Gears of War 2 is official

By Robert Purchese Published 20 February, 2008

November 2008. "More badass".

Epic Games has officially unveiled Gears of War 2 and says it will be released exclusively on Xbox 360 in November 2008.

Cliff Bleszinski revealed the news after ripping through the side of the stage with a replica chainsaw bayonet at the Microsoft GDC keynote just moments ago.

"Gears 2 is going to be bigger, better and far more badass than the first one," promised Bleszinski, hair swaying as if it were out of a shampoo advert.

He went on to say Gears of War 1 was a "total set-up" and "designed to make Gears of War 2 amazing". Then he went off to "kill some Locust".

All we saw of Gears of War 2 was a rendered trailer showing Marcus Fenix clash chainsaw bayonets with a Locust before pulling-off a deft manoeuvre and chopping his enemy into pieces.

Marketing blurb confirms it will be Marcus Phoenix and the Delta Squad returning to face increasingly desperate odds using just their steroid-injected arms, swollen monster feet and manly grunts to prevail.

However, Epic Games technology-wizard Tim Sweeney swaggered onto the stage earlier in the show to talk about the significant improvements to Unreal Engine 3; indirectly giving us an idea of what to expect.

In layman terms this means better dynamic shadows, much more definition, more advanced character lighting and lots more things on-screen - he showed a Gears of War demo with 100 Locust enemies running around.

There will be better splashes (of blood, hopefully), better sound effects, integrated cinematic creation software, and Ageia soft body physics technology that allows objects to appear gelatinous and sticky when touched, or fluid balls to have viscosity and so forth.

And last but not least, scenery is now destructible - demonstrated by a Torque Bow arrow sticking into a wooden fence then blowing it to pieces.

Which all sounds very exciting indeed.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (89) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • HoriZon #1 4 years ago

    Move along nothing to see here.

  • syphaa #2 4 years ago

    Wahoo!
    Lets hope they have taken their time in the dev' for this follow up.
    Like the sound of viscous physics. Sticky blood maybe? :]

    First one owned.
    Fingers crossed!

  • Ryze #3 4 years ago

    Cool!

  • Ryze #4 4 years ago

    Epic are getting themselves paid with these exclusives!

  • Ryze #5 4 years ago

    PS3 version coming in 2015 - development starts... 3years ago.

  • captainrentboy #6 4 years ago

    HoriZon actually there is, along with GTA 4 and MGS 4 this will probably be the biggest release of the year, whether or not you like it is neither here nor there, millions do, and it'll certainly help shift a few more 360s this Chrimbo.
    My unbelievable powers of psychisness say that you'll be able to get an Elite with GOW2 for around £200-220 this winter. Mark my words dammit.

  • Ihya #7 4 years ago

    Needs more vehicle sections.

    Needs a greater variety of enemies.

    Needs the chance to take on that fugly monster you can take a pop at in Gears PC.

    Success in those 3 fields could elevate it to my favorite franchise on the 360. Retreading Gears 1 too much and mediocrity beckons.

  • paketep #8 4 years ago

    Which all sounds very exciting indeed.

    Does it?

  • HoriZon #9 4 years ago

    @kelly's_h
    Grey!

    @captainrentboy
    Personally i didn't like the first one it was to dull and tbh over hyped! as for GTA4 i will pass that one over as the game is another over hyped pile of kidde wannabe gangster shite.

  • GamesConnoisseur #10 4 years ago

    Didnt think I would look forward that much to GOW 2 as somehow expected more of the same, though I did really enjoy the first instalment. However after tonight I am keen due to efforts to improve the engine with extra features and the apparent ability to have 100 locusts running round at a time.

    People knew that GOW was pushing X360 hardware and there were obvious limited numbers of locusts at most times, average of six or so for most part of game as I recall, so if they truly enhanced the engine so that would potentially change the dynamic of game enough so that we can look forward to something more than just the same. Destrutible scenery, better physics and other icings on the cake!

    So now added this to most wanted.

  • captainrentboy #11 4 years ago

    How long before someone posts ''I don't know if I'm the only one, but GOW wasn't all that great?''
    Sure, have your own opinion on something, but please don't think you're the only one who doesn't like this or another massive franchise. It annoyed the feck out of me when 500 people would write something along those lines on a Halo 3 comments section last year.
    Yes I'm easily irritated.
    @ HoriZon, that's cool, personally I can't stand the GTA or the MGS series of games, but I can't pretend that they're not massively popular titles whether I like them or not.
    Edited by 1 at 20/02/08 @ 20:35

  • dom6918 #12 4 years ago

    Yuck whats that smell...
    oh Sony has just pooed itself...
    GOW2 and GTA4 episodes in the same quarter!!
    Edited by 2 at 20/02/08 @ 20:44

  • mcmonkeyplc #13 4 years ago

    Whats a Gear of War and why are there 2 of them?!

  • captainrentboy #14 4 years ago

    Haha!
    ... I'll kill you.
    Crofto, the original only got an 8 on here :/
    Edited by 1 at 20/02/08 @ 20:49

  • HoriZon #15 4 years ago

    It was a lucky 8!

    When i first got my Xbox 360 late last year i bought GoW thinking its gonna be great everyone raves about it and you know what i was well bored after a few maps ! what a dull game! Went and bought Bioshock which i enjoyed a hell of a lot more and finished!

  • polar #16 4 years ago

    Great news indeed. MS need to keep those big games coming.

  • Xerx3s #17 4 years ago

    "Whats a Gear of War and why are there 2 of them?! "

    Well duh, what use is one gear? You need at least another to make it go round!

  • captainrentboy #18 4 years ago

    Yeah I suppose. On reflection it wasn't the be all and end all of 3rd person action games, but I had a good time with it, especially on Co-Op. I'd have given it an 8 too.
    Ohh I hope there's 4 player CoOp on the new one, although I'm guessing that's pretty much guaranteed.

  • monkie_king #19 4 years ago

    "More badass!"

    Yessssss!!!! Asses were not bad enough previously!

  • GamerG #20 4 years ago

    Destructible environments in Gears is going to be AMAZING!

    Cant wait!


    Average game my arse!
    Edited by 1 at 20/02/08 @ 21:09

  • Decap #21 4 years ago

    Wohoo!!

  • penguin_overlord #22 4 years ago

    Oh, yes. A new FPS for the 360. How original. And it's a sequel to an over-hyped that only sold well the first time because there were no other good next-gen FPS games at the time. Move over GOW2, Resistance 2 and Killzone 2 are coming.

  • Weezer #23 4 years ago

    YAAAAAAYYYY!!!!!

    Best game of 2007; loved it to bits. Can't wait. (And nothing PS3 owners post will dampen my boundless enthusiasm!!)

  • space_ace #24 4 years ago

    logo suggests "gears of death", hm.

  • Spielo #25 4 years ago

    I wonder if this one will have some interesting artistry, instead of just smashed up grey buildings...

  • Spielo #26 4 years ago

    Also, does "more badass" mean "more homoerotic"?

  • Sorb #27 4 years ago

    According to Mark Rein Gears of War 2 is complete nonsense?? ;)

  • MattyD #28 4 years ago

    LOL, liquid balls. What that the name of Solid Snake's dad?

  • captainrentboy #29 4 years ago

    Resev1L, good find, water effects were rather swish, and the destructable scenery looks great, although I can't see it being quite THAT destructive in all areas when the game ships.

  • polar #30 4 years ago

    Unless they just implement a few token destructible areas? Whatever they do it can't be as bad ass Red Faction in that regard.

  • Apostle #31 4 years ago

    If this is a glorified expansion pack my level of excitement drops 2 points.

  • monty2k #32 4 years ago

    Sweet, I loved playing co-op on the first one. Chainsaw bayonets for the win!

  • WillyWanka #33 4 years ago

    Yeah bayonets were fun for a while but it got samey quickly as there was only one animation. Give us control of the thing to slice as we see fit please

    /is a sadistic bastard


    WANTS

  • smoothn00dle #34 4 years ago

    Ninja2 vs Snake4

    Gear2 vs Resistance 2

    Interesting *v*

  • Xerx3s #35 4 years ago

    Destructible environments might force players to adopt new methods. After all, that concrete block that you fell in love with might not be there very long if enemies bombard it...

  • lockload #36 4 years ago

    Sweet, resistance 2 automatically moved to has been in sales and press

  • MightyMouse #37 4 years ago

    Well I'm glad everyone's ignored fanboism in favour of balanced discussion. Shame there hasn't actualy been enough unveiled to debate over.

  • Scimarad #38 4 years ago

    I really liked Gears so I'm definitely looking forward to the (hopefully longer!) sequel. Why this would make me look forward to Resistance 2 any less I'm not entirely sure...maybe the brainless fanboys can enlighten me.
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/08 @ 05:52

  • Luvbeers #39 4 years ago

    Hmmm... playing with puppets on seesaws in LBP or ripping faces off with a chainsaw in GOW2???

    decisions. decisions...

  • DjFlex52 #40 4 years ago

    People always mutter about xbots invading a Sony press release but from what I've seen it's the SDF guys like headbog, penguin overlord and crofto adding their MS bias at every 360 thread just as much if not more than the xbots they whine about.

  • Dizzy #41 4 years ago

    So once again Gears gets the best version of the engine. Epic likes the 360 it seems.

  • phantom516 #42 4 years ago

    The single player game in the first one was very short, but multiplayer was good, but could have been much better. More players in matches, more larger and varied maps and get rid of the bloody glitches. Let's hope this improvement to the engine sorts out these problems.
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/08 @ 08:15

  • mechamonkey #43 4 years ago

    I finally finished GoW 1 the other day, I'm so cutting edge :)

    Co-op is where its at at GDC this year it seems \o/

  • Aurifex. #44 4 years ago

    Hope they will sort out the cracked disc problem. I had to buy the bloody thing twice as we lost the receipt for the first one. Looking forward to it mind you.

  • WickedDeeJ #45 4 years ago

    Lovely. I'll wait until the November 2009 PC release and get the full game. Fool me once; shame on you, fool me twice...

  • monkie_king #46 4 years ago

    Arbiter, what the hell does that have to do with anything? If Gears Of War 2 turns out to be a good game, then it's a good game and that's the end of it.

    If banging on about financial analysts' hardware sales predictions makes you feel better about missing out on it, then good for you, I guess. Besides, "more of the same" doesn't seem to be damping anyone's enthusiasm for PSS3 with MSG4, GT5, and whatever Final Fantasy they've counted up to now.

  • MuppetThumper #47 4 years ago

    I f**king hate GOW and for them to come out and say more "badass" says it all.

    Think I will take the opportunity to buy a PS3 when they release this pile of teenage-boy-fandom/homoerotic bullshit.

  • skillian #48 4 years ago

    Lovely. I'll wait until the November 2009 PC release and get the full game. Fool me once; shame on you, fool me twice...

    Gears of War on PC was a mess (for me anyway, and lots of other people), crashing every 10 minutes and deleting save games. Perhaps they'll sort it out a bit next time round, but with Epic's new focus on consoles, I wouldn't bank on it.

    I was very pissed off and really felt like I'd been ripped off after buying it last time.
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/08 @ 10:10

  • zedzee #49 4 years ago

    Sounds to me like all the things they couldn't figure out how to do for the first are now piled into a 'second' attempt at the first.

    I think this will be disappointing...yet another FPS for the console known for nothing else.

  • skillian #50 4 years ago

    http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/First-perso...

    http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_perso...
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/08 @ 10:19

  • thomastantrum #51 4 years ago

    "I think this will be disappointing...yet another FPS for the console known for nothing else. "

    Why comment on a game you obviously know nothing about?

  • bushwod #52 4 years ago

    3PS FTW!!

  • mazzl #53 4 years ago

    FPS are soooo 2007, give me something different please, something nice and friendly for local co-op something good to enjoy.

  • thomastantrum #54 4 years ago

    Arbiter are you actually a business analyst or is it just a hobby?

  • stepneg #55 4 years ago

    @Arbiter

    "It matters because, and I guarantee this is true, MGS will help PS3 sales more than Gears2 will help 360. And realistically Microsoft should be looking to broaden their demographics if they want to cement their position as market leader. Catering to the same "hardcore" demographic over, and over again is very shortsighted in my opinion, and its a view shared by many business commentators ."

    What a genius, I'm wondering why MS haven't snapped you up to work for them, with your games business knowledge on board Sony would be shitting themselves. There they go working on Gears 2 which will probably break a load more records on release and make a fortune when they should have been releasing a 360 version of cooking mama, what fools they are...

  • TRUTH #56 4 years ago

    Resistance was dull and liner fps that only PS3 (I have one) fanboys keep saying it's better then any other fps. It's just average at best. Killzone 1 - crap. MGS series from 2 onwards have just been decent at best. Splinter Cell has surpassed MGS in many areas.

  • asphaltcowboy #57 4 years ago

    Want!

  • Krun #58 4 years ago

    More homoerotic than the first?

  • Penguinzoot #59 4 years ago

    @arbiter

    Catering to the same "hardcore" demographic over, and over again is very shortsighted in my opinion, and its a view shared by many business commentators.

    I agree that the 360 library could use a little breadth. But this is just one game dude. A follow-up to big selling and reasonably well received original. What's the problem? It's not as though MS has decreed that all games released for the 360 in 2008 (even 3rd party ones), MUST be shooters.
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/08 @ 11:09

  • defdaz #60 4 years ago

    NICE!!!

    Can't friggin' wait! Gears of War was the most visceral and fun gaming experience I've ever had. Can't wait for more! SWEET!

  • Shrike #61 4 years ago

    Here's hoping that these new liquid physics can deliver the Marcus/Dom shower scene we've been waiting for.

  • Pulsar_t #62 4 years ago

    Ahahaha!

  • kangarootoo #63 4 years ago

    We all seem to be missing the most important part of this whole subject... how to acronym Gears of War without creating confusion between it and God of War.

    I suggest the following.

    God of War = GoW
    Gears of War = GEoW

    Example of use.

    "Am I the only one that thought GEoW wasn't that good? I thought GoW was much better.*"

    You can all come out now, the sky won't fall on our heads (anymore).


    * This is untrue. I didn't really get into either game, though I recognise that both have their merits and large audiences of fans.

  • marilena #64 4 years ago

    So, nobody is going to mention how utterly embarrassing is for a grown man to use the word "badass"?

  • miiiguel #65 4 years ago

    I couldn't care less for the other demographics, I like the hardcore stuff, and that comes from a guy who never played Gears of War.
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/08 @ 11:50

  • Les #66 4 years ago

    @stepneg

    The fact that MS doesn't have a clue of how to reach a broad audience is quite clear. And TBH it's a very difficult feat, not achieved by most that strive for it. Stating this obvious fact doesn't require genius, unlike solving it which would.

  • miiiguel #67 4 years ago

    Yet about the "hardcore" crew: yesterday I had the joy to play KUF with a fellow from Singapore, and I realised how not-so-much-hardcore I am and my friends. The guy writes to to Famitsu, he was waiting for some friends to go to GDC but he found the time to help me out beating Enclabossa on Extreme (while packing), because he liked my coments on an article he wrote for a site and he fancies Portugal a lot..., it was 6AM in Singapore, and his wife was asleep. I am a noob.

  • Vin #68 4 years ago

    Only two pages of comments?

    If they had announced it for the Ps3, it’d be fucking anarchy by now.

  • monkie_king #69 4 years ago

    No, judging by this thread the PS3 owners wouldn't be bothered, as they think it's just yet another hardcore FPS.

  • BoffBoff #70 4 years ago

    @Kangarotoo: I've always used 'Gears' and 'GoW' to differentiate the two.

  • skillian #71 4 years ago

    Aside from discussing the merits of the game, what about the merits of the name? What the hell is a gear of war anyway? If I'd played it through to the end would it have mode more sense?

    Ever since it was first announced I though Gears of War was a pretty stoopid name.

  • Vivid #72 4 years ago

    Does 'badass' mean 'sore bottom'? I'm not very good at talking 'smack'.

    Slightly anxious about the 100+ enemies on screen. GoW worked well because the few enemies you were up against were all bloody hard. Mowing down hundreds of faceless goons that represent no challenge could ruin the game. Ah, I'm sure they know what they're doing, the first game was great fun.

  • Vivid #73 4 years ago

    For those asking I think that the term 'Gears of War' comes from the fact that you're working for the Coalition of Organised Governments (CoG). And a cog is what idiots would call a gear. That's the only link in the game I could find.

  • BobsUncle #74 4 years ago

    Cliffy B is a prick.

    Tim Sweeny and Daniel Vogel should destroy him with their godlike powers.


    M-M-M-M-MMMMONSTER KILL! ! !

  • CHAZBIGPOTATO #75 4 years ago

    Yee haa!

  • BobsUncle #76 4 years ago

    @ Vivid

    Surely 'Coalition of Organised Governments' would shorten to CoOG, unless you want to drop the 'of' which would make 'COG'. Your Acronym (CoG) must expand out to 'Coalition of Governments'.

    ;-)

  • skillian #77 4 years ago

    For those asking I think that the term 'Gears of War' comes from the fact that you're working for the Coalition of Organised Governments (CoG). And a cog is what idiots would call a gear. That's the only link in the game I could find.

    OK thanks. That's a pretty tenuous link, but at least they made some kind of effort :D

  • ScarOnTheSky #78 4 years ago

    Revving up! I'm playing GoW 1 on Coop with a friend at the moment, sooo much fun!

  • Calgon #79 4 years ago

    Haha dont you just love the typical SDF sulky response to any 360 news/game that gains attention?... ":( didnt like the first one anyway it was just like halo or something innit? being an FPS in space and all that, nothing to get excited about.... shut up Xbots you're just pretending to have more fun with your 360s.".

    Oh and btw most people waiting for MGS already have a PS3 so its not system seller(if it ever was, as overrated if not more than Halo IMO Id go with the latter), infact sales have been dropping off since the second installment. Isnt the next Splinter Cell out this year, 360 exclusive, new direction too(MGS4 more of the same, few more gimmicky additions, new camera and wasnt previous games already fully playable in first person?) The PS3 fanboys are the most ill-informed, delluded and stubborn bunch of gamers in the history of this industry, not to mention the most annoying more often than not.

    I see another quality post from penguine_overlord there, I suppose thats one thing about them, they do provide some comedy releif every now and then. :)
    Edited by 3 at 21/02/08 @ 15:14

  • DAN.E.B #80 4 years ago

    Im looking forward to this co op is brilliant
    still waiting for the PS3 games to arrive

  • adamamosa #81 4 years ago

    Yesssss!!! Although this is without a doubt the MS trump card! They're not going to have anything exiting to reveal at e3 now

  • Xerx3s #82 4 years ago

    How do you know? They have shown most of their sequel cards now but that only leaves room for new IP's on the E3. Or do you think that they aren't going to announce anything there? They might as well not show up at all then...

  • miiiguel #83 4 years ago

    All in all there are new words that puts the internet on fire, which spawned this century:
    "Xbox" (last gen no one cared)
    "Halo" (this ones comes from last century, though)
    "Live"
    "XBLA"
    "Gears of Wars"
    "tree-six-tee"
    "Achievements"
    "Gamerscore"

    Love it or hate it, but they do make themselfs noticed.

  • DjFlex52 #84 4 years ago

    If Gears is a FPS shooter than I guess Uncharted is a FPS shooter ;)
    How dumb can Sonybots be if they can't even differentiate between first person and third person?
    Or is it just jealousy and envy that makes them say dumb things?
    Edited by 1 at 21/02/08 @ 19:40

  • mukki #85 4 years ago

    excellent!!!

    getting a 360! =) too bad this game is banned where I live (Germany) ;)

  • Xerx3s #86 4 years ago

    Play.com. Free shipping across Europe.

  • TRUTH #87 4 years ago

    MGS has slipped alot since original PS1 release. MGS 2 was crap, the A.i sucked. Also MGS 3 though better then 2; still was just good at best. Too long with cut scenes, not enough game play, more a collection of mini games, just shoot your way out in most situation - the A.i was too simplistic to make any real threat to stealth. Thief, Splinter Cell, Deus Ex...all better then MGS, in many ways too.

  • stepneg #88 4 years ago

    @Les

    "The fact that MS doesn't have a clue of how to reach a broad audience is quite clear. And TBH it's a very difficult feat, not achieved by most that strive for it. Stating this obvious fact doesn't require genius, unlike solving it which would. "

    lol, Another genius that thinks he knows where MS is going wrong, after all the money and console sales that the last Gears bought them you would have thought they would have learned from their mistake, idiot.

    Why do people continually come out with this same tired bullshit, if you don't like the 360 then fine don't buy one same with the PS3 but don't try andl preach your bullshit to others in an effort to feel secure about your own purchase.
    Edited by 1 at 22/02/08 @ 14:30

  • fightman2 #89 4 years ago

    so long as peter 'motherfucker' molyneux isnt involved i dont give a fuck.

    "molyneux.......molyneux......where are you, you fucking cunt - the court calls the criminal molyshit - your crime, creating shitty over-hyped games that would be better placed up your gapey arsehole than on the shop shelving"

    molyfuck steps up to the dock, his bald head reflecting back the steely glare of the judge.

    the fucking chimp knows he is guilty.

    "molyneux, the crime is creating shit games; the punishment is death by having copies of black and white shoved down your throat, and copies of black and white 2 pushed up your gapey arse - until the equally shit games meet in the middle and split open your overweight gut"

    fuck you molytwat, go eat your own turd chimpface.

  • XWIFE3 #90 4 years ago

    OMG, i wasn's expecting this game to come out this year :D