When Gears of War first launched way back in 2006, Epic Games and Microsoft promoted it with an atypical trailer. It used the Gary Jules version of the song "Mad World," making it one of the first video games to set a trailer to slow, moody music that seemed to run counter to the game's tone. It's a tactic that's been emulated by countless other games since, including the likes of Dead Island and Assassin's Creed.
The song became a huge hit thanks to the trailer, jumping to the number one download spot on iTunes — five years after it was first released. It's become directly associated with the game, a part of its DNA.
So it should come as no surprise that when it came time to put together a launch trailer for Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, Microsoft's new Gears-centric studio The Coalition went back to "Mad World" to generate the collection's nostalgia vibe.
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is a complete remaster of the entire original game, with graphics upgraded to full 1080p, 60 frames per second, remastering of more than 3,000 art assets, use of new motion capture recorded specifically for the Ultimate Edition, and a refined control scheme. It will include five levels previously only available in the PC version and access to the Gears of War 4 multiplayer beta.
Take a look at the stunning, high-fidelity gameplay in the launch trailer below.
Gears of War: The Ultimate Edition arrives for Xbox One on August 25, 2015.
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