Amid Xbox layoffs, Gears of War: E-Day studio The Coalition fears cuts right after launch and before Metacritic bonuses

Eurogamer spoke to multiple anonymous staff at Gears of War: E-Day developer The Coalition who fear being laid off shortly after the game's release and missing out on Metacritic-linked bonuses. The bonus requires employees to be full-time at the payout date, which studio leadership said should be near the end of October; it remains unclear whether current staff laid off right after launch would receive it. The report follows Microsoft's 3,200 gaming job cuts and a further round of at least 268 roles, and Xbox declined to comment.