wants the franchise to find its footing again, but months before E-Day‘s official announcement, the creator foreshadowed where the series could be heading next.
Gears of War Creator Had Some Ideas for the Franchise’s Revival
More than a decade ago, when Gears of War was starting to lose steam after the departure of the original creator, a new post-apocalyptic IP emerged that changed the course of the gaming landscape and brought Naughty Dog to the forefront of the industry.
The adventures of Joel and Ellie didn’t just catch the attention of gamers, but they also caught the eye of Cliff Bleszinski, who believes that there are certain elements from The Last of Us that can be implemented in The Coalition’s games. “Do a game on Emergence Day where you’re maybe Marcus or maybe somebody in the COG,” suggested Bleszinski during an interview a few months before E-Day‘s reveal.
According to the Gears of War creator, players could be fighting against the Locust, but similar to Naughty Dog’s narrative, he would’ve liked some sequences in which “a kid” takes center stage and tries to navigate the mayhem “without any weapons.” Bleszinski, who appreciated how the outbreak was handled by Naughty Dog, continued that a premise like that would be intriguing, “kind of like if Joel and Ellie were completely split up” during life-threatening scenarios.
Interestingly, some of the designer’s suggestions seem to be included in E-Day, which could either mean that The Coalition actually listened or Bleszinski, to some extent, knew what path the franchise was going to take.
Not Every Suggestion From Bleszinski Would Work in the Shooter Series
Although many of Bleszinski’s ideas have the potential to fit in the next Gears of War game, there are some suggestions that may not feel like natural additions to the franchise.
After E-Day was announced, the Gears of War creator discussed some elements that he’d like to see featured in the game, which also included stealth sections featuring the aforementioned “kid.” But where Naughty Dog took a more grounded approach with its post-apocalyptic IP, letting stealth shine in various segments, they’d likely feel out of place in an action-heavy shooter series.
Of course, Emergence Day feels like the perfect setting to showcase the dynamics between hardened soldiers and helpless civilians and children who need rescuing during a horrifying event that humanity finds itself surrounded by. Maybe an Ellie-esque character does end up being included in the upcoming The Coalition effort.
Would you like E-Day to borrow some elements from other popular IPs, or do you want it to keep its action-heavy core intact? Let us know in the comments!
