Bulletstorm dev making Gears prequel trilogy - rumour

By Tom Phillips Published 25 November, 2011

People Can Fly to head up next Gears of War games.

Epic-owned Bulletstorm developer People Can Fly will develop the next Gears of War trilogy, according to a rumour in the latest US Offical Xbox Magazine.

The next three games will be set prior to Epic's existing Gears titles, OXM states (via CVG), circumventing the need to continue past Gears 3's ending.

People Can Fly already has experience working on Gears of War. The studio handled the original Gears of War's PC edition, while its original franchise Bulletstorm shared many similarities with Epic's Gears series.

Indeed, the news would tally with reports that despite positive Bulletstorm reviews, the game failed to turn a profit, making a sequel unlikely. Epic president Mike Capps admitted earlier this year the game "didn't make money".

Epic will dip its own toes into Gears prequel content next month. Upcoming Gears 3 DLC Raam's Shadow centres on the earlier exploits of the Gears 1 boss.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Phillips

Tom joined Eurogamer in 2010 and has quickly made his mark writing news and columns and coming up with puntastic straplines. Questionable beard. @TomPhillips151 on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Phillips archive page.

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Comments (28) Latest comment 6 months ago

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  • StolenGlory #1 6 months ago

    I can’t see how there is any truth to this if i’m honest.

    On the one hand, if this is a prequel trilogy for the existing console, then we’re looking at 3-5 years of new Gears titles on existing hardware; which I just can’t see happening at all due to the fact that the 360′s successor will be looking to establish a solid foothold with some proven IP support.

    On the other hand, if it is for the next Xbox console, I just can’t see Epic Games trusting another outfit (regardless of the Bulletstorm connection), with the next-gen debut of both the Gears of War IP and what will likely be the next iteration of the Unreal Engine

  • ForozM #2 6 months ago

    Waste of a great developer, if you ask me. I have nothing against Gears, but it's been 3 games now and the series need a break.

    Bulletstorm is one of the most creative and innovative games I've played in many years. I'd rather see People Can Fly make another exciting entry in the Bulletstorm saga or something entirely new.

  • wizlon #3 6 months ago

    I couldn't care enough to see how this trilogy story ended to buy Gears 3, never mind how it even started. I'm sure it has something to do with gay space marines.

  • dwalker109 #4 6 months ago

    Seeing as I enjoyed Bulletstorm a hell of a lot more than Gears 3, this wouldn't be bad news. Even if it is probably bollocks, or a stretching of the truth.

  • King_Edward #5 6 months ago

    What a waste.

  • Bravestinsane #6 6 months ago

    ahh i see, so it will be a prequal with more advanced weaponary, more powerful creatures than the the future.

    I love prequals which continue the theme of games -.-

  • coolbritannia #7 6 months ago

    If they get some Bulletstorm gameplay into Gears, that's no bad thing. bulletstorm easily fits into the Gears aesthetic anyway.

  • MattEdWithCheese #8 6 months ago

    @wizlon You're missing out girl, the shower scene in 3 was hawt! And when they finish off, Cole walks in and is like "Lookit all dat joose!"

  • wizlon #9 6 months ago

    @MattEdWithCheese SOLD!

  • Whatascoop #10 6 months ago

    Take a creative, fun development team capable of making FPS games that are refreshing compared to everything else that's on the market... and force them into making a washed out military cover shooter. Sigh.

  • WeakOrbit #11 6 months ago

    So will it be set during the pendulum war? Also skill shots would be great in Gears Of War. Maybe we'll finally get to find out whats up with the bloomin locust queen.

  • asphaltcowboy #12 6 months ago

    Disappointed that we won't be getting a Bulletstorm 2 :(

  • ISmoke #13 6 months ago

    Shame. Bulletstorm was one of my favourite games for the year

  • Syrette #14 6 months ago

    As much as I throughly enjoy the Gears games, I'd much rather they did a new IP (or Bulletstorm 2 but preferably a new IP).

  • PaulieWaulie #15 6 months ago

    Post deleted at 14:23:40 06-01-2012

  • Riggers #16 6 months ago

    "Maybe we'll finally get to find out whats up with the bloomin locust queen."

    Or the weird government lab under the mountain which seemed massively important and mysterious and was never mentioned again. :|

    I love the Gears of War games, but I love Bulletstorm too. I think I would have preferred to see another Bulletstorm game, truth be told.

  • zegerman1942 #17 6 months ago

    PCF is an ace outfit - and they have a great relationship with Epic. This would defo be great news. Get a bit of wicked humor and grittyness into the Gears franchise.

  • ATNR1 #18 6 months ago

    Personally I think Gears have gone stale. Same game better graphics. So I hope people can fly can breath new life in the franchise.

  • scuffpuppies #19 6 months ago

    I'm a huge 'Gears' fan ('Gears of War' was a huge milestone for me this generation), and will excitedly follow the prequel trilogy with abated breath. But I really, really hope new gameplay designs drive the development forward and not a simple redress of existing ideas.

  • BigDannyH #20 6 months ago

    I don't even remember the end of Gears 3 and I only completed it a month ago. The story just wasn't that interesting.

    Multiplayer was good though, lots of co-op options.

  • coolbritannia #21 6 months ago

    Baited breath isn't it?

  • Bander #22 6 months ago

    I wouldn't mind a Gears of War 4. Gears games are fun. But if there's not going to be any attempt at a proper conclusion until Gears 6, with even that still being a prelude to Gears 1, it doesn't sound very exciting. Make every game as good as it can be, as if it'll be the last!

    Did anything about Gears 1-3 justify it being a trilogy in the first place? Usually most of the plot was crammed into just one of the five chapters, and it came across as though the story was being made up as they went along.

    Gears 1 was the only one that felt like it had a proper ending anyway. Gears 2 had its gameplay climax in Act 4, and as for Gears 3 (massive ending spoiler ahead)...

    Congratulations, you successfully wiped out all native sentient life from the planet you colonised! Plus you shot its defenceless dying queen to shut her up while she was justifiably berating you, well done you! As the player, we at Epic are sure you wouldn't have considered allowing the research to continue so that maybe the remaining Locust (who appeared to be content underground until humans started buggering about) could survive. After all, boring Dom has to be avenged ASAP! Have some Achievement Points and view the end credits, complete with added smug photos and comments.

  • pigeon_g4mer #23 6 months ago

    I loved Bulletstorm. Hope they can make a sequel.

  • miiiguel #24 6 months ago

    Bulletstorm is one of the most creative and innovative games I've played in many years.

    Can't agree. Too much swearing for the sake of it. Too Gears meets Unreal without any charisma. Some humours parts which is indeed where PCF is good at.
    Edited by miiiguel at 25/11/11 @ 15:39

  • KDR_11k #25 6 months ago

    What a waste, bogging PCF down with a by the numbers series like that. I doubt they'll be given the creative freedom necessary to make Gears 4 fun for the people who enjoyed PCF's previous games.

  • sourc0r #26 6 months ago

    @WeakOrbit it definitely won't be set in the Pendulum Wars. the events of Gears 1 took place roughly 14 years after E-Day. so there is plenty of time to continue the fight against the Locust...in the past.

  • TheGuvernor #27 6 months ago

    Gutted - Bulletstorm is a better game than Queers of War in every regard.
    Hilarious how so many uptight knob ends didn't like it!

  • Kovacs77 #28 6 months ago

    @TheGuvernor It was called 'Gears Of War' mate. Fuck knows how you managed to get through a whole generation of console gaming thinking it's called Queers Of War, maybe some subliminal self-projecting freudian slip?