...and I couldn't be any more excited. 
 
There's a thread on Epic's forums (by Lee Perry, Senior Gameplay Designer) discussing what they can do with the Shotgun. They've made it very clear they're not asking because they're going to patch Gears 2. But put 2 and 2 together, and you just know they're looking at the weapon for Gears 3. 
 
It's pretty much a no brainer, but as Gears is my favourite franchise (I realise it's not the best, it's just my favourite), I'm pretty damn excited!

Or maybe it's for a different game by them? They don't have to only make Gears games you know.

I would assume that work on Gears 3 started even before Gears 2 was out. This shouldn't be news.

I feel like I should be excited by the idea of a third Gears of War, but I was pretty underwhelmed by Gears 2. I mean, I still occasionally play Horde, but overall the game just didn't sit with me as well as the first one did.

You dont say...

I really liked the single player portion of Gears 2 and that was the biggest reason to why I bought it, but I thought the online multiplayer was so damn terrible, I sure hope its better in Gears 3

ms needs something big for holiday 2010, and halo reach is may...so yeah, gears 3 is out next year

It's going to be called Tears of War, and will be an RTS where you build and establish a refugee camp. Resource management will be crucial.
 
The Irish Nun class will have shotguns.
 
Check your six, Sister Concepta.

Gears 1: 2006 
Gears 2: 2008 
Gears 3: 2010 sureley.  
  
I'm amazed anybody would assume otherwise.

Shotgun that shoots chainsaws?

Yea im really into the whole universe of gears, i've even read both books too.  I think that the game will pick up where the last book left off, (SPOILER) on that island which I forgot the name.  They just better fix that shitty online lag, damn Cliffy B.

Man, who would have seen that coming?
 
A Gears 3?  NO WAY!  I never thought I'd live to see the day.

" I really liked the single player portion of Gears 2 and that was the biggest reason to why I bought it, but I thought the online multiplayer was so damn terrible, I sure hope its better in Gears 3 "

meh... I like the story in Gears but multiplayer is too glitchy and laggy for my liking

I want them to make a crossover UT/Gears franchise. 

" I really liked the single player portion of Gears 2 and that was the biggest reason to why I bought it, but I thought the online multiplayer was so damn terrible, I sure hope its better in Gears 3 "

" @Venatio said:

" I really liked the single player portion of Gears 2 and that was the biggest reason to why I bought it, but I thought the online multiplayer was so damn terrible, I sure hope its better in Gears 3 "

Agreed. You just got the sense that if it had actually been thought out properly it would have been awesome "

Surprised?

" I would assume that work on Gears 3 started even before Gears 2 was out. This shouldn't be news. "

" @crunchUK said:

" @Venatio said:

" I really liked the single player portion of Gears 2 and that was the biggest reason to why I bought it, but I thought the online multiplayer was so damn terrible, I sure hope its better in Gears 3 "

Agreed. You just got the sense that if it had actually been thought out properly it would have been awesome "

My thoughts as well. I'm keeping my expectations low for Gears 3 though but I don't want to be disappointed again... "

" @SpikeSpiegel said:

" @crunchUK said:

" @Venatio said:

" I really liked the single player portion of Gears 2 and that was the biggest reason to why I bought it, but I thought the online multiplayer was so damn terrible, I sure hope its better in Gears 3 "

Agreed. You just got the sense that if it had actually been thought out properly it would have been awesome "

My thoughts as well. I'm keeping my expectations low for Gears 3 though but I don't want to be disappointed again... "

Basically, they need to scrap the shotgun (or make it a power weapon like in halo 3), make everything faster paced, as in increased running while aiming speed, damage ratios, etc and finally they need to actually design the maps properly, with a decent spawn system (like in halo 3) instead of throwing together a load of nonfunctional crap.   Oh and have a DECENT matchmaking system (...like halo 3)  Then i reckon, you would have an excellent multiplayer mode. "

I bet the day that Gears 3 ships with the fixed multiplayer for Gears will be in 2012.

I am a huge fan of both the original and even more so number 2 (I played a ton before the leveling system was added and I am level 43 in the current system, also played through the campaign 3 times now) Needless to say I am insanely excited for Gears 3. 

" @crunchUK said:

" @SpikeSpiegel said:

" @crunchUK said:

" @Venatio said:

" I really liked the single player portion of Gears 2 and that was the biggest reason to why I bought it, but I thought the online multiplayer was so damn terrible, I sure hope its better in Gears 3 "

Agreed. You just got the sense that if it had actually been thought out properly it would have been awesome "

My thoughts as well. I'm keeping my expectations low for Gears 3 though but I don't want to be disappointed again... "

Basically, they need to scrap the shotgun (or make it a power weapon like in halo 3), make everything faster paced, as in increased running while aiming speed, damage ratios, etc and finally they need to actually design the maps properly, with a decent spawn system (like in halo 3) instead of throwing together a load of nonfunctional crap.   Oh and have a DECENT matchmaking system (...like halo 3)  Then i reckon, you would have an excellent multiplayer mode. "

Oh. So, like, if they make it Halo 3 in third person it'll be good, right?  ...I love you crunch "

" Shotgun that shoots chainsaws? "

" Gears 1: 2006 Gears 2: 2008 Gears 3: 2010 sureley.    I'm amazed anybody would assume otherwise. "

" Gears 1: 2006 Gears 2: 2008 Gears 3: 2010 sureley.    I'm amazed anybody would assume otherwise. "

They would have to be working on it from now since Microsoft wants to keep alternating between Gears of War and Halo each year.

" I really liked the single player portion of Gears 2 and that was the biggest reason to why I bought it, but I thought the online multiplayer was so damn terrible, I sure hope its better in Gears 3 "

Perhaps it's because I didn't play it until 2 years after release, perhaps it's because I hated the story, the characters and the art style, perhaps it's because I never played multiplayer, perhaps it's because Uncharted left me spoiled, perhaps it's because I played it stoned. But for the most part I found Gears mostly forgettable and highly overrated.
 
So personally, I don't see the appeal in Gears 2, let alone Gears 3.

I could have told you they're making a Gears 3 game the moment the first game was released. Not really a big surprise there.The big question was would it be for this generation, or for Microsoft's next generation. Considering the length that this generation is going to go on for, I'd put my money on this gen, which means it will be coming out pretty soon, since they don't need to re-work another engine into it.
 
 I'd also be willing to put money down on a Gears 4.

" ms needs something big for holiday 2010, and halo reach is may...so yeah, gears 3 is out next year "

Well of course they are.

" Shotgun that shoots chainsaws? "

They need to make multiplayer more accessible in Gears 3. For someone who hasn't really spent time to get good at it, it is really frustrating to not be able to do much. On the other hand, in a game of Halo 3, even if you don't know too much about the game you can still have some fun. Yeah, these are vague complaints, but whatever. I would say they need to make the campaign longer than the Gears 2 campaign and make sure to tie up all the loose ends in the story. I am sure the graphics will be amazing as always, as the the Unreal Engine rarely fails to impress.

" They need to make multiplayer more accessible in Gears 3. For someone who hasn't really spent time to get good at it, it is really frustrating to not be able to do much. On the other hand, in a game of Halo 3, even if you don't know too much about the game you can still have some fun. Yeah, these are vague complaints, but whatever. I would say they need to make the campaign longer than the Gears 2 campaign and make sure to tie up all the loose ends in the story. I am sure the graphics will be amazing as always, as the the Unreal Engine rarely fails to impress. "

" @RaikohBlade said:

" They need to make multiplayer more accessible in Gears 3. For someone who hasn't really spent time to get good at it, it is really frustrating to not be able to do much. On the other hand, in a game of Halo 3, even if you don't know too much about the game you can still have some fun. Yeah, these are vague complaints, but whatever. I would say they need to make the campaign longer than the Gears 2 campaign and make sure to tie up all the loose ends in the story. I am sure the graphics will be amazing as always, as the the Unreal Engine rarely fails to impress. "

That's because halo 3 matches you up against similarly skilled players. Geras 2 (to my knowledge) does not. "

I'm not surprised. They probably have been planning ever since Gears 2 has been released. Two successful games both critically and sales wise, why wouldn't they make a third game? I hope they can rework the game so I can be addicted to it like the first one, and not like the second.
 
I loved Gears of War 2, don't get me wrong, but it didn't have that addicting feeling that the first didn't. Probably because the first one was more unique than the second.

Of course , GOW3 will obviously be released in November 2010 . 

" @crunchUK said:

" @RaikohBlade said:

" They need to make multiplayer more accessible in Gears 3. For someone who hasn't really spent time to get good at it, it is really frustrating to not be able to do much. On the other hand, in a game of Halo 3, even if you don't know too much about the game you can still have some fun. Yeah, these are vague complaints, but whatever. I would say they need to make the campaign longer than the Gears 2 campaign and make sure to tie up all the loose ends in the story. I am sure the graphics will be amazing as always, as the the Unreal Engine rarely fails to impress. "

That's because halo 3 matches you up against similarly skilled players. Geras 2 (to my knowledge) does not. "

I thought that every Xbox Live game used the TrueSkill matchmaking/ranking system. Maybe Gears 2 just fails at it. That brings up another issue, matchmaking was absolutely horrid in Gears 2. I don't think I need to explain how bad that matchmaking was. I didn't play much after the patch, but to my knowledge it wasn't a whole lot better. "

" @jukezypoo said:

" @crunchUK said:

" @SpikeSpiegel said:

" @crunchUK said:

" @Venatio said:

" I really liked the single player portion of Gears 2 and that was the biggest reason to why I bought it, but I thought the online multiplayer was so damn terrible, I sure hope its better in Gears 3 "

Agreed. You just got the sense that if it had actually been thought out properly it would have been awesome "

My thoughts as well. I'm keeping my expectations low for Gears 3 though but I don't want to be disappointed again... "

Basically, they need to scrap the shotgun (or make it a power weapon like in halo 3), make everything faster paced, as in increased running while aiming speed, damage ratios, etc and finally they need to actually design the maps properly, with a decent spawn system (like in halo 3) instead of throwing together a load of nonfunctional crap.   Oh and have a DECENT matchmaking system (...like halo 3)  Then i reckon, you would have an excellent multiplayer mode. "

Oh. So, like, if they make it Halo 3 in third person it'll be good, right?  ...I love you crunch "

If you weren't an idiot jumping to conclusions just because i posted (like in halo 3) to certain points i might consider a response back. Because what you're essentially implying is that any game with a good spawn system, good maps, and good matchmaking is halo 3. Actually that isn't too far off the mark. Well done. "

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

" @Rhaknar said:

" ms needs something big for holiday 2010, and halo reach is may...so yeah, gears 3 is out next year "

Halo: Reach, Gears of War 3, and Fable 3, all set to release next fall? *Head Explodes* "

I think they have a lot of problems from the Gears 2 multiplayer to fix before they worry about the shotgun. 
 
Regardless, yeah, Gears 3 will be next year.  Epic stated back during the development of Gears 2 that they hope for a two-year development cycle per game.

Gears 2 always gives me penalties, underleveling me, and it erased all of my data in the game; since my disc is scratched i can't play the first two missions in the campaign, making it impossible for me to ever do anything else in the game.
 
I hate Gears 2.

I remember seeing an article long ago which showed a female COG concept art possibility for the next game.

I honestly at this point could not care a single bit about Gears 3. Rent it to play co-op with my girlfriend, then take it back..Gears 2 and its gameplay and terrible online setup really got me uninterested in the entire franchise, and I couldnt care a less anymore.