Microsoft and Entertainment Weekly team up to reveal the official storm-ridden box art that will be on the cover of every copy of Gears of War 4 for Xbox One.

As one of the most anticipated games of 2016, Gears of War 4 looks to be making good on the promises that The Coalition has made thus far. Set 25 years after the events of Gears of War 3, the latest numbered iteration of the core franchise is as much about moving forward as it is about honoring the past. Keeping with that motif, and despite a brand new protagonist in the form of JD Fenix, the box art appears to be tipping its hat to past events by featuring a weathered statue of the ever-popular Marcus Fenix in the background.

Teaming up with Entertainment Weekly, Microsoft revealed the official cover art for its hotly anticipated, third-person shooter on Xbox One. Not simply wanting to throw out the art and let fans speculate, the studio head at Gears of War 4 developer The Coalition, Rod Fergusson, went into detail about the message that the box art is trying to convey to its audience.

“‘Weathering the storm’ was sort of our line for the key art … because we wanted that idea that the environment and the weather in particular is a big part of Gears 4 and how it affects the characters and the story and the gameplay. Having the three heroes on there was important, and then allowing them to showcase what’s new and represent themselves we thought would be cool.”

While all of these claims are certainly evident based on the art itself, fans can drum up their own meaning by checking out the cover below.

These assets come hot on the heels of official news pertaining to Gears of War 4's release date, which makes sense given that the two go hand-in-hand. Furthermore, The Coalition has confirmed that split-screen multiplayer will be featured in every mode of Gears 4, which is great news for gamers that have been wondering if they'll be able to jump into the online multiplayer with a friend locally. Of course, there's a lot more to look forward to in the coming weeks as well.

One of the biggest items on many gamers' agendas is the impending Gears of War 4 beta that kicks off later this April 25th. Those that have played Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, however, can get in on the Lancer-centric fun beginning April 18th – an entire week before the rest.

Gears of War 4 arrives exclusively for Xbox One on October 11, 2016.

Source: Entertainment Weekly