# Gears of War 4
**Gears of War 4** is a third-person cover shooter developed by The Coalition and published by Microsoft, released on October 11, 2016, exclusively for [Xbox One](https://www.edgepedia.org/xbox-one) and Windows 10 PC. Set 25 years after the end of *Gears of War 3*, it begins a new saga in the franchise, following JD Fenix, the son of series regular Marcus Fenix, and his friends Kait and Del as they battle a monstrous new enemy called the Swarm.[1](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2016/10/11/gears-4-available-worldwide/) • [2](https://www.gearsofwar.com/en-us/games/gears-of-war-4/) • [3](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/gears-of-war-4-review/1900-6416538/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | October 11, 2016, exclusively on Xbox One and Windows 10 PC[1](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2016/10/11/gears-4-available-worldwide/) |
| Developer | The Coalition, with Rod Fergusson as Studio Head[1](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2016/10/11/gears-4-available-worldwide/) |
| Setting | 25 years after the end of *Gears of War 3*; the first chapter of a new saga[1](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2016/10/11/gears-4-available-worldwide/) |
| Protagonists | JD Fenix (son of Marcus Fenix), Kait, and Del, fighting the Swarm[2](https://www.gearsofwar.com/en-us/games/gears-of-war-4/) • [3](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/gears-of-war-4-review/1900-6416538/) |
| Horde 3.0 | Class-based survival mode with five classes, skill cards, class levels up to 10, and placeable fortifications[4](https://gearsofwar.fandom.com/wiki/Horde_3.0) • [5](https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/gears-of-war-4-horde-mode-guide/) |
| Cross-play | Xbox One and Windows 10 cross-play across campaign, Horde, and co-op versus; versus cross-play in private matches[1](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2016/10/11/gears-4-available-worldwide/) |
## Story and setting
The campaign is set 25 years after the conclusion of the Locust War in *Gears of War 3*. Having barely survived an assault on their settlement, JD Fenix, together with his companions Kait and Del, sets out to save their loved ones and uncover the origin of a terrifying new foe.[1](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2016/10/11/gears-4-available-worldwide/) • [2](https://www.gearsofwar.com/en-us/games/gears-of-war-4/) According to GameSpot's review, the story centers on JD as he fights both a fresh threat from underground and the Coalition of Ordered Governments, which has become sinister in the years since the original trilogy.[3](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/gears-of-war-4-review/1900-6416538/) Older surviving characters from the original trilogy, including Marcus Fenix, play important roles as the story progresses.[7](https://www.space.com/gears-of-war-games-in-order)
The campaign supports two-player co-op, locally via split-screen or over Xbox Live.[2](https://www.gearsofwar.com/en-us/games/gears-of-war-4/) Several campaign sections incorporate light Horde mechanics, planting the wave-defense gameplay directly in the narrative during defensive scenarios with JD and his squad.[3](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/gears-of-war-4-review/1900-6416538/)
## Horde 3.0
Horde 3.0, the game's cooperative survival mode, replaced the free-form setup of earlier Horde versions with a class-based system. Five players team up against waves of increasingly difficult enemies, choosing a combat class, leveling up skills, and deploying fortifications anywhere on the map via the Fabricator, a dynamic fortification system designed to feel different from the prescribed setups of *Gears of War 3*.[2](https://www.gearsofwar.com/en-us/games/gears-of-war-4/) • [8](https://www.windowscentral.com/gears-war-4-horde-mode-interview)
The five classes each have a designated loadout that can be modified through progression, and weapons are not locked to specific classes.[9](https://www.windowscentral.com/gears-war-4-horde-mode-beginners-guide) Class levels track experience with each class up to a maximum of 10, and skill cards, found in Gear Packs earned through in-game Credits or purchasable, unlock abilities.[4](https://gearsofwar.fandom.com/wiki/Horde_3.0) Critics were divided on the class system: [Ars Technica](https://www.edgepedia.org/ars-technica) found it unnoticeable at best and annoying at worst in casual play, while GameSpot credited the dedicated class system as a mechanical improvement.[10](https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/10/gears-of-war-4-the-next-gen-is-now-if-youre-on-windows-10-at-least/) • [11](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/xboxone/895574-gears-of-war-4/reviews/163358)
## Multiplayer and platforms
Versus multiplayer runs at 60 FPS on dedicated servers, with a new visible ranking system intended to make matchmaking fairer for social, competitive, and professional players.[2](https://www.gearsofwar.com/en-us/games/gears-of-war-4/) The game launched with cross-play between Xbox One and [Windows 10](https://www.edgepedia.org/windows-10) across all modes, campaign, Horde, and co-op versus, with versus cross-play in private matches, under the slogan "Never Fight Alone".[1](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2016/10/11/gears-4-available-worldwide/)
As an Xbox Play Anywhere title, a single digital purchase entitled players to both the Xbox One and Windows 10 versions, with game progress, Gamerscore, and Achievements saved through Xbox Live.[1](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2016/10/11/gears-4-available-worldwide/) Microsoft committed to adding new content and maps to the playlist rotation every month after launch, for a total of 24 DLC maps.[1](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2016/10/11/gears-4-available-worldwide/)
## Reception
GameSpot gave it 7/10, saying it "makes the best of the franchise's multiplayer modes, but delivers a lackluster campaign in the process", citing pacing and redundancy problems in the story and some technical issues in both multiplayer and story modes.[6](https://www.mic.com/articles/156515/gears-of-war-4-reviews-here-s-what-critics-and-players-are-saying) • [3](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/gears-of-war-4-review/1900-6416538/) The Guardian called the single-player campaign a much more varied, flowing experience than previous Gears games, and judged the game's real meat to lie online in versus multiplayer and Horde 3.0.[13](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/06/gears-of-war-4-review-a-shot-in-the-arm-for-a-fading-series) VideoGamer described it as a visually stunning and thrilling campaign with top-notch multiplayer modes.[14](https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/gears-of-war-4-review/)
## Place in the series
Gears of War 4 was the first mainline entry developed by The Coalition after the franchise moved from [Epic Games](https://www.edgepedia.org/epic-games) to Microsoft's studio. It was followed by *Gears 5*, which takes place only months after the events of Gears of War 4 and continues the story from the point of view of Kait as the characters combat the Swarm.[7](https://www.space.com/gears-of-war-games-in-order) The Coalition subsequently pivoted away from finishing that trilogy, instead developing the prequel *Gears of War: E-Day*, released October 6, 2026, a change in plans from the Gears 4 and 5 storyline.[15](https://www.t3.com/tech/gaming-consoles/gears-of-wars-graphics-on-pc-have-me-wondering-why-anyone-needs-an-xbox-series-x)
## References
1. [Gears of War 4 Available Worldwide on Xbox One and Windows 10 PC, Xbox Wire](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2016/10/11/gears-4-available-worldwide/)
2. [Gears of War 4, official game page](https://www.gearsofwar.com/en-us/games/gears-of-war-4/)
3. [Gears of War 4 Review, GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/gears-of-war-4-review/1900-6416538/)
4. [Horde 3.0, Gears of War Wiki](https://gearsofwar.fandom.com/wiki/Horde_3.0)
5. [‘gears of war 4’ horde mode guide:how to succeed against overwhelming odds - digital trends](https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/gears-of-war-4-horde-mode-guide/)
6. ['Gears of War 4' reviews: Here's what critics and players are saying, Mic](https://www.mic.com/articles/156515/gears-of-war-4-reviews-here-s-what-critics-and-players-are-saying)
7. [Gears of War in order: Chronological and release date, Space.com](https://www.space.com/gears-of-war-games-in-order)
8. [Interview: In detail with Gears of War 4's Horde Mode 3.0 designer, Windows Central](https://www.windowscentral.com/gears-war-4-horde-mode-interview)
9. [Gears of War 4 Horde Mode beginner's guide, Windows Central](https://www.windowscentral.com/gears-war-4-horde-mode-beginners-guide)
10. [Gears of War 4: The next gen is now, Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/10/gears-of-war-4-the-next-gen-is-now-if-youre-on-windows-10-at-least/)
11. [Gears of War 4 Review, GameFAQs](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/xboxone/895574-gears-of-war-4/reviews/163358)
12. [Gears of War 4 Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/game/gears-of-war-4/?userdpbjs=1)
13. [Gears of War 4 review, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/06/gears-of-war-4-review-a-shot-in-the-arm-for-a-fading-series)
14. [Gears of War 4 Review, VideoGamer](https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/gears-of-war-4-review/)
15. [Gears of War's graphics on PC, T3](https://www.t3.com/tech/gaming-consoles/gears-of-wars-graphics-on-pc-have-me-wondering-why-anyone-needs-an-xbox-series-x)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Games and gameplay › Individual game titles › Individual Xbox-platform game titles*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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