Ethan Crossfield 
The Coalition has started its Gears of War 20th-anniversary celebration in E-Day by making original-game antagonist General RAAM available as a free playable character. The reward arrives during a crucial post-launch period for E-Day, with the studio continuing to add modes, events and legacy-inspired content intended to keep its multiplayer audience engaged.
What happened: General RAAM joins Versus for free
General RAAM is now available in Gears of War: E-Day as a free character for Versus multiplayer. Players do not need to complete a challenge or purchase downloadable content to receive him: logging into the game is enough to claim the unlock. RAAM was the central villain of the first Gears of War, making his return a direct nod to the franchise's history as it reaches its 20-year milestone in 2026. The announcement follows The Coalition's earlier tease that an anniversary reward was on the way.
Why it matters: E-Day needs momentum after launch
The free RAAM giveaway is more than a cosmetic nostalgia play. E-Day launched to strong critical reception and set a Steam player-count record for the series, but its commercial start has appeared more muted than many expected. Research analysts cited in reports have suggested the game sold a little over 400,000 copies across Xbox and PC after launch, though that figure has not been presented as an official sales total. Its opening weekend was also disrupted by a DDoS attack. Against that backdrop, recognizable free rewards and steady multiplayer additions give returning players a reason to check in while making the game easier to revisit for longtime Gears fans.
What to watch next: Legacy content and Season 2
The anniversary push is already broader than RAAM. Guardian, the classic team mode built around protecting each side's leader, has returned to E-Day. The new Horde Siege variant, For The Queen, removes supply caches, forcing squads to make more of their starting equipment and battlefield pickups. Season 2 begins on December 1 and will continue the game's Legacy theme through maps, modes and multiplayer skins inspired by Gears history. One early example is Solemn Memories Dom, which references Dom's memorable Gears of War 2 image with Maria. Season 1 remains active as well, following additions such as Ranked Versus and the limited-time Halloween-themed Trick-or-Treat mode. The next seasonal event is Thanksgibbing, with further details still to come.
What players should know
- Log into Gears of War: E-Day to claim General RAAM for Versus multiplayer.
- RAAM is a free anniversary unlock, not a paid DLC purchase.
- Guardian is back for players looking for leader-focused team matches.
- Horde players can try For The Queen, a tougher Siege variation without supply caches.
- Season 2 starts December 1 and is set to expand the Legacy-themed content lineup.
Expert View
Bringing back RAAM is a smart low-friction anniversary move: it gives E-Day an instantly recognizable multiplayer reward without splitting the community behind a purchase. The bigger test is whether The Coalition can turn that nostalgia into a dependable update rhythm. Guardian, Horde variants and Legacy skins show a clear effort to build that cadence, but sustained engagement will depend on how substantial Season 2 feels once it arrives.
