Gears of War: E-Day is already generating controversy during its early access period, but this time the argument has little to do with chainsaw bayonets or the Locust Horde.
Players have discovered that The Coalition included approximately 20 Pride-themed emblems among the game’s multiplayer profile customization options.
Gears of War E-Day is getting backlash after adding 20 “pride” profile customisation emblems to the game, some of them I didn’t even know existed lol
Abrosexual
Agender
Asexual
Bigender
Bisexual
DemisexualThis is not the first Gears that added them, so not a new thing pic.twitter.com/2eac04AoQt
— Pirat_Nation 🔴 (@Pirat_Nation) October 1, 2026
The emblems reportedly represent a lengthy collection of sexual orientations and gender identities, including Abrosexual, Agender, Asexual, Bigender, Bisexual, and Demisexual, among others.
Screenshots of the options quickly began circulating on social media, where some players questioned why The Coalition devoted attention to such an extensive collection in a franchise traditionally built around humanity’s brutal war for survival.
The feature itself isn’t entirely new to the franchise. Gears 5 similarly launched with 19 different Pride banners in 2019. Still, introducing the feature several installments into an established franchise makes it difficult to argue that it has always been an integral part of Gears of War’s identity.
The renewed controversy appears to have less to do with the mere existence of the cosmetics than what some players believe they say about The Coalition’s priorities.
YellowFlash Questions The Coalition’s Priorities
YouTuber YellowFlash discussed the controversy while criticizing several aspects of E-Day’s early reception.
His larger argument is that the Pride cosmetics aren’t necessarily a major problem in isolation. Instead, he sees them as another example of developers spending time on features some longtime Gears players never requested while other parts of the experience have drawn complaints.
A screenshot from the trailer to Gears of War E Day – YouTube, Xbox
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The criticism comes as The Coalition has heavily promoted E-Day as a return to the franchise’s roots.
In an official multiplayer breakdown, the studio repeatedly emphasized an “old school” approach to customization and progression. Players can equip emblems that appear behind their Gamertag or Steam name in multiplayer lobbies, scoreboards, and match introduction and outro sequences.
The Coalition also says the game features more than 80 medal series and a customization economy built around earnable Coins rather than a traditional battle pass.
For critics like YellowFlash, however, seeing approximately 20 Pride options alongside complaints about missing or altered features raises questions about where the studio’s priorities lie.
Streamer Alec Baldwin’s Finger similarly drew attention to the options on X, questioning what sexuality has to do with a game centered on humanity fighting for survival against the Locust.
Of course, the emblems are optional cosmetics. Players who don’t want to use them don’t have to, and they don’t change the actual gameplay.
But that hasn’t prevented them from becoming another flashpoint in the ongoing debate surrounding modern Xbox games.
E-Day’s Early Numbers Need Some Context
YellowFlash also pointed toward E-Day’s early Steam numbers while arguing that the game isn’t attracting the audience Microsoft needs from one of its biggest franchises.
The game reached roughly 20,374 concurrent Steam players during its initial early access period.
Steam data for Gears of War: E-Day – SteamDB
That number isn’t enormous for a major AAA release, but there is an important caveat: E-Day doesn’t officially launch until October 6. The current Steam audience largely consists of players who purchased the $99.99 Premium Edition to receive up to five days of early access.
YellowFlash also pointed to Twitch viewership as another potential warning sign. At the time he checked, he said more people were watching streams of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt—an 11-year-old game—than the newest Gears of War.
Steam numbers also exclude Xbox players and those who will receive the game through Game Pass when the standard edition launches.
In fact, E-Day’s early Steam peak has already surpassed previous Gears games. During its August beta, the game broke the franchise’s previous Steam concurrent-player record, previously held by Gears 5 at just over 10,000 players.
Early user reception isn’t disastrous either. The game’s Steam page currently lists reviews as “Very Positive.”
The Controversy Goes Beyond Pride Emblems
Still, there are criticisms beyond the Pride emblems. PC Gamer’s review-in-progress praised the shooting while describing the campaign as a “slog,” criticizing its repetitive encounters, pacing, and story.
Image from the Gears of War E-Day Trailer – Gears of War, YouTube
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Those complaints give the cosmetic controversy a broader context. Players aren’t simply arguing about a collection of optional flags. Critics are questioning whether The Coalition has successfully delivered the gritty return to classic Gears of War that Microsoft spent years promising.
The Pride emblems alone are unlikely to determine E-Day’s fate. After all, Gears 5 offered almost exactly the same feature seven years ago.
The bigger test begins October 6, when the full audience gets its hands on the game. At that point, Microsoft will find out whether arguments over customization menus remain the story—or whether E-Day can convince longtime fans that Gears of War itself is finally back.
What do you think about Gears of War E-Day including Pride profile customization? Sound off and let us know!
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