Chris Barnes: My wife and I plowed through the entirety of Gears of War 4 in a weekend and had an absolute blast all the way through.  The Initiative made some bold decisions when it focused on the new, younger cast of characters and introduced new enemy types.  It's something that could have totally blown up in their faces, but they did an admirable job at taking the reins on a beloved Microsoft franchise and making it their own.  I'm absolutely pumped to see what they do with Gears 5 now that they're no longer the new kids on the block.

Adam Pavlacka: The Gears of War games have always pushed the envelope when it comes to visual fidelity, and from the preview footage that Microsoft has shown off, it looks like that trend is going to continue. Another plus is the fact that the story is going off in a new direction. We were introduced to Kait Diaz in Gears of War 4, though she wasn't the focus. Gears 5 is Kait's story, marking the first time that a mainline Gears game doesn't star someone of Fenix lineage. The shortened title (Microsoft dropped the "of War" bit) also hints at a more personal adventure this time around.

David Silbert: Next to Halo, Gears of War is Microsoft's biggest franchise. With its visceral and satisfying gunplay, Gears of War made a name for itself over the course of the Xbox 360's lifespan. While the Xbox One's Gears of War 4 ended up being more of the same, you have to wonder if the Coalition is planning a big shake-up with its sequel, Gears 5. Putting aside its shortened name, Gears 5 also stars Kait Diaz, making her the first real female protagonist in the series (Anya and Sam were playable in Gears of War 3 co-op, as was Kait in Gears of War 4 co-op, but that's about it). In a series so firmly rooted in masculinity, it's nice to see Gears 5 take some risks. Couple this with the action and set pieces the series is known for, and we should be in for a wild, glorious ride.