Original Gears of War Artist Celebrates the Series’ Return to Horror: “If Gears 1 Was Alien, the Rest Became Aliens”

The original Gears of War, released in 2006 by Epic Games, was never meant to be just an action game — it was designed as a horror experience with survival elements. Former art director Jerry O’Flaherty reminded fans of this in an interview with FRVR, adding that he’s thrilled to see that same atmosphere return in the upcoming prequel Gears of War: E-Day.

According to O’Flaherty, the first Gears was created not just to sell copies but also to showcase the power of Unreal Engine 3 to other studios:

He noted that early development focused heavily on horror — muted tones, a desaturated palette, and a constant sense of dread. Over time, however, the franchise shifted toward large-scale battles and high-octane action.

The upcoming Gears of War: E-Day — which explores the events of the first Locust invasion — looks, in O’Flaherty’s eyes, like “an honest return to what the original was meant to be.”

While little is known about the project, fans are hopeful that E-Day will truly bring Gears back to its horror roots. Earlier this summer, the release of Gears of War: Reloaded — a remaster of the first game — also reignited nostalgia for the franchise’s darker beginnings.