GamesIndustry.biz attended the eighth edition of Gamescom Opening Night Live on Tuesday evening, a fully digital showcase that filled the venue to capacity. Every seat was taken and a host of gaming personalities were in the audience. Notably, Xbox’s senior leader Asha Sharma was spotted near the front, playfully forming an "X" with her arms as the cameras swept across the crowd.
The ceremony began with Geoff Keighley delivering a surprisingly personal opening address. He recounted how, after last year’s event, he rushed home to be with his ailing father, who passed away shortly thereafter.
Keighley also took a moment to acknowledge the broader challenges facing the industry, noting that "the video‑game sector is undeniably shifting and evolving," with widespread layoffs and rising hardware costs driven by the AI‑chip shortage. Despite these headwinds, he affirmed that developers worldwide continue to press forward, crafting new experiences for players. The opening trailer immediately lit up the room with the word "Hoyoverse," prompting audible gasps from attendees—a clear sign of the global reach of titles such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. The first game revealed was Nodusfall, a sleek co‑op action title that bears a strong resemblance to Capcom’s Monster Hunter series.
In Nodusfall, squads of players hunt massive dragon‑like beasts, showcasing polished combat mechanics and vibrant environments. A noticeable trend this year was the pronounced presence of Chinese and Korean studios.
The lineup featured a variety of new projects: Cinder City and Like or Die from NCSoft, PUBG: Ded.Net from Krafton, Ananta and Sea of Remnants from NetEase, Zoopunk from Ti Games, and Tides of Annihilation from Chengdu‑based Eclipse Glow Games. Additionally, Hoyoverse unveiled another of its properties, the life‑simulation game Petit Planet, further underscoring the region’s growing influence on the global stage. Naoki Hamaguchi stepped onto the stage to present Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, slated for a spring 2027 release.
Significantly, this entry will launch simultaneously across all major platforms, a departure from the previous two installments which were timed exclusives for PlayStation. The event also highlighted Metro 2039, the next chapter in 4A Games’ post‑apocalyptic series, slated for February 2027. Jon Bloch and Pavel Ulmer appeared on‑stage to introduce the trailer.
Bloch emphasized the demanding nature of creating a game with such a bleak tone, describing the development as a test of "passion, discipline, and a team accustomed to working without peace or regularity." Ulmer added that the production had been "pretty rough, trust me," and the trailer proudly displayed the caption "Proudly made in Ukraine." Undoubtedly, the night’s crowning moment was the announcement concerning The Witcher 3. The iconic RPG will receive a comprehensive remaster, featuring upgraded combat, ray‑tracing, and a host of visual enhancements. Even more exciting, CD Projekt Red will provide the remaster as a free upgrade to all owners of the original game on September 29. In addition, the two original expansions will be offered at no cost, paving the way for the upcoming third expansion, Songs of the Past, expected in 2027.
Level‑design lead Miles Tost explained that the studio had long wanted to craft "one more story" with Geralt, and a brief glimpse of the new expansion showed Geralt wielding a fresh chain weapon. Wizards of the Coast used the platform to tease the space‑adventure Exodus, scheduled for release on April 7, 2027, and also presented an extensive gameplay trailer for the Dungeons & Dragons title Warlock, due sometime next year though a precise launch window was not disclosed.
Other notable reveals included Behaviour Interactive’s Exterminauts, a lighter‑hearted take on Helldivers 2 developed with Level Infinite; Lego Skylines, a city‑building title published by Paradox Interactive; and Ontos from Frictional Games and Kepler, billed as a spiritual successor to Soma. MBC Game Studio, backed by Saudi broadcaster MBC, introduced its debut project 1001 Threads of Mizan. The more eccentric moments came with Showa American Story, whose absurd trailer showed a protagonist slashing enemies with an American flag and an arm‑mounted drill, earning a mixed reaction that suggested 4Divinity’s strategy of embracing quirky AAA experiences may be resonating.
RedOctane’s Stage Tour sparked genuine cheers, indicating that a revival of rhythm‑action guitar games is long overdue. Nostalgia also featured prominently. Sega offered a first look at Crazy Taxi World Tour, while Saber Interactive confirmed Turok: Origins for a spring 2027 debut. Heroes of Might and Magic 3 received news of a full remake, arriving 27 years after its original 1999 launch.
Indie titles shone as well. Unrelated Studio’s Lofsöng, Airship Syndicate’s Dust: Origins, and Daniel Mullins’ eccentric Pony Island 2: Panda Circus (arriving April 27, 2027) each earned spotlight moments.
Pre‑show announcements added further depth. Team 17 revealed Worms: Galactic Tactics, an isometric turn‑based strategy game slated for 2027. RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks will soon enter Early Access, retaining the beloved pixel‑art aesthetic of the classic. Dlala Studios’ Murals secured British comedian Bob Mortimer for voice work, while indie studio Duck Reaction’s Perceptum (2027) delivered a chilling trailer featuring an elderly woman closing her eyes to commune with the beyond.
Finally, Amplitude Studios announced Humankind 2 for 2027, following the studio’s 2024 spin‑off from Sega. Studio head Romain de Waubert de Genlis previously told GamesIndustry.biz that the 2021 original was Amplitude’s "most successful game ever both financially and in number of players," setting high expectations for the sequel.