While Gears of War’s Next Step After Reloaded Seems Obvious, Going Off the Beaten Path May Be Best

In late August, later this year, the once Xbox and PC-exclusive Gears of War series will break tradition and launch on PlayStation platforms with the upcoming Gears of War: Reloaded. A remaster of 2006’s Gears of War 1 and 2015’s Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, Gears of War: Reloaded will have players replay through Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad’s first operation together, known as the Lightmass Offensive. With Reloaded expected to prepare players for Gears of War: E-Day’s release in 2026, it could be predicted that The Coalition would next work on a Gears of War 2 remaster after E-Day’s debut. However, it may be lucrative for The Coalition to remaster a different Gears title after Reloaded and E-Day’s release: Gears of War Judgment.

Gears of War Delta Squad Member Tier List

The many members of Gears of War’s Delta Squad can be categorized by each members’ skill, story, and career throughout the Gears games.

Gears of War Judgment Explained

Released in early 2013 as the final game developed by Gears of War creators Epic Games and the final Gears game to be developed for the Xbox 360, Gears of War Judgment was the fourth Gears title ever produced, following 2011’s Gears of War 3. Despite being the fourth Gears title and releasing after the climactic events of Gears of War 3, Judgment was Gears’ first proper prequel game set several months after Emergence Day and about 14 years before Gears of War 1’s Lightmass Offensive. While Judgment is a prequel, most of its gameplay, weapon arsenal, enemies, and design are based on features from Gears of War 3, sometimes in non-canonical ways, such as the early appearance of the chainsaw Lancer.

In terms of narrative, Gears of War Judgment follows then-Lieutenant Damon Baird and his Kilo Squad on trial for disobeying the orders of Coalition of Ordered Governments’ Colonel Ezra Loomis. Each section of Judgment’s campaign is split up by flashbacks recounted by each member of Kilo Squad, with players being able to play as Baird, Augustus Cole, Sofia Hendrick, and former UIR soldier Garron Paduk.

As Kilo Squad attempts to defend the COG city of Halvo Bay from the invading Locust General Zamil Karn, players can take part in optional declassified mission objectives. These often make levels more difficult by restricting available ammo, weapons, issuing a time limit, and more, similar to Halo’s skull modifiers.

Gears of War 2 Remastered Vs. Gears of War Judgment Remastered

With both Gears of War: Reloaded and Gears of War: E-Day bringing players back to the past of the Locust War decades before Gears of War 4 and Gears 5, it may be more opportune for The Coalition to remaster Gears of War Judgment before Gears of War 2. Remastering Judgment could give new PlayStation fans a better perspective of the early years of the Locust War, with Judgment expected to take place right after E-Day’s events. Additionally, Judgment is currently only playable on the Xbox 360 or through modern Xbox consoles’ backwards compatibility, so remastering Judgment after E-Day could allow gamers to finally play Baird’s starring role on PC and PlayStation.

A Judgment remaster could additionally help PC players gain a better view of the early Locust War, as Gears Tactics takes place one year after Emergence Day. However, Judgment wasn’t a very popular game compared to its mainline Gears predecessors. Gears of War Judgment received many mixed reviews due to its lack of features, and it only sold one million copies by August 2013, compared to Gears of War 3, which sold over three million copies in its first week alone. Due to these factors, it may be better if The Coalition simply remastered Judgment’s campaign or lump it in alongside a Gears of War 2 or 3 remaster, similar to how Halo 3: ODST’s campaign was later added to Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

The Potential of a Gears of War 2 Remaster

If Gears of War: Reloaded proves to be a critical and financial success on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, it may be better to remaster Gears of War 2 next, especially if the rumored Gears of War Marcus Fenix Collection never comes into fruition. Gears of War 2 is often regarded as the best Gears of War game due to its emotional and thrilling campaign as well as the introduction of Horde mode, which went on to inspire many games to develop similar wave-based PVE modes. However, despite Gears of War 2’s widespread critical and financial success, Gears of War 2 has never been updated beyond the Xbox 360 and is only playable through modern Xbox consoles’ backwards compatibility.