Gears 5 is landing a limited-edition Xbox One X console

Launching in September for $499

It’s about time Microsoft came out with another limited-edition Xbox One X, wouldn’t you say? Right on cue, the next major bundle is a Gears of War-themed console with a laser-etched, partially translucent case. Pre-orders will begin later today for the Xbox One X Gears 5 Limited Edition Bundle.

For $499, the package includes a 1TB Xbox One X console, a matching Kait Diaz Limited Edition wireless controller, one-month memberships for Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass, and more Gears than you’ll know what to do with: Gears of War Ultimate Edition, Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3, Gears of War 4, and Gears 5 Ultimate Edition. I’m still getting used to that shortened title for the latest game. As a reminder, Ultimate players will get four-day-early access to Gears 5 on September 6, 2019.

If that Gears gamepad catches your fancy, note that it will be available separately, but it’s a bit of a wallet-buster. Microsoft will begin selling the Kait Diaz controller for $74.99 beginning August 20, 2019.

On top of the icy limited-edition console, Microsoft is also planning a standard-looking Xbox One X Gears 5 Bundle for $499 and an Xbox One S Gears 5 Bundle for $299. They’re packed with games, too.

I haven’t gone back to the original Xbox 360 trilogy in years – not since that console was the dominant platform in my household – but I do still think about the Big Worm from time to time. Microsoft is smart to include the rest of the Gears of War series (sorry, Judgment!) in these hardware bundles. I can easily see them pulling a subset of hibernating Xbox fans “out of retirement,” so to speak. Gears resonates.