Gibson and The Coalition Unveil Exclusive Gears of War: E-Day Guitar Collection, Featuring Iconic Art by Luke Preece
Cologne, Germany – August 19, 2026 – As the highly anticipated launch of Gears of War: E-Day draws near, two titans of craftsmanship and storytelling, Gibson Guitars and The Coalition, have joined forces to create an extraordinary collection of custom guitars. This unique collaboration celebrates the enduring musical identity of the Gears franchise and the profound brotherhood at the heart of its narrative, all brought to life through the striking artwork of acclaimed artist and illustrator Luke Preece.
The Gears of War series has long been defined by its impactful, guitar-driven scores. This symbiotic relationship is further solidified with Gears of War: E-Day, as composer Adam Lastiwka utilized Gibson guitars during the recording of the game’s soundtrack, ensuring an authentic connection between the music and these bespoke instruments.
The collection features two custom Gibson guitars, each a masterpiece inspired by the iconic Les Paul and SG designs. These exclusive instruments for Gears of War: E-Day pay homage to the franchise’s legendary heroes, Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, with original artwork by Luke Preece.
"These guitars feel like the culmination of a years-long creative collaboration with Luke, who has been part of Gears of War: E-Day from the very beginning," commented Nicole Fawcette, Studio Brand Director. "He loves Gears of War as much as we do, and he has a gift for translating the spirit of the franchise into striking art that makes you feel something."
For Luke Preece, the project was a natural fit. "It brought together everything I love – music, metal, guitars, video games, art, and Gears of War," he explained. "All of those influences found their way into the guitars, so the collaboration felt completely natural." The shared creative vision between Fawcette and Preece ensured a seamless artistic process, allowing them to focus on crafting the strongest possible designs.
Crafted for Brotherhood: A Tale of Brutality and Pathos
Each guitar began as a hand-drawn concept, meticulously digitally mapped, stenciled, and then painstakingly hand-painted by Preece. Every detail was carefully considered to embody the spirit of Gears through the lens of its two most beloved characters, drawing inspiration from the game’s "Emotional Core" pillars: Brutality and Pathos – themes that reflect the grit and sacrifice inherent in the story of Gears of War: E-Day.
"What I love most about Luke’s work is his ability to communicate big, loud, bold ideas," Fawcette praised. "Rather than simply illustrating Marcus and Dom, we had the opportunity to distill their themes and energy into something iconic."
Marcus Fenix | Brutality (Gibson Les Paul)
The Les Paul, a legendary Gibson model, becomes the canvas for Marcus Fenix’s essence. This guitar embodies the grit, determination, and relentless spirit that have defined Marcus for nearly two decades. At its core, a weathered skull emerges against a COG Tag backdrop, framed by the unmistakable blades of a chainsaw. Splashes of Locust blood and fractured textures evoke the chaos of Emergence Day and the world-shattering events that forever changed Sera. The result is a bold, aggressive design that celebrates one of gaming’s most iconic heroes while paying tribute to the franchise’s signature imagery.
Preece elaborated on the design challenges: "Marcus’ Les Paul was the hardest to solve. The hardware interrupted some of the original ideas, so we leaned into the circular saw-blade motif. It gave the piece the aggressive, brutal energy we wanted, and the shape fit the body of the guitar perfectly."
Dominic Santiago | Pathos (Gibson SG)
Dominic Santiago’s design finds its home on the equally iconic Gibson SG, offering a more somber and reflective counterpart. A tearful, battle-worn skull stands against a COG Tag, surrounded by barbed wire and vibrant crimson poppies – a powerful symbol of remembrance deeply woven throughout Gears lore. The artwork reflects Dom’s unwavering loyalty, personal sacrifice, and the profound emotional weight carried by one of the franchise’s most beloved characters.
"Dom’s design came together more naturally through its symbolism," Preece noted. "The wings flowed beautifully with the shape of the SG and connected with the pathos of his story, including the angelic imagery associated with Maria."
Together, these two guitars narrate a powerful story of brotherhood, resilience, loss, and fate – themes that remain central to the world of Gears of War. Initially, there was consideration to physically distress the guitars to give them a battle-worn appearance. However, Fawcette ultimately decided against it, stating, "In the end, I’m glad we preserved the beauty of the instruments and allowed the artwork itself to carry the weight and intensity."
Public Debut at Gamescom 2026 and a Chance to Win
Fans attending Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, will have the exclusive opportunity to be among the first to witness this remarkable collection in person at the XBOX booth. "We can’t wait for fans to see these in-person," said Fawcette. "Each guitar is already a beautiful object, and Luke’s hand-painted Gears artwork transforms it into something visually stunning – a genuine work of art that feels cool, heavy, and unmistakably Gears."
Only four of these exclusive guitars were crafted. "Each is numbered and signed, and because they were painted by hand, even the repeated designs are not exact copies. Every instrument is a unique, one-of-one piece," Preece confirmed.
For those eager to own a piece of this unprecedented collaboration, fans in official XBOX supported regions can enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win one of three custom guitars: two Marcus Fenix-inspired Les Pauls and one Dominic Santiago-inspired SG. To enter, simply leave a comment tagging your Gears of War: E-Day companions and use #GearsofWarGibsonSweepstakes on the official announcement post hosted on the @gibsonguitar and @gearsofwar Instagram accounts. Winners will be selected at random and announced on October 16, 2026. Full rules, terms, and conditions are available at www.promoterms.com/GearsofWarGibson.
Whether you are a lifelong Gears enthusiast, a collector of iconic instruments, or simply appreciate exceptional craftsmanship, this collaboration between Gibson and Gears of War: E-Day offers a rare opportunity to own a piece of Gears of War history as we prepare for Emergence Day.
Gears of War: E-Day launches October 6, 2026, on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Steam, and is available day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
