Game Informer is teasing another Gears of War in development with a cover image of a man in chains.

If you’ll remember, the original Gears of War started with Marcus Fenix in chains, suggesting this latest installment could very well be a prequel.

The next question is who’s making it, and it’s not necessarily Epic Games. The company purchased a majority stake in Painkiller developer People Can Fly in 2007, and released Bulletstorm through Electronic Arts in early 2011. I deeply loved the mechanics in Bulletstorm, but the sales were disappointing and a sequel was canned. People Can Fly’s next project has yet to be announced, and Epic Games is keeping mum on any connection to this game.

When asked this morning, Epic Games was unsurprisingly cagey.

“No additional details are available at this time,” said the studio in a statement.

Either Epic Games and the internal team who made the other Gears of War games are making this new one--or they aren’t. It’s an easy question to answer, and if the company isn’t prepared to say one way or the other, I’m willing to bet money People Can Fly’s logo will show up at the Microsoft press conference next week.

It helps that People Can fly creative director Adrian Chmielarz was chattering about the cover on Twitter.

We’ll be at E3, obviously, and the Microsoft press briefing starts on Monday, June 4 at 9:30 a.m. PST.

Game Informer is teasing another Gears of War in development with a cover image of a man in chains.

If you’ll remember, the original Gears of War started with Marcus Fenix in chains, suggesting this latest installment could very well be a prequel.

The next question is who’s making it, and it’s not necessarily Epic Games. The company purchased a majority stake in Painkiller developer People Can Fly in 2007, and released Bulletstorm through Electronic Arts in early 2011. I deeply loved the mechanics in Bulletstorm, but the sales were disappointing and a sequel was canned. People Can Fly’s next project has yet to be announced, and Epic Games is keeping mum on any connection to this game.

When asked this morning, Epic Games was unsurprisingly cagey.

“No additional details are available at this time,” said the studio in a statement.

Either Epic Games and the internal team who made the other Gears of War games are making this new one--or they aren’t. It’s an easy question to answer, and if the company isn’t prepared to say one way or the other, I’m willing to bet money People Can Fly’s logo will show up at the Microsoft press conference next week.

It helps that People Can fly creative director Adrian Chmielarz was chattering about the cover on Twitter.

We’ll be at E3, obviously, and the Microsoft press briefing starts on Monday, June 4 at 9:30 a.m. PST.

Woot!

Edit: That feels good.

Old

I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is being developed by PopCap.

FUCK YOU

It's Sony Santa Monica. Just ask Jeff, they make everything.

If People Can Fly make it I might actually want to play a Gears game.

I was actually tempted by Gears 3 but those games always seem like they need multi-player and I don't pay for Gold.

I'm down for a People Can Fly Gears of War game. I think. Curious to see more on Monday.

I'm down. I would love for this to be their next gen announcement with this being a launch title, but probably not

Yawn

This had better be Gears of War but all Bulletstorm-y.

Hopefully they can create a more interesting story. Gears was a cool game to play, especially with friends, but I never really cared about the universe or characters.

Makes sense that People Can Fly would be doing this, since Bulletstorm 2 probably won't be happening. Really interested to see what they do with the series and I hope Epic doesn't make them tone down their craziness.

We don't need another gears, unless it's drastically different. Which I doubt.

Do we know who's making Fortnite? That seems like it could be a pretty good indicator as to where Epic's priorities lay.

@BeachThunder said:

I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is being developed by PopCap.

Wrong. Epic's turned over the keys to Zynga and Rovio for this one.

sequel fatigue

HYPE.

It's probably set during the Pendulum wars, and E-day. Fucking. Stoked.

@MisuseOfLasers said:

This had better be Gears of War but all Bulletstorm-y.

...so Bulletstorm?

If that image is anything to go by, guess it's not going to be during the pendulum wars era. Would be pretty cool if it's set the day after emergence day or something, would give them chance to mix things up a little.

I like Gears more than the average GiantBomber, I feel like, but I agree that either A) The IP needs to transition to a different style of game in the post-war era or B) the mechanics need to go into a new IP to help freshen it up. Gears doesn't really need its own "Halo: Reach"

They should of just taking all the gameplay mechanics and art style and set it in a new world and story.

I can't say that I'm down on announcement for more GOW. They're going to have to change up the gameplay formula quite a bit to get me interested. I don't know, maybe just a change of scenery or enemy will be enough. A Pendulum Wars game would be interesting.

( '-__-)

Gears3 was the last game. I'm sorry, but I won't stand for MS's lack of risk to make new IPs much longer. Not interested.

Bulletstorm's failure is pretty sad. I felt like it offered something a bit different in a very stagnant genre. It wasn't amazing, but still good. Mirror's Edge and Bulletstorm are in the same boat I feel. New IP and ideas just don't pay.

I really liked Bulletstorm so I have high hopes for whatever this turns out to be.

Hopefully these developers can get the recognition they deserve now.

Confirmed, Silicon Knights will be developing it.

Bulletstorm was actually a very well made game that played great and was fun. Yes it was plagued by the worst dialogue ever but PCF nailed all the other aspects, too bad there won't be a sequel.

As for this teaser, I will be surprised if that's not Marcus being dragged off to jail for deserting his unit. I doubt it will be set during the pendulum wars because those things in the background look like reavers.

@Sweep said:

HYPE.

It's probably set during the Pendulum wars, and E-day. Fucking. Stoked.

Took the words straight out from between my teeth.

I wonder if you'll shoot dudes in it. When you can answer that for me Patrick you shall have my respect!

Kinect game?

Whats the point in playing a prequel as Marcus? You already get to see and play the most important part of Marcus's back story at the very start of Gears 3. I want to see how they make this interesting cause I don't want to go back and fight yet more Locust.

Been too long since someone put out a gritty shooter where you play as a buff guy.

SPOILERS!

It's a Kinect game in which you will play as Marcus working out at the gym in jail.

@Tru3_Blu3 said:

Gears3 was the last game. I'm sorry, but I won't stand for MS's lack of risk to make new IPs much longer. Not interested.

There are a few studios doing the same thing. Namely God of War: Ascension. These are basically hold over's for the next gen. I'm sure Epic and people can fly are working on a new IP for next gen, same with Sony Sana monic, but those won't be ready for awhile, so why not pump out another game in an existing franchise with existing assests and gameplay mechanics that will be easy to make.

You know, Gears is one franchise where I don't think they've whored it out too much. So the thought of a prequel gets me a giddy. And I wanna see young Marcus Fenix. I wonder if his voice was still like that back then.

@RainDog505 said:

Kinect game?

in my head it always sounds like WC saying "connect gang"

Maybe that Kinect spinoff "Gears of War: Exile" wasn't fully cancelled after all -- Dude is lookin' pretty exiled right there!

That's one way to have another Gears ready so quickly, re-work a lot of existing assets.. And who's to say People Can Fly wasn't working on that Kinect game as well? What exactly have they been doing since 2010 when Bulletstorm came out anyway

And I just thought of something crazy -- Any chance this game is a First Person Shooter?? And not the classic over-the-shoulder Gears 3rd person

@MisuseOfLasers said:

This had better be Gears of War but all Bulletstorm-y.

YES! That sounds like a sandwich made of pure amazing with am extra-large side of totally sweet.

I'm gonna be pretty let down if it's a prequel, and thats exactly what it looks to be. Also, why couldn't they have held of announcement until the press conference? Make it a surprise?

A prequel could be nice considering how much they reference Marcus's actions in whatever war they keep talking about throughout the series. Some big Gears set-pieces could be, for lack of a better word, pretty epic. I wonder who'd they be fighting, though. Locust? Humans? Some other enemy?

Good article; when I heard the news I automatically assumed Epic was still making it but Patrick bring up some great points. I mean Halo 4 is actually going to be developed by 343, so it is indeed prudent to be asking these questions.

I thought it was already confirmed People Can Fly were making this one. Oh well I hope it's true and we get a Gears that isn't so serious and grim. Considering Marcas wasn't freakishly tall my moneys on the shadowy guy being the new protagonist.

I can't wait for more hiding behind chest-high walls.

Really enjoyed it when they took the Half Life game & had other studios make Blue Shift & Opposing Force (loved the idea of these alternate branching expansions) so hoping that they do the same with this (or what was done with Halo Wars in theory). The Gears franchise has a huge universe to explore with all kinds of options to try something a little different than what's been done.

I would rather it be another Bulletstorm, but I like Gears.

I just assumed it was People Can Fly since Epic is working on Samaritan for the Durango.