In early 2026 the Gears community buzzed over a wild fanfic pitch by Liam J. McIntyre, the voice actor for JD Fenix. As reported by GameSpot, McIntyre suggested a hypothetical Gears 6 scenario in which Marcus Fenix would be forced to battle a zombified version of his own son. This idea – dramatized in an article literally titled “Gears Of War Actor’s Gears 6 Fanfic Involves Marcus Fighting His Zombie Son” – stems from the ambiguous ending of Gears 5.
In that finale, Kait must choose whether to save Del or JD, leaving the other to die at the hands of the Swarm Queen Reyna. McIntyre’s pitch effectively assumes Del’s survival is canon and imagines the Swarm later reanimating JD as a “zombie-fied” puppet of the Locust, forcing Marcus to confront his undead child. (McIntyre teased that Marcus would “lose his mind and go rogue” in grief before this confrontation, though Marcus would ultimately find some way to save JD.)
This idea captured fan attention because it directly tackles the Gordian knot of Gears 5’s ending and how a sequel might handle it. In what follows we break down who proposed this, how it relates to existing story plans, and what it means for the future of the franchise.
Who Is The Gears Of War Actor Behind The Gears 6 Fanfic Pitch
The actor is Liam J. McIntyre, an Australian performer best known for roles in Spartacus and as the voice of JD Fenix in the Gears series. McIntyre voiced JD in Gears of War: Ultimate Edition and Gears 4 and 5, making him intimately familiar with the Fenix family storyline. In late March 2026 McIntyre took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his offbeat story idea for a potential Gears 6. His posts quickly caught the attention of gaming media and fans alike.
Liam J. McIntyre Gears 6 Comments Explained
On April 1, 2026, McIntyre tweeted a short thread pitching his concept: he assumed Del Walker is the one who canonically survives Kait’s choice, and JD has died but is later revived by the Swarm. In McIntyre’s vision, “Marcus loses his mind and goes rogue, and you learn JD has kind of been revived and controlled by swarm, his dad has to fight him”, though Marcus eventually finds a way to save his son. McIntyre admitted he hadn’t worked out exactly “how yet” or “if it matters” for the story.
The key elements – Del surviving, a grieving Marcus, a swarm-possessed JD, and a climactic father-vs-son battle – were all spelled out in his post. In other words, McIntyre treated social media as a platform to fan-writer the next game’s narrative. His tongue-in-cheek approach was summarized by outlets like GamesRadar, which noted his “solve for that” in Gears 6 was making Del survive while Marcus fights “his zombie-fied son” JD.
Was Gears Of War 6 Planned Before Gears Of War E-Day
According to McIntyre himself, yes. He revealed that after finishing Gears 4 and 5, there was talk of a traditional Gears 6, but then the studio changed direction. McIntyre said “there was suggestion maybe Gears 6, but the team wanted to try something new”, implying that plans for a direct sequel gave way to the prequel Gears of War: E-Day. This matches other reports: The Coalition’s development brief originally included a follow-up to Gears 5 to resolve its cliffhanger, but eventually the idea of going back to Emergence Day took precedence. In short, Gears 6 in the sense of “what happens next?” was on the drawing board, but The Coalition pivoted to telling an origin story instead.
Why The Coalition Chose Gears Of War E-Day Instead Of Gears 6
The Coalition made it clear that creating an Emergence Day prequel was simply too compelling to pass up. In interviews around the E-Day reveal (Summer 2024), Creative Director Matt Searcy and Brand Director Nicole Fawcette stressed they love the stories of Gears 4 & 5 and aren’t abandoning them. But they also felt an Emergence Day origin tale was an opportunity “too good to miss”.
As Fawcette put it: “We’re super proud about Gears 4 and Gears 5 and the stories that were told… we’re not retreating from that storyline in any way. But in [this] moment, we had an opportunity to write our next step, and this one just felt too good to miss.”. In other words, the team deliberately rewound the timeline because they believed the first Locust invasion is the emotional heart of the series (as Searcy said) and a “long-awaited origin story” the fans would relish. This does not mean The Coalition wiped its hands of Gears 4/5’s story – they insist E-Day will add detail and context that resonates with future installments – but it did delay any immediate Gears 6.
Marcus Fenix Fighting Zombie JD Fenix Theory Explained
McIntyre’s “zombie JD” scenario roughly plays out like this: in the canonical branch, Del lives and Marcus is devastated by his son’s death. But unknown to Marcus, the Swarm revives JD as a Husk-like thrall. The grieving Marcus, now unhinged, eventually discovers JD is alive but under swarm control and fights his own son. McIntyre himself wrote: “Marcus loses his mind and goes rogue… JD has kind of been revived and controlled by swarm, his dad has to fight him. But somehow you save him.”. The idea is that the player would battle “zombie-fied” JD, yet somehow rescue him in the end.
This twist directly addresses the Gears 5 choice: it effectively treats Del’s survival as the set outcome, and JD’s survival as delayed by dark means. GamesRadar noted that McIntyre’s take would have Marcus “face his zombie-fied son”, calling the pitch “bonkers” and even “the second most bonkers sequel idea” floated by anyone associated with the series. (The most outlandish idea, according to that article, was a suggestion by former boss Rod Fergusson to set Gears 6 in outer space.) In any case, the pitch is a fan-fictional solution to the Del/JD dilemma, not an official storyline – but it shows how one cast member thinks the story could move forward
Many fans pointed out that Gears 5’s ending left Marcus (shown) in a tragic position, having lost either Del or JD. In McIntyre’s fanfic scenario Marcus must deal with losing JD and then confront a swarm-controlled JD on the battlefield. Officially, Gears 5 concludes with Kait fleeing the Swarm Queen, Del and JD grabbing dog tags of the sacrificed teammate, and Marcus reacting in shock – but which one died is determined by player choice, leaving the outcome unclear.
Gears 5 Ending Explained And Why Gears 6 Is So Complicated
Gears 5 ends with a dramatic final mission: Kait must choose to save Del or save JD as hostages of the Swarm Queen. The one not chosen is killed on-screen (the Queen snaps their neck). The subsequent scenes differ:
- If Del survives: Del runs off with Kait, and later Marcus is shown holding JD’s dog tags and mourning his son’s death.
- If JD survives: JD reunites with Marcus, who then comforts JD about Del’s death (JD holds Del’s dog tags).
Either way, Marcus loses a loved one, but the identity of the survivor flips. The game deliberately leaves no definitive “canon” outcome. This branching ending breaks the linear narrative approach of previous Gears games, making a sequel very tricky. As GameSpot noted, “it’s unclear which branch is canon to Gears lore” or how a sequel could honor the choice.
Are both outcomes “true” in some parallel sense? Or will the writers pick one and disregard the other? This dilemma has no easy answer. Some analysts (like Inverse) have suggested the devs might allow players to import their choice into a sequel, or simply pick one ending as canonical and treat the other as a “bonus”. For now, the official stance is unknown, and the ambiguous ending remains a major complication for any Gears 6 story.
What Happened To JD Fenix At The End Of Gears 5
In concrete terms: JD Fenix’s fate depends on Kait’s choice. If the player saves Del, JD is killed and his dog tags are given to Marcus. If the player saves JD, then Del dies instead and JD reacts in grief. Marcus is present in both endings, but his emotional response differs (grim silence vs. hugging JD). Crucially, the game never indicates which outcome the future timeline will use. In-universe, it simply presents both possibilities.
In narrative discussions, fans often debate which makes more sense as “canon,” but The Coalition has not officially picked one. As one comment noted, either ending could be treated as the true story, or potentially retconned (e.g. by flashback or other device) in a sequel. For now, JD is either dead or alive, depending on the version of the ending, and we don’t know which the next game will choose – if either.
Could Gears Of War 6 Continue The JD Or Del Choice
This is a big open question. One option is that Gears 6 simply acknowledges whichever choice the player made, by importing a save game into the new title. In that scenario, there would effectively be two parallel continuations of the story. Another option – arguably more likely given precedent – is that The Coalition will select one ending as canonical and ignore the other (making the unchosen path a “bonus” ending of Gears 5). No official word exists.
Given how central the decision is, many fans expect the writers will eventually clarify or override it (e.g. by using flashbacks or plot devices to justify the “other” character’s fate). McIntyre’s fan pitch itself essentially picks Del as canon and shows a way to bring JD back, which is one way to address the split. In short, Gears 6 could either branch (importing saves) or go canonical, but as of April 2026 neither path has been confirmed by The Coalition.
Gears Of War E-Day Story Timeline Explained
“E-Day” refers to Emergence Day, the day the Locust first invaded the surface of Sera, marking year 0 in the Gears timeline. According to franchise lore, Emergence Day came just six weeks after the Pendulum Wars ended. When Gears of War: E-Day begins, humans had just finished a bitter 80-year civil conflict and were caught off guard by the subterranean Locust attack. In real time, E-Day is depicted as 14 years before the events of the original Gears of War (2006).
Thus the timeline runs: Pendulum Wars (ends ~0.5 B.E.), Emergence Day (0 A.E.), the subsequent year-long Locust War, then (roughly 18-23 A.E.) the moments of the first trilogy (Gears 1-3), a long Interwar period, and much later the Swarm Invasion era seen in Gears 4-5 (around 42–45 A.E.). Gears of War: E-Day explores the very beginning of that timeline – the bloody first day of the Locust War – and how it spawns every Gears story that follows.
How Gears Of War E-Day Connects To Gears 5 And Gears 6
Although E-Day is a prequel set decades earlier, The Coalition has emphasized it is a mainline Gears entry and not a disconnected side-story. The game is said to “add detail and context to this period that will resonate through stories that will follow”. Even as it revisits Marcus and Dom’s origin, the team insists “we’re not retreating from” the ongoing plotlines of Gears 4 and 5. In practice, E-Day’s connection to Gears 5 is mostly thematic and contextual: it will show the first time the Locust appear on Sera and how Marcus’ world changed on that day. Any specific ties to Gears 5 characters or events remain to be seen.
As for Gears 6, the idea is that E-Day lays groundwork in the franchise’s lore (for example, origins of the Lancer bayonet, or the first COG vs Locust confrontations) that could inform whatever comes next. In sum, E-Day enriches the background of the universe; developers say everything in Emergence Day “will shape the future of Gears of War for the better”, implying its events echo forward even as the series eventually returns to its modern timeline.
Fan Reactions To Marcus Fenix Vs Zombie Son In Gears 6
The reaction among fans has been a mix of amusement and bewilderment. Many took McIntyre’s tongue-in-cheek posts in stride as a fan theory rather than a serious leak. Coverage in the press framed it as a “fanfic” or jokey pitch. For example, a GamesRadar writer quipped that this scenario is “the second most bonkers sequel idea” they’ve heard in Gears, second only to a suggestion by ex-producer Rod Fergusson to take Gears to outer space.
On forums and social media, some fans praised McIntyre’s creativity in trying to resolve the ending, while others pointed out that Gears has entertained crazier ideas before. Overall, most commentary treated it as a fun “what-if” proposal. It did spark more conversation about Gears 5’s ending (e.g. debates over who should live) but no serious expectation that this particular plot will happen. In short, fans enjoyed the headline and the mental image, but largely recognize it as McIntyre’s personal fan-created scenario, not a leak of official content.
Will Gears Of War 6 Happen After Gears Of War E-Day
This remains entirely unannounced. The Coalition has not confirmed any Gears 6 project aside from E-Day. All current official focus is on releasing E-Day in 2026. However, industry reporting suggests that a direct sequel was the original plan: as GamesRadar noted, devs “were planning to find out who lived and who died” in a follow-up, until they switched to making the prequel.
Once E-Day is delivered (likely late 2026 in time for the 20th anniversary of Gears), it’s reasonable to expect The Coalition or its partners might return to the modern storyline – possibly resolving the Gears 5 epilogue. But until any announcement, the existence of Gears 6 and its timing remains speculative. For now, fans can only wait for more news after E-Day’s marketing cycle wraps up.
Latest Gears Of War E-Day News And What It Means For Gears 6
As of early 2026, the latest news confirms Gears of War: E-Day will launch in 2026, with a likely release in November to align with the series anniversary. During the 2025 season, The Coalition was quiet – at The Game Awards 2025 they simply tweeted the game’s logo with “Emergence Begins. 2026.” – indicating no major announcement yet. The next big update will come at the June 7, 2026 Xbox Games Showcase, followed by a dedicated E-Day developer livestream.
All this means Gears 6 (if it exists) will not arrive before 2026 and will likely be pushed back to 2027 or later. The Coalition has promised more details about E-Day’s story and gameplay during those 2026 events, but they have not hinted at a parallel Gears 6 project. In short, E-Day is the confirmed next Gears game, and news of any future sequel will have to wait.
Gears Of War Future Timeline After The Coalition’s Prequel Decision
In terms of the in-universe timeline, The Coalition’s decision to do a prequel simply extends the story both backwards and eventually forwards. We now have entries covering from Emergence Day (0 A.E.) all the way up to Gears 5 (about 45 A.E.). The future timeline likely picks up where Gears 5 left off. According to official commentary, events in E-Day “will shape the future of Gears”, suggesting that details from the Locust War era might echo into the story of Gears 6.
If The Coalition returns to a Gears 6 plot, it will presumably take place in the late 45th year, after Gears 5, resolving whatever happened to Marcus, JD, Del, and Kait. For now, fans can mark the timeline: Emergence Day (Gears: E-Day) at 0 A.E., Locust War (1–18 A.E.), original trilogy (around 24–32 A.E.), then Swarm era (42–45 A.E.). Anything beyond is unknown, but the implication is that the saga will continue from year 45 onwards when the time comes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Who is Liam J. McIntyre?
He’s an Australian actor and voice actor known for playing JD Fenix in Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, Gears 4, and Gears 5, as well as Spartacus on TV. In 2026 he casually tweeted a fan-plot for Gears 6. - What did McIntyre say about Gears 6?
On April 1, 2026, McIntyre outlined a hypothetical Gears 6: he suggested Del lives, Marcus goes rogue after JD’s apparent death, the Swarm revives JD as a zombie, and Marcus has to fight him (but eventually saves his son). - What is the ending of Gears 5?
In Gears 5’s finale, Kait must choose to save either Del or JD. The other character is killed by the Swarm Queen. If Del lives, Marcus mourns JD (seeing his dog tags). If JD lives, he mourns Del. The game doesn’t declare which outcome is “canon”, leaving a messy cliffhanger. - What is Emergence Day (E-Day)?
It’s the day the Locust Horde first attacked Sera, marking Year 0 in Gears lore. Gears of War: E-Day (the upcoming game) depicts this first invasion. It happened just weeks after the Pendulum Wars ended, about 14 years before the original Gears 1. - Why did The Coalition make E-Day instead of Gears 6?
The devs felt the Emergence Day origin story was too important to skip. They’ve said the chance to tell Marcus and Dom’s origin was an opportunity “too good to miss”. They insist they still value the Gears 4/5 story and aren’t abandoning it, but saw great potential in this prequel’s dramatic scope. - Is E-Day a sequel or prequel? – Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel. It’s the next mainline installment but takes place decades before Gears 1. It’s definitely not spinning off from Gears 5’s timeline – it’s telling the earlier story of Marcus and Dom’s first battle with the Locust.
- What does E-Day have to do with Gears 5 and 6?
While E-Day’s events occur in the distant past, The Coalition says it will add context that “resonate[s] through stories that will follow”. In other words, it enriches the franchise lore. Any characters or events set up in E-Day could influence future games (for example, detailing how the Lancer’s chainsaw was invented). After E-Day, the series is expected to eventually return to its modern storyline (Gears 4/5/6 era), but details are sparse. - Are fans supporting the zombie-JD idea?
Many fans reacted with humor and curiosity. Some appreciated McIntyre’s creativity, while others noted it was just a wild “fanfic” scenario. Gaming media called it a bonkers idea – GamesRadar quipped it was “the second most bonkers sequel idea” they’d heard. Overall, it’s seen as a fun what-if that highlights the long-running debate over Gears 5’s ending. - Will Gears 6 allow me to keep my Del/JD choice?
This is not confirmed. Some speculate the game might let you import your Gears 5 ending (so you continue with whichever character lived). Others think the devs may pick one outcome as canon and proceed from there. No official announcement has been made, so currently it’s all conjecture. - Is there a release date for Gears 6?
No. The next announced Gears game is E-Day, due in 2026. Any project called Gears 6 has not been confirmed or dated. After E-Day, The Coalition or Microsoft would need to make a new announcement about any sequel. Fans might reasonably expect such news in 2027 or later, but nothing official is known.
Conclusion
In summary, a viral fan story concept from JD’s voice actor sparked discussion about the future of Gears. Liam McIntyre’s fanfic – featuring Marcus vs. zombie JD – was a creative attempt to untangle Gears 5’s dual endings. While entertaining, it’s not an official plot. Meanwhile, The Coalition has opted to pause on a direct Gears 5 sequel and instead focus on Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel set at the dawn of the Locust War.
This origin story approach was chosen because the developers felt the Emergence Day narrative was too important to skip. All this leaves Gears 6’s fate uncertain. The ambiguous ending of Gears 5 continues to be a dilemma, but any resolution will have to wait until after E-Day arrives. For now, fans can only ponder which outcome – Del or JD surviving – the future game will use, and whether Marcus might someday face an undead son as McIntyre imagined.
Sources and Citations
- Chris Compendio, “Gears Of War Actor’s Gears 6 Fanfic Involves Marcus Fighting His Zombie Son,” GameSpot (Apr 3, 2026).
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-actors-gears-6-fanfic-marcus-zombie-son/1100-6523456/ - Kaan Serin, “Gears of War 6 was considered before The Coalition decided on E-Day…,” GamesRadar (Apr 2, 2026).
https://www.gamesradar.com/gears-of-war-6-was-considered-before-e-day/ - “Reinventing A Mad World: Why Gears of War: E-Day Represents the Future of the Series,” Xbox News (Xbox Wire, June 9, 2024).
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/06/09/gears-of-war-e-day-future-of-the-series/ - Danny Paez, “‘Gears 5’ Del or JD? Ending Spoilers Could Impact ‘Gears 6’ in a Big Way”, Inverse (Sept 12, 2019).
https://www.inverse.com/article/59300-gears-5-ending-del-or-jd-choice-explained - “Gears of War: Timeline,” Gears of War Wiki (Timeline entry).
https://gearsofwar.fandom.com/wiki/Timeline - Aaron Down, “Gears of War E-Day release date window and latest news,” PCGamesN (Mar 30, 2026).
https://www.pcgamesn.com/gears-of-war-e-day/release-date
Recommended
- Rumor: Nintendo Is Working on an Ocarina of Time Remake and a New Star Fox for Switch 2
- Developers With Foreign Legal Entities May Be Allowed to Include Games in the Russian Software Registry: Requirements, VAT Benefits, and What Changes in 2026
- Call of Duty 2026 Xbox Game Pass Rumor: Will Microsoft Skip a Day-One Release?
- Impossible Mission 3 Release Date Confirmed for May as Classic Commodore 64 Series Returns After 38 Years
- Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a New Castlevania Game Coming in 2026 — Release Date, Trailer, Platforms, Story & Gameplay
- Witch Hat Atelier Premiere Review: Episode 1–2 Impressions, Animation Quality, and Crunchyroll Release Details
- WoW Classic Kills Dungeon Boosting in Burning Crusade Expansion Because, Oh No, the Economy Is Breaking
- Machine Learning That Powers Enemy AI in Arc Raiders: How Next-Gen Game AI Creates Smarter Enemies
- SAG-AFTRA Do Not Work Order Against Capcom Explained: Mega Man: Dual Override and the Signatory Process
- Best Blender Render Settings: Ultimate Guide to High-Quality Renders Without Wasting Time
