Social media has been rife with conspiracy theories linking the hammer of dawn from the video game Gears of War to the devastating fires in Hawaii. The fires began on August 8 and have tragically claimed at least 99 lives, particularly affecting the Maui area. Although the official cause is attributed to dry conditions and winds from Hurricane Dora, some internet users have been quick to speculate otherwise.
In the Gears of War franchise, the Hammer of Dawn is a high-powered orbital laser weapon that targets enemies on the ground. Initially designed by the fictitious URI scientist Mauris Ivo and later perfected by Professor Adam Fenix, the weapon is a product of the Coalition of Ordered Governments (COG) and was used in the fight against the Locust Horde, an aggressive subterranean species.
The Hammer of Dawn is especially effective against large groups of enemies and heavily armored foes. It has been a critical weapon in the final battles of Gears of War 2, 3, and 5, where it was used against the Locust and their mutated counterparts, the Lambent.
On the other hand, X users point out that DEW (Direct Energy Weapon) can burn down residences but not trees, fueling the conspiracy. Some videos look precisely like the fictional world in Gears of War and are probably heavy edits.
What is the Hammer of Dawn from Gears of War now being linked to the fires in Hawaii?
The conspiracy theories around the Hawaii fires started gaining traction on TikTok, where several videos claimed the fires resulted from arson. Subsequent photos and summaries on social media have only fanned the flames of these theories. One particular photo, seemingly showing a laser beam falling in Hawaii, has led some to believe it resembles the hammer of dawn from Gears of War. One user said, “When I saw that image, I immediately thought of the Dawn Hammer.”
The speculation has even reached the point where some conspiracy theorists suggest that a real-life version of the Hammer of Dawn might exist and could have been used to start the fires in Hawaii. They argue that the U.S. military might have developed a weapon similar to the one in Gears of War. However, no evidence supports this claim, and the notion of a real-life hammer of dawn remains purely speculative.
Some users also pointed out similarities between the weapons allegedly used in Hawaii and a strike in Chile in May 2023:
Why do they say the Hammer of Dawn was used in the fires in Hawaii?
Remember, the Hammer of Dawn, as depicted in the Gears of War series, is purely a work of fiction created for the entertainment of gamers. In reality, no such weapon exists, and the fires in Hawaii were most likely caused by natural factors. Authorities continue to investigate the causes of the fires, focusing on the prevailing natural conditions in the region.