Gears of War: E-Day may have cost Microsoft approximately $500 million to develop, according to new reports, while an allegedly near-complete PS5 version was cancelled shortly before release.
New claims surrounding Gears of War: E-Day suggest that Microsoft’s latest entry in the franchise could rank among the most expensive video games ever developed.
Prema izvješću od Push Square, citing Kotaku and industry sources, the game’s reported development budget reached an extraordinary $500 million.
The figure has reportedly received support from industry journalists Chris Dring of The Game Business and Jez Corden of Windows Central, although questions remain about how the total budget was calculated.
Gears of War: E-Day Budget Reportedly Reached $500 Million
If accurate, the reported budget would place Gears of War: E-Day significantly above several major PlayStation productions.
For comparison, reported development budgets include:
- Gears of War: E-Day: Approximately $500 million
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Approximately $300 million
- Marvel’s Wolverine: Approximately $300 million
However, Microsoft has not officially confirmed the $500 million figure, and it remains unclear whether the estimate includes marketing, long-term development costs or other expenses.
Microsoft Reportedly Cancelled an Almost-Finished PS5 Version
Another surprising claim concerns the game’s PlayStation 5 release.
According to the report, Microsoft allegedly cancelled a nearly completed PS5 version of Gears of War: E-Day despite the substantial investment already made.
Kotaku’s sources suggest Microsoft believed the game would struggle to recover its costs regardless of which platforms received it.
The decision has raised questions about Xbox’s multiplatform strategy, particularly as additional PlayStation sales could potentially have generated more revenue.
Microsoft has not officially confirmed the reported PS5 cancellation or the alleged development budget.
Gears of War: E-Day Sales Reportedly Reached 311,000 Copies
Estimates from Alinea Analytics suggest that Gears of War: E-Day sold approximately 311,000 copies, with a significant portion of its audience reportedly accessing the game through Xbox Game Pass instead of purchasing it outright.
These figures are third-party estimates rather than official Microsoft sales data.
Game Pass engagement also makes it difficult to assess the game’s financial performance based solely on traditional sales.
For now, the reported $500 million budget and cancelled PS5 version remain unverified claims, but they raise significant questions about the costs of major AAA productions and Microsoft’s future publishing strategy.
