Gears 5 Operation 6 is Now Live in the Game

Announced a few days ago, Gears 5's Operation 6 is the newest slice of content coming to the Microsoft-exclusive game, bringing a variety of fresh character skins and a new map. The DLC is available to play right now, with The Coalition also announcing that more content will be added as the Operation unfolds over the next few weeks.

As for what players can expect when they download the latest Gears 5 update, three new characters have been a big selling point. Colonel Hoffman heads up the pack, with the iconic Gears of War mainstay popping up on the weekly shop for 250 iron. He'll be joined by the series' newest antagonist, Queen Reyna, and the Locust Zealot, who will also both cost 250 iron.

Alongside these skins, Operation 6 comes with two new game modes. The first is a variation of versus known as Control, where players will have to capture a large zone to win. However, what separates it from modes like King of the Ring is that players must remain in that zone to score additional points. They will also have an individual respawn timer, which The Coalition promises will make returning to the fight after being killed much faster. The studio thinks it offers "a unique approach to the area of control formula," making for a fun change for those accustomed to King of the Ring or game types in a similar vein.

The second new addition is a fresh Horde adventure, with players able to take part in the Escape From Kadar event. It will be a 10-wave showdown that sees players tackle Niles Samson's newest array of horrors alongside a group of friends. According to The Coalition, the event will introduce Locust enemies into the fray for the first time in Gears 5's horde mode, claiming they'll be equipped with retro lancers and pipes. It also warns those planning to take on Escape From Kadar that they're bound to run into plenty of Sires.

More content is already in the pipeline for Gears 5, with the studio advertising six new skins players can expect to discover during Operation 6. These include a special variation of Major Paduk, a Winter Swarm Drone, and a Winter Scion. The Coalition also promises that a second drop will come later into the season, bringing more skins and a fresh map. Until then, players can enjoy Colonel Hoffman, Queen Reyna, the Locust Zealot, and the Speyer map when they jump into Gears 5 from today onwards.

Gears of War has come a long way since its first installment back in 2006. Although it is not clear exactly when it should be expected, it is likely that players will see Gears 6 announced sometime in the near future.

Gears of War has an unfortunate history of being very male-centric, especially in the first two games, but that eventually changed. Gears of War 4, while teasing JD as the new protagonist, proved to really be about Kait. While not the first female playable character, Kait was the first female character to take center stage in the main storyline. And she proved to be every bit as ruthless a Locust-fighter as Marcus, even with her unusual background. She really became the star of the new series, so it would make sense for her to return as the protagonist in Gears 6, though where her story will go is hard to say.