Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
Here's Why Gears Of War Was Absent From Microsoft's Gamescom Briefing
If you were patiently waiting for Marcus Fenix to make an appearance at Microsoft's briefing today, you might have been confused by his absence. No, Microsoft hasn't forgotten about Gears of War Ultimate Edition and Gears of War 4.
Yesterday, the publisher announced big news for Gears fans. All four Xbox 360 games are included for those that play the Ultimate Edition before the end of 2015. Microsoft didn't save that for the show today, because it couldn't.
Gears of War is still restricted in Germany, and there are strict rules about what can be broadcast from within the country. A Microsoft representative told us that there could have been penalties had the company showed a restricted game on a broadcast originating in Germany, regardless of the global viewership.
Gears of War Ultimate Edition is still on track for August 25. We'll have more on the Gears titles later this week from Gamescom (we can still see them behind closed doors, even while here in Germany).
Update: Reader "backspacer" provided some additional clarity that helps us understand how German ratings work. Gears of War (and its sequel) are not technically "banned," but are severely restricted. This makes their sale impractical, and publishers often opt not to engage in distribution of titles in that category at all. Such is the case with Gears of War, and because of its classification, was not shown on stage today.
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
