Earlier today, Microsoft announced a major change to the Xbox Game Pass subscription service. The Xbox One platform-holder confirmed that Game Pass subscribers would have access to first-party titles the same day that they release globally. It was a very big deal, but that's not the only thing that fans are getting excited about.

While writing about the change to Xbox Game Pass in an article on the official Xbox Wire blog, Microsoft's new head of gaming, Phil Spencer, hinted at Gears of War 5. Spencer said that fans should expect "future unannounced games" from Microsoft Studios to be included as part of the Xbox Game Pass launch day fun. This includes "new iterations of our biggest Xbox One exclusive franchises such as Halo, Forza, and Gears of War."

The confirmation that a new Gears of War game is on the cards seems obvious. Gears of War 4 reviewed well and sold strongly, aided by the fact that it is a Play Anywhere title (players could purchase a copy on either Windows PC or Xbox One and can play it on the other platform, too).

Moreover, fans have continued to play Gears of War 4 well over a year after its release. Last summer it received a major multiplayer update that introduced new difficulty levels, new maps, and new customization options, too. These have all kept players engaged, and it seems obvious that Microsoft would want to replicate that success and improve upon the classic Gears gameplay formula with a Gears of War 5.

However, Spencer's comments do seem to be the first confirmation that Gears of War 5 is being considered, and is possibly in development. According to recent job listings, Gears of War developer The Coalition is working on a brand new IP. It's unclear how development on that game is progressing and whether a new Gears is being made in tandem with that IP, but fans will be glad to know that the Gears of War brand won't just be gathering dust in the meantime.

Given the recent criticisms that Microsoft is not releasing enough Xbox One exclusives, fans will also be happy to see that Microsoft is aware of what they want, including new series entries from these beloved franchises. It could still be a while until Gears of War 5 is released, but Spencer's comments suggest that fans should watch this space.

Gears of War 5 has yet to be officially confirmed, but is expected to be in the works.

Source: Xbox Wire