The Coalition launched Gears 5 in 2019 to mostly positive reviews, and it supported the game post-launch with updates that added new maps, characters, and more. The updates to Gears 5 have consistently added new content to the game, but the latest update actually removes one of its features.
As some may recall, Gears 5 featured a Map Builder feature where players could build maps for the Escape game mode. However, after downloading the latest update, Gears 5 players will find that Map Builder and its associated content have been completely removed from the game. According to The Coalition, this is so that the team can focus its efforts on future projects, though what those future projects may be has not been clarified.
It doesn’t seem as though there was a big community surrounding Gears 5‘s Map Builder or Escape mode, so this development is unlikely to upset too many people. However, there were achievements tied to the Map Builder mode, and so some Gears of War fans may be worried that it will no longer be possible to unlock all the achievements in the game. Anyone concerned about that can rest easy, however, and should they choose to boot up the game after downloading the update, they’ll actually get the achievements for free.
Prior to Map Builder being removed from the game, Gears 5 players could earn an achievement called “I Made It All By Myself” by building their own map in the game. There was also an achievement called “Homegrown Hive” that was rewarded to players who managed to complete a featured fan-made Escape Hive. Neither Gears 5 achievement required much in the way of time or effort, but since they are now technically impossible to get through legitimate means, The Coalition is simply giving the achievements away to any Gears 5 players that have yet to earn them.
Those that put in the effort to unlock these achievements through normal means won’t be coming away empty-handed. Any Gears 5 players that already has the “I Made It All By Myself” and “Homegrown Hive” achievements will be rewarded with an exclusive banner and 10,000 coins, respectively. This way newcomers don’t have to stress about being unable to get all the Gears 5 achievements, while dedicated fans still get something for having met the requirements to unlock the achievements in the first place.
In the meantime, some fans may be curious about the future projects that The Coalition alluded to, though it’s unclear when an official reveal will take place. A new Gears of War game is almost certainly in the works, but there’s also rumblings that The Coalition is working on a new IP as well. Fans will just have to stay tuned to find out more information about The Coalition’s next projects.
Gears 5 is out now for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
