GamesIndustry.biz attended the eighth edition of Gamescom’s 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 on hand. 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 kicked off with Geoff Keighley delivering a surprisingly personal opening address. He spoke about returning home after last year’s event to be with his ailing father, who passed away shortly thereafter. Keighley also touched on the broader challenges facing the industry, acknowledging that "the video game sector is undergoing significant change and evolution," citing the wave of layoffs and the surge in hardware costs driven by a shortage of AI‑related components. Despite these headwinds, he emphasized that developers worldwide continue to press on, crafting fresh experiences for players.
The first trailer that rolled on the screen lit up the hall with the word "Hoyoverse," prompting audible gasps from the audience. This reaction underscored the global reach of titles such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail.
The showcase then shifted to Nodusfall, a sleek cooperative action game that bears a clear resemblance to Capcom’s Monster Hunter series, with teams of players hunting down dragon‑like beasts in a richly rendered world. A noticeable trend this year was the strong representation of Chinese and Korean studios. Highlights included 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. In addition, Hoyoverse presented another original offering, the life‑simulation title Petit Planet, further illustrating the region’s expanding influence on the global stage.
Naoki Hamaguchi took the stage to unveil Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, slated for a spring 2027 release. Unlike the previous two entries in the series, this installment will launch simultaneously across all platforms, breaking away from the PlayStation‑first strategy that defined its recent predecessors.
The event also featured appearances by Jon Bloch and Pavel Ulmer of 4A Games, who introduced the trailer for Metro 2039, scheduled for February 2027. Bloch remarked that creating a game with such a bleak aesthetic demands "a great deal of passion, discipline, and a development team accustomed to working under irregular, high‑pressure conditions." Ulmer added candidly that the development process has been "pretty rough, trust me," as the trailer flashed the proud declaration "Proudly made in Ukraine." Undoubtedly the crowning moment of the night was the announcement concerning The Witcher 3.
The beloved RPG will receive a comprehensive remaster that adds refined combat mechanics, full‑ray‑tracing support, and a host of quality‑of‑life upgrades. Most importantly, CD Projekt Red confirmed that the remastered edition will be offered as a free upgrade to anyone who owns the original game as of September 29. In addition, the two original expansions will also be provided at no cost, paving the way for the upcoming third expansion, Songs of the Past, set for a 2027 launch.
Level‑design lead Miles Tost explained that the studio has long wanted to "tell one more story" with Geralt, and a brief glimpse of the new expansion showcased Geralt wielding a fresh chain weapon. Wizards of the Coast used the platform to reveal their upcoming space‑adventure title Exodus, due April 7 2027, and also presented an extensive gameplay trailer for a new Dungeons & Dragons game called Warlock, slated for release sometime next year, though a precise date remains unannounced. Other notable trailers included Behaviour Interactive’s Exterminauts (in partnership with Level Infinite), a lighter‑hearted take on the Helldivers formula; Lego Skylines, a city‑building simulation published by Paradox Interactive; and Ontos from Frictional Games and Kepler, billed as a spiritual successor to Soma.
MBC Game Studio, backed by Saudi Arabia’s media giant MBC, introduced its debut project 1001 Threads of Mizan. The more eccentric offerings also earned applause. Showa American Story featured a protagonist wielding an American flag and an arm‑mounted drill, eliciting a modest cheer that suggested 4Divinity’s strategy of embracing quirky, over‑the‑top titles may be resonating.
Meanwhile, RedOctane’s Stage Tour sparked genuine whoops from the crowd, signaling that the revival of rhythm‑action guitar games is long overdue. Nostalgia moments were plentiful. Sega gave attendees a first look at Crazy Taxi World Tour, while Saber Interactive confirmed Turok: Origins for a spring 2027 release.
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 (arriving April 27 2027) each received dedicated showcases.
The pre‑show segment delivered additional surprises. Team 17 announced Worms: Galactic Tactics, an isometric turn‑based strategy game slated for 2027. RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks is set to enter Early Access soon, retaining the pixel‑art aesthetic that fans love. Dlala Studios’ Murals secured legendary comedian Bob Mortimer for voice‑over work, adding a unique flair.
Indie studio Duck Reaction presented a haunting trailer for Perceptum, due 2027, featuring an elderly woman closing her eyes to commune with the beyond. Finally, Amplitude Studios, now independent after spinning off from Sega in 2024, revealed Humankind 2 for a 2027 launch. Studio head Romain de Waubert de Genlis reminded us that the 2021 original remains Amplitude’s "most successful game ever both financially and in number of players."