Gears of War: E-Day Head to Head: From Steam Deck to a High-End PC

Gears of War: E-Day is out now and, as expected, it didn't take long to end up under the microscope. As reported by Vandal, the YouTube channel ElAnalistaDeBits has published a graphics comparison that puts the game's different versions side by side: Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Steam Deck, Steam Machine and a high-end PC. On consoles, the analysis also separates Quality and Performance modes, so you can see how much detail and sharpness you give up by choosing one or the other.

Why does it matter? Because E-Day isn't just any release: it marks the return of one of Xbox's most beloved third-person action series, and a franchise with a long competitive history in its multiplayer. Knowing which platform and settings look and play best isn't just a whim for pixel purists; it's a practical decision for anyone planning to sink hundreds of hours into it, record matches or stream live.

What You Need to Know

• The comparison is by ElAnalistaDeBits, and the original report comes from Vandal.
• Five versions go head to head: Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Steam Deck, Steam Machine and a high-end PC.
• On consoles, Quality and Performance modes are compared to measure the loss of sharpness and detail between them.
• The big surprise is how well Xbox Series S holds its own in Quality mode.
• The video also includes a rundown of the PC version's various graphics settings.

What the Comparison Shows

The most predictable part checks out: on a high-end PC and on Xbox Series X, the game looks very impressive, as you'd expect from the most capable platform in each ecosystem. That's not news. The interesting part is at the other end of the chart, where Xbox Series S, the console that has raised the most doubts all generation because of its more limited memory and power, comes out looking pretty good when you prioritize image quality over frame rate.

The inclusion of Steam Deck and Steam Machine in the analysis also says a lot about where things stand today. Handheld gaming and compact Steam-focused machines are no longer niche experiments, but platforms players want to see tested alongside traditional consoles. For many gamers, the question is no longer just whether a game runs on their PC, but whether it runs on the device they take on the road or plug into the living room TV.

A Handy Guide for PC Players

The section on PC graphics settings is probably the most practical part of the video. Seeing at a glance what changes from one preset to another helps you decide where to cut back without wrecking the image, something anyone who has wrestled with a graphics options menu will appreciate. It's not about showing off screenshots, but about finding the right balance for the rig you have at home.

Our Take

Here at Underworld Lordz, we're clear on this: for competitive play, Quality mode is almost never the answer. Series S holding up with the visuals maxed out is great news for casual players and a technical achievement for the studio, but in a cover shooter where every reaction counts, smoothness and controller responsiveness matter more than a sharper texture. If you're playing seriously, Performance mode is where you belong, and what we'd really like to know is how much the image suffers there, because that's what you'll be looking at match after match.

For content creators, the takeaway is different. If you capture cutscenes, make analysis videos or edit campaign footage, Quality mode and high PC settings are a gift, and knowing that a modest console is up to the task opens the door for anyone who can't afford a top-tier setup. That said, be careful about drawing broad conclusions: a graphics comparison tells you what a game looks like, not necessarily how it feels in your hands over a long session.

And one criticism we'd extend to the whole industry: having to wait for a YouTube channel to properly understand what each version offers says little for how releases themselves are communicated. We welcome ElAnalistaDeBits' work, but this information should be clear from day one.

What Do You Think?

Are you already playing Gears of War: E-Day? Tell us which platform you're on and which mode you picked, because opinions on the team are split between those who won't give up visual quality and those who only care about smoothness. Drop by the team chat or our Discord and let us know: would you sacrifice sharpness for performance, or do you prefer the game looking its best even if it runs a little less smoothly?