GamesIndustry.biz attended the eighth edition of Gamescom’s Opening Night Live on Tuesday, a fully digital showcase that filled the venue to capacity. Every seat was taken, and a parade of gaming personalities mingled among the audience; Xbox’s senior leader Asha Sharma was spotted near the front, playfully forming an "X" with her arms as cameras swept across the crowd. The evening began with Geoff Keighley delivering a surprisingly personal opening address.
He shared that after last year’s event he flew home to be with his ailing father, who passed away shortly thereafter. Keighley also took a moment to acknowledge the sector’s current challenges, noting that "the video‑game industry is changing and evolving," with widespread layoffs and rising hardware costs driven by the AI‑component shortage. Despite these headwinds, he emphasized that developers worldwide continue to press on, crafting fresh experiences for players.
The first trailer set the tone by flashing the name Hoyoverse, prompting audible gasps from the audience—a clear sign of the massive global reach of titles such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. The showcase then introduced Nodusfall, a sleek co‑op action game that bears a strong resemblance to Capcom’s Monster Hunter series, inviting players to team up and hunt dragon‑like beasts. A noticeable trend this year was the prominence of Chinese and Korean studios.
Several titles from those regions were highlighted, including 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. Hoyoverse also presented a new life‑simulation experience called Petit Planet, further underscoring the Asian market’s growing influence. Naoki Hamaguchi took the stage to unveil Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, slated for a spring 2027 release.
Unlike the previous two entries, this installment will launch on every major platform simultaneously, breaking the pattern of PlayStation‑first exclusivity that characterized its predecessors. The event also featured appearances by Jon Bloch and Pavel Ulmer of 4A Games, who revealed the trailer for Metro 2039, scheduled for February 2027.
Bloch described the development of such a bleak world as requiring "a lot of passion, discipline, and a team accustomed to working without peace or regularity," while Ulmer added that the process had been "pretty rough, trust me." The trailer opened with the proud declaration "Proudly made in Ukraine," a nod to the studio’s origins. Undoubtedly the night’s biggest surprise was The Witcher 3. The beloved RPG was announced to receive a comprehensive remaster, featuring upgraded combat mechanics, ray‑tracing support, 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 earlier expansions will be offered at no cost to base‑game owners, paving the way for the third expansion, Songs of the Past, which is expected in 2027.
Level‑design lead Miles Tost explained that the studio has long wanted to deliver "one more story" with Geralt, and a brief look at the upcoming expansion showcased Geralt wielding a brand‑new chain weapon. Wizards of the Coast used the platform to promote the space‑adventure Exodus, arriving on April 7 2027, and also delivered an extensive gameplay trailer for the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons title Warlock, slated for release sometime next year. Other notable reveals included Behaviour Interactive’s Exterminauts, a lighter‑hearted take on Helldivers 2 co‑developed with Level Infinite, and Lego Skylines, a new city‑builder published by Paradox Interactive. Frictional Games presented Kepler, billed as a spiritual successor to Soma, while MBC Game Studio debuted its first project, 1001 Threads of Mizan, funded by the Saudi broadcaster MBC.
A tongue‑in‑cheek moment arrived with the absurd trailer for Showa American Story, where the protagonist attacks foes with an American flag and an arm‑mounted drill, earning amused applause and hinting that 4Divinity’s strategy of embracing quirky AA titles may be paying off. RedOctane’s Stage Tour sparked genuine cheers, suggesting that the return of rhythm‑action guitar games has been long overdue.
Nostalgia also featured prominently. Sega gave fans a first glimpse of Crazy Taxi World Tour, while Saber Interactive confirmed Turok: Origins for a spring 2027 launch. Heroes of Might and Magic 3 received news of a full remake, arriving 27 years after its original 1999 debut. Indie highlights shone as well.
Unrelated Studio’s Lofsöng, Airship Syndicate’s Dust: Origins, and Daniel Mullins’ eccentric Pony Island 2: Panda Circus—scheduled for April 27 2027—each received dedicated trailers. The pre‑show segment added a few more announcements. Team 17 revealed Worms: Galactic Tactics, an isometric turn‑based strategy game arriving in 2027. RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks was teased as an upcoming Early Access title that retains the pixel‑art aesthetic of the classic series.
Dlala Studios’ Murals secured legendary comedian Bob Mortimer for voice‑over work, adding a unique flair. Indie studio Duck Reaction presented a haunting teaser for Perceptum, slated for 2027, featuring an elderly woman closing her eyes to commune with the beyond. Finally, Amplitude Studios—now independent from Sega since 2024—announced Humankind 2 for 2027. Studio head Romain de Waubert de Genlis recalled that the 2021 original remains Amplitude’s most successful game both financially and in player count, setting high expectations for the sequel.