Set on the fictional planet of Sera, the “Gears of War” series charts the story of humanity’s struggle against fearsome and brutal adversaries through a captivating tale of hope, comradery and survival.

After narrowly escaping an attack on their village, JD Fenix and his friends, Kait and Del, must rescue the ones they love and discover the source of a monstrous new enemy. “Gears of War 4” returns the franchise to the dark tone and intensity of the original and includes split-screen and online co-op, the next generation of five-player favorite, Horde Mode, 60 frames-per-second Versus multiplayer, and stunning visuals powered by Unreal Engine 4.

we’re just getting started on what’s sure to be a memorable Comic-Con for Gears fans! For those who join us in the Xbox Booth at the San Diego Convention Center, the above demo is playable and lets fans get their first taste (and hands-on) with the Gears of War 4 campaign and its incredibly destructive windflares. This exclusive opportunity to play the Gears of War 4 sees JD, Del and Kait, joined by Marcus Fenix in their quest to rescue Reyna, Kait’s mom.

If you’re stopping by the convention or just looking for where to keep track of all the Gears goodness we’re unveiling this week, check out the handy list we’ve compiled below for all the events and featured products on display at San Diego Comic-Con in the Xbox Booth (#100) and at NERD HQ (The New Children’s Museum).

Designed in collaboration between The Coalition and the Xbox design team, the first-ever custom-designed Xbox One S bundle is made to look as if it were lifted right out of the game itself. From the laser-etched scratches, to the bloody thumbprint on the controller’s red metallic D-pad and the iconic Crimson Omen, the console and Xbox Wireless Controller – Gears of War 4 Crimson Omen Limited Edition bear the battle marks of a desperate fight against Gears of War 4’s new enemies – the Swarm. Available for $449 in select markets at launch, the Gears of War 4 Limited Edition 2TB Xbox One S Bundle is the ultimate Gears bundle and includes a number of digital bonuses.

In addition to the slick custom designed Gears of War 4 Limited Edition 2TB Xbox One S Bundle, the all-new Xbox Wireless Controller – Gears of War 4 JD Fenix Limited Edition is just as stylish. Sold separately, this custom designed Xbox Wireless Controller is modeled after JD Fenix’s armor and features metallic blue accents and textured grip for enhanced controls, as well as the COG logo – the Phoenix Omen.

SDCC PANEL: Gears of War 4: Creators, Characters and Cast
Thursday, July 21, 2:15pm-3:15pm – San Diego Convention Center Room 6BCF

Join The Coalition studio head Rod Fergusson, and voice actors Liam McIntyre (JD Fenix), Eugene Byrd (Del Walker), Laura Bailey (Kait Diaz) and of course – John DiMaggio who returns as legendary hero Marcus Fenix as they present a behind-the-scenes look at Gears of War 4, exploring the characters, and storytelling for the new saga in the acclaimed Gears franchise.  The panel is moderated by Xbox’s Major Nelson and it’s a safe bet we’ll have a few surprises. An encore of the panel featuring a special guest will take place on Friday, July 22, 5:00pm-6:00pm at NERD HQ (The New Children’s Museum)

Hands On With Campaign @ Xbox Booth or Versus Modes on All-New Map “Forge” @ NERD HQ
Wednesday-Sunday, July 20-24 – San Diego Convention Center Hall A, Booth #100
Thursday-Sunday, July 21-24 – NERD HQ in The New Children’s Museum (200 W Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101)

Meet the developers of Gears of War 4 from The Coalition in San Diego and get hands-on with Gears of War 4. Starting Wednesday from 5:30PM-9:00PM PT, four-day pass holders and those with press badges can play a brand new section of the campaign for the first time in the Xbox Booth at the San Diego Convention Center. The booth opens to all Comic-Con attendees when doors open Thursday-to-Sunday.

Thursday-to-Sunday at Nerd HQ, fans can squad-up and face-off in these intense and brutal 5v5 Versus Multiplayer matches on the just revealed multiplayer map “Forge”. Check out TheNerdMachines.com for full gameplay schedules.

Limited Edition Gears of War 4 Posters available at Comic-Con 
Today we also announced the availability of a limited-edition Gears of War 4 poster (first in a series of three) designed by award winning comic-book artist Tony Moore (known for his award-winning artistry in The Walking Dead comic series). Fans at Comic-Con will be able to get their hands on these super limited posters during a fan meet-and-greet and signing with the cast following the panel on Thursday at 5pm at NERD HQ or be the first 1000 fans who pre-order Gears of War 4 at the GameStop kiosk in the Xbox booth.

Physical Gear Packs
Drop by and play Gears of War 4 to take home the physical version of a Gear Pack!  These physical cards don’t just look pretty – they also unlock 10 specific customization items and bounties to use when the game releases this October.  Each physical Gear Pack includes five cards – one Crimson Omen sticker card, a Gears Avatar t-shirt card, and three customization cards.  Head to the Xbox booth at Comic-Con located in Hall A, Booth #100 or find us at NERD HQ in the New Children’s Museum to claim your pack.  Not at Comic-Con?  Pre-order the game at GameStop and receive a free physical Gear Pack with the Vintage Reyna character when you pick up the game at launch.

A Bounty of Gears of War Collectibles
Equip yourself with gaming essentials to take down The Swarm, commemorate your collectible shelf with an assortment of Gears of War figurines, explore the artistic inspirations for Gears of War 4, and rev up a Lancer all of your own.

• HyperX CloudX Revolver Gears of War Gaming Headset – Available for pre-order now, The HyperX CloudX Revolver Gears of War Edition is a premium headset co-designed between Microsoft and The Coalition. Featuring a gritty, battle-weathered design to complement the recently announced Xbox One S Gears of War 4 Limited Edition 2TB Bundle and Xbox One Gears of War 4 Crimson Omen Limited Edition Wireless Controller to offer fans a complete gaming set up that shows their Gears

• Funko Pop! Games: Gears of War – Gears of War made its Funko debut with the San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Marcus Fenix Pop! and now the rest of the line is on the way! Featuring JD Fenix, Del Walker and Kait Diaz from Gears of War 4, iconic characters from the original trilogy will also be making their debut with Marcus Fenix, Clayton Carmine, and the Locust Drone rounding out this new exciting Pop! Series. Fans attending Comic-Con can find these at the Funko booth in the San Diego Convention Center, Booth #534. Check out www.funko.com for more details.

• PDP Gears of War 4 Customized Lancer Replica – Based on the Customized Lancer featured in Gears of War 4, this authentic hand finished and painted 1:1 replica features the iconic chainsaw bayonet, activates in game sound effects, fully adjustable sight, lever, switches, and illuminated LED lights. The included removable and fully functioning flashlight adds to the detail and authenticity of the replica. Fans can see the replica Lancer for themselves in the Xbox Booth in the San Diego Convention Center and check out pdp.com for more information.

• Gears of War Play Arts KAI Action Figures – Marcus Fenix gets the Play Arts KAI treatment! Play Arts KAI, the action figure line pioneered by Square Enix Products, features highly detailed sculpting, careful paint application done by hand, and over 26 points of articulation. All these features and more make for a stunning collector’s piece. The prototype of Marcus will be debuted for the first time at the Square Enix Merchandise Booth #3829 and marks the first time this prototype is being shown to the public!

• Dark Horse – The Art of Gears of War 4 – The Gears of Warseries has revolutionized third-person shooter action with its gorgeous environments, iconic characters, and brutal action. Now to commemorate the continuation of the Gears epic, Dark Horse Books and The Coalition present The Art of Gears of War 4. Featuring hundreds of individual pieces of art, final renders, and commentary from the game’s creators, this gorgeous volume is a must-have item for veteran Gears and rookies alike and is available for preorder from retailers including Amazon and Barnes and Noble!

• McFarlane Toys 7” Kait Diaz Action Figure – Accompanied by a Customized Gnasher Shotgun and Boltok Pistol, this Gears of War 4 Kait Diaz figure is designed with 15 points of articulation. Available November 2016.

Key Features:

• New Story, Heroes and a Nightmare Reborn: The first chapter of an all-new “Gears” saga thrusts players into an epic and perilous journey through the wilds of Sera. Fight as JD Fenix – son of the legendary hero Marcus Fenix – as he embarks on a desperate mission with his friends Kait and Del to find their missing loved ones and confront a fearsome new threat.
• Never Fight Alone: Rev up your Lancer and fight your way through the Campaign with a friend over Xbox Live or via local split screen co-op, with the option to play as JD, Kait or Del. Cross Play lets Xbox One and Windows 10 gamers play together in cooperative modes like Campaign, Horde and Co-Op Versus.
• Shared Progression and Achievements with Xbox Play Anywhere across Xbox One and Windows 10: Cloud saves enable you to switch seamlessly between both versions of game, giving you the freedom to play where you choose. Both versions are included with a single purchase.
• Fight through a Dynamic and Deadly Environment: Brace yourself against ferocious windflares that blow away cover, bend your shots and drastically alter the battlefield, forcing you to employ new tactics. As the windflare intensity increases, each enemy confrontation evolves into a brutal fight for survival in this tale of Man vs. Monster.
• New Arsenal of Weapons and Combat Tactics: Pummel your enemies from cover with new close-cover combat moves like yank, vault kick and a bloody new combat-knife execution. Make use of dangerous new weapons, like the Buzzkill and Dropshot, to shoot around and over cover, raining destruction from all angles.
•  The Best “Gears” Multiplayer Experience Yet: Whether you enjoy powering through the co-op Campaign, fending for survival in Horde mode or testing your skills in frenetic Versus Multiplayer matches running in 60 FPS on dedicated servers, “Gears of War 4” is the ultimate game to play with friends.
  • Explosive Versus Multiplayer Action: Compete in intense multiplayer gametypes that reward social, competitive and professional players alike, including new modes like Dodgeball and the premier new competitive “Gears” multiplayer mode, Escalation. Track your progress with the new visible ranking system that drives online matchmaking and lets you stand out for your abilities.  
  • The Next Generation of Horde: Team up with up to four other players and weather the onslaught using class-based skills and dynamic fortifications. For the first time, you can build and deploy defensive weapons and fortifications anywhere on the map.
  • Play with Friends Against AI Foes: Fine-tune your skills in Co-Op Versus, where your match-made team of five squares off against increasingly punishing AI teams.
• The Complete “Gears of War” Collection: For a limited time, “Gears of War 4” (both digital and retail versions) will include the entire Xbox 360 “Gears of War” collection. Play through the original “Gears of War” trilogy and “Gears of War: Judgment” on Xbox One via backwards compatibility, amounting to over 50 hours of “Gears of War” gameplay.