Microsoft is reportedly considering bringing Gears of War to PlayStation

Microsoft is reportedly considering bringing the Gears of War franchise to PlayStation.

That’s according to Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb, who was elaborating on recent claims that Microsoft is working on a new initiative to release more Xbox-exclusive games on other console platforms.

Over the weekend it was claimed that Bethesda’s Starfield and its upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle could be released for PS5, in addition to previously rumoured Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves ports.

“The other one that I’ve heard that’s definitely under consideration—it doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen, but it’s in talks—is Gears of War,” Grubb said on Monday.

“Gears of War is being considered for this,” he reiterated.

Grubb also said that Microsoft was at one point planning to publicly explain its new initiative at the end of February, but that given the mounting speculation, there’s a chance that an official announcement could be brought forward.

“The other thing I can corroborate is a rumour that there will be something at the end of February when they’re going to explain this change – that is something that they definitely were talking about.”

According to Microsoft, Gears of War had sold over 22 million units and grossed over $1 billion dollars when the company acquired the franchise from Epic Games in 2014.

Since buying the IP, Xbox has released two mainline series entries in the form of 2016’s Gears of War 4 and 2019’s Gears 5, both of which were developed by The Coalition, as well as Gears of War: Ultimate Edition and the turn-based tactics spin-off Gears Tactics.

The Coalition said in May 2021 that it was preparing to transition to next-gen development using Unreal Engine 5, but that it wasn’t planning to announce any new games in the near future.

Grubb claimed last February that The Coalition had shifted its full attention to the next entry in the Gears of War series after two other games in development at the studio were cancelled.

Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski recently said that Microsoft would be “smart” to enlist him as a consultant on the franchise.

Netflix announced in November 2022 that it plans to release a number of Gears of War projects, including a live action film followed by an adult animated series.