We've heard various reports as of late that 'Gears 6' is in development of some kind - with journalist Jeff Grubb claiming that the dev team has dropped two other projects recently in favour of working on the next Gears game. Well, a new job listing posted by Microsoft certainly lends credence to those reports.
The Xbox owner is advertising for a "Senior Gameplay Designer" role at The Coalition; the Canadian development team behind Gears of War. Here's a snippet of what the role is seeking from candidates, along with the team's overall mantra:
Senior Gameplay Designer - Gears Of War - The Coalition
"The Coalition is seeking a skilled and experienced gameplay designer to help create AAA game experiences.
We are the official home of the Gears of War franchise, and our objective is to forge the future of the IP and push the limits of Microsoft’s entertainment platforms and devices. Our team is comprised of deep creative and technical talent from across our industry and beyond, working cohesively to delight our fan base and pass expectations of what is possible."
That certainly sounds like full speed ahead on Gears of War to us, even if such a hire suggests we're probably a ways out from launch even in 2023. Given that Gears 5 released back in 2019, it's looking like we're in for a bit of a wait for the next Gears of War game.
The Coalition hasn't been entirely quiet since 2019 though. Alongside supporting Gears 5, the studio also worked with Gears series creators Epic Games on The Matrix Awakens demo in 2021 - a small-scale project created to showcase what Unreal Engine 5 is capable of.