GamesIndustry.biz reported live from Gamescom Opening Night Live on Tuesday, the eighth edition of the digital showcase. The venue was completely filled, with no empty seats, and a host of gaming personalities were in the audience. Xbox’s senior leader Asha Sharma was visible near the front, striking an "X" with her arms as the camera swept across the crowd.
Geoff Keighley opened the program with a surprisingly personal address. He explained that after last year’s event he flew home to be with his ailing father, who passed away shortly thereafter.
Keighley also touched on the sector’s current challenges, noting, "It’s no secret that the video‑game industry is changing and evolving," and pointing to the wave of layoffs and rising hardware costs driven by the AI‑chip shortage. "Nevertheless, developers worldwide keep pushing forward to create new experiences," he added. The opening cinematic began with the word "Hoyoverse" flashing on screen, prompting excited murmurs from the audience—an obvious nod to the global popularity of titles such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail.
The first game spotlighted was Nodusfall, a sleek cooperative action title that bears a clear resemblance to Capcom’s Monster Hunter series, where squads band together to hunt massive draconic beasts. That segment set the tone for the rest of the night, highlighting a pronounced presence from Chinese and Korean studios.
Among the announcements were 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 revealed a new life‑simulation experience called Petit Planet.
Naoki Hamaguchi took the stage to unveil Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, slated for a spring 2027 release. Notably, this entry will launch simultaneously across all platforms, a departure from the previous two titles that were PlayStation‑exclusive launches.
The event also featured Jon Bloch and Pavel Ulmer of 4A Games, who presented the trailer for Metro 2039, scheduled for February 2027. Bloch remarked, "Crafting a game this dark demands passion, discipline, and a team accustomed to working under irregular conditions," while Ulmer added that development had been "pretty rough, trust me." The trailer opened with the caption "Proudly made in Ukraine," underscoring the studio’s resilience.
The undeniable highlight of the evening was The Witcher 3. The crowd erupted when it was announced that the classic will receive a comprehensive remaster, featuring upgraded combat mechanics, ray‑tracing support, and a host of visual enhancements. Moreover, the remaster 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, due in 2027. Level‑design lead Miles Tost explained that CD Projekt Red had long wanted to deliver "one more story" with Geralt, and a brief look at the new expansion showed Geralt wielding a fresh chain weapon. Wizards of the Coast used its slot to showcase the space‑adventure Exodus, arriving on April 7 2027, and delivered an extensive gameplay trailer for the Dungeons & Dragons title Warlock, slated for next year without a firm release date. Other notable trailers included Exterminauts from Behaviour Interactive and Level Infinite—a lighter‑hearted spin on Helldivers 2—plus the city‑building game Lego Skylines, which will be published by Paradox Interactive.
Frictional Games and Kepler revealed Ontos, billed as a spiritual successor to Soma, while MBC Game Studio introduced its debut project, 1001 Threads of Mizan, funded by Saudi Arabia’s MBC broadcasting group. The quirky trailer for Showa American Story, featuring a protagonist wielding an American flag and an arm‑mounted drill, earned a modest applause, suggesting that 4Divinity’s strategy of embracing eccentric AA titles may be paying off. RedOctane’s Stage Tour generated genuine cheers, indicating a long‑awaited revival of rhythm‑action guitar games.
Nostalgia also made an appearance. Sega gave the first look at Crazy Taxi World Tour, and Saber Interactive confirmed Turok: Origins for a spring 2027 launch. Heroes of Might and Magic 3 received news of a remake, arriving 27 years after its original 1999 debut. Indie highlights shone as well.
Unrelated Studio presented Lofsöng, Airship Syndicate showed Dust: Origins, and Daniel Mullins teased the wildly stylized Pony Island 2: Panda Circus, set for April 27 2027. A few pre‑show announcements rounded out the event.
Team 17 revealed Worms: Galactic Tactics, an isometric turn‑based strategy game slated for 2027. RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks was announced for an early‑access launch, retaining the pixel‑art aesthetic of the beloved classic. Dlala Studios secured legendary comedian Bob Mortimer to voice‑over its atmospheric title Murals.
Indie studio Duck Reaction’s Perceptum, due in 2027, made a haunting impression with a trailer that featured 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 previously told GamesIndustry.biz that the 2021 original remains Amplitude’s "most successful game ever both financially and in number of players."