Gears 5 Has a Level 50 Times Bigger Than Anything In Previous Gears Games

Gears of War 5 includes a map fifty times larger than any previous Gears of War level, says Coalition studio head Rod Fergusson.

"What players will see in Act 2 and Act 3 of the campaign is that you'll be able to use the Skiff to traverse the largest levels we've ever built," Fergusson said during a panel at PAX West. "You know, in some cases, the levels are 50-times bigger than any previous Gears level."

Developers have made no secret of the fact Gears 5 is the biggest Gears of War game they've ever created. While past instalments have been corridor shooters, Gears 5 shakes things up with open-ended levels containing side-quests and collectables.

Another key pivot is the ability for players to choose when to initiate combat, rather than barreling into constant battles like in most Gears campaigns. Fergusson elaborated on newly refreshed companion bot, Jack, who has the ability to cloak players so they can avoid fights when they want to.

The Skiff will be the heart of navigating these bigger levels, transporting you through the game's campaign. On board the Skiff you'll have access to side missions, weapons, upgrades for Jack, and the ability to identify new points of interest on the map. Fergusson made clear that he and his team wanted to give players more choice during the main campaign of where to go and what to do.

At Gamescom's Xbox showcase it was confirmed that Horde mode will be making a return to Gears 5, while The Coalition also made clear that accessibility is a key focus for the design team. 

Alysia Judge is a writer and presenter. Chat to her on Twitter @alysiajudge.