Gears of War 2 is showing audience growth 16 years after its release. According to Game Trends (via TrueAchievements), since the release of the Gears of War: Reloaded remaster, the online presence of the second installment on Xbox has increased by 126.8%. According to statistics, many of those who tried Reloaded have moved on to other games in the series.
The increased interest in Gears of War 2 is due to several factors. First, the remaster itself became a major news event: Reloaded quickly reached the one million player mark, brought back the attention of the old audience, and introduced new players to the franchise.
Secondly, the entire series is available on Xbox Game Pass, which simplifies the transition from one part to another.
In addition, interest is fueled by the anticipation of the Gears of War: E-Day prequel, which is scheduled for release in 2026.