Gears of War: E-Day is launching with a longer plan already in view. The Coalition has named five post-launch seasons, outlined the first eight weeks and confirmed that Ranked Versus will open on October 13.

Season 1, called Emergence, begins with Early Access and runs until December 1. Later seasons can vary in length, so the names are a roadmap rather than a set of fixed dates.

Three events shape the first season

Halloween, 20 Years of Gears and Thanksgibbing will each run for two weeks during Season 1. Every event is planned to include a Versus event mode, a Horde Siege event mission and exclusive rewards.

Ranked is deliberately arriving one week after the general October 6 launch. The delay gives players time to learn the maps, modes and sandbox before competitive play begins.

Legacy starts the anniversary season

Season 2 is named Legacy and will focus on the series' 20th anniversary. The Coalition describes it as a celebration of memorable moments from across Gears of War, with a birthday gift planned for all E-Day players on November 7.

The studio has also named the following three seasons: Infiltration, Pendulum and Devotion. Their content and dates have not been revealed, but naming them now confirms that the post-launch plan extends well beyond the opening events.

Missing legacy features are not confirmed additions

Meat Shields, Chainsaw Duels, selected older weapons, Private Lobbies and leaderboards will not all be available at launch. The Coalition says it is considering how fan-favourite features could return after launch or in a future title.

That wording is important. It keeps those features in the conversation, but it is not a promise that every one will be added to E-Day. The official Gears of War: E-Day launch roadmap has the full Season 1 schedule, beta changes and the studio's current post-launch position.