Gears of War: Reloaded officially holds the unfortunate record for the game in the series with the fewest all-time peak Steam player count on release day. Previous releases in the franchise on Steam include Gears 5 and Gears Tactics, but both managed to pick up more players on day one than Gears of War: Reloaded.
The release of Gears of War: Reloaded marks a significant milestone not just for the series, but also regarding the console wars landscape. This latest remaster of the 2006 original is the first game to launch on Sony’s PlayStation. Historically, Gears of War has been seen as a cornerstone franchise for Xbox, making its debut on PlayStation a notable shift. This event may signal a change in the relevance of traditional console rivalries.
Gears of War: Reloaded Peaks at 4,819 Steam Players on Day One
According to The Gamer, Gears of War: Reloaded reached only 4,819 Steam players on launch day, as reported by SteamDB. This figure is significantly lower than what Gears 5 achieved with 10,196 players in 2019, and even less than Gears Tactics’ peak of 7,351 players. Consequently, the new remaster has the distinction of being the least popular Gears of War game on Steam during the first day of its release. There remains a possibility that Gears of War: Reloaded might surpass the previous highs in the forthcoming days, although it has started on an unfavorable note. The inclusion of online crossplay should mitigate any matchmaking issues.
Several factors contribute to these low numbers. Notably, Gears of War: Reloaded was launched to “Mixed” reviews on Steam, which might have deterred some last-minute buyers. Its availability on Xbox Game Pass also plays a role, likely leading many potential PC players who subscribe to Game Pass to download it for free instead of purchasing it. Moreover, the game’s historic significance cannot be ignored, as it’s the second remaster of a game that is now nearly two decades old; this might result in diminished curiosity compared to a fresh experience.
| Game | Peak Steam Player Count (Day One) |
|---|---|
| Gears 5 (2019) | 10,196 |
| Gears Tactics (2020) | 7,351 |
| Gears of War: Reloaded (2025) | 4,819 |
Looking ahead, the franchise will unveil a prequel titled Gears of War: E-Day, which was announced in June 2024, featuring prominent characters Marcus and Dom in a new origin story predating Emergence Day. For many players, Gears of War: Reloaded will act as a great way to re-engage with the series before the launch of E-Day, and others may be experiencing it for the first time.
