Gears of War 3 is a 2011 military science fiction third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Studios for the Xbox 360. Originally due for release on April 5, 2011, the game was delayed and eventually released on September 20, 2011. Gears of War 3 made over one million pre-orders. It is the third installment of the Gears of War series. The story was written by science fiction author Karen Traviss. A sequel titled Gears of War 4 was announced in June 2015 and will be released in 2016. Like its predecessors, Gears of War 3 is a third-person shooter that emphasizes the use of cover and squad tactics in order to survive combat situations. The player's character can carry four weapons: one pistol, one set of grenades, and two primary weapons. Firearms can be swapped with other weapons dropped by fallen foes or at stockpiles throughout the game, along with ammunition. When the player reloads a weapons ammunition, they have an opportunity for an "active ...