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 occupied, and a host of industry personalities were on hand. Xbox’s senior leader Asha Sharma was visible near the front, striking a playful "X" with her arms as the camera swept across the crowd.
The event kicked off with Geoff Keighley delivering a surprisingly personal opening address. He shared that after last year’s show he flew home to be with his ailing father, who passed away shortly thereafter.
Keighley also took a moment to acknowledge the broader challenges facing the sector, noting that “the video‑game industry is changing and evolving” amid widespread layoffs and rising hardware costs driven by an AI‑chip shortage. Despite those headwinds, he emphasized that developers worldwide continue to press on, crafting fresh experiences for players.
The opening cinematic began with the word “Hoyoverse” flashing across the screen, prompting audible gasps of excitement. This cue underscored the global reach of Hoyoverse’s flagship titles such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. The first game spotlighted was *Nodusfall*, a sleek co‑op action adventure that bears a strong resemblance to Capcom’s *Monster Hunter* series, with teams of players banding together to hunt dragon‑like beasts. A noticeable trend this year was the prominence of Chinese and Korean studios.
Several titles from the region were showcased, including *Cinder City* and *Like or Die* from NC, *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 introduced a new life‑simulation experience called *Petit Planet*, adding another feather to its already impressive portfolio. Naoki Hamaguchi took the stage to unveil *Final Fantasy VII: Revelation*, slated for a spring 2027 launch.
Notably, this entry will release simultaneously across all platforms, a departure from the previous two installments which were timed PlayStation exclusives. The evening 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 project as “a dark, demanding experience that requires passion, discipline, and a team accustomed to working under irregular conditions.” Ulmer added candidly that development had been “pretty rough, trust me.” The trailer opened with a proud declaration: “Proudly made in Ukraine.” Undoubtedly the show’s biggest moment arrived with the announcement of a *Witcher 3* remaster. The crowd erupted when it was revealed that the classic RPG will receive a comprehensive overhaul—including revamped combat mechanics, ray‑tracing support, and a host of quality‑of‑life upgrades. Even more exciting, 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 be provided at no cost, and a third expansion titled *Songs of the Past* is slated for 2027.
Level‑design lead Miles Tost explained that CD Projekt Red has long wanted “one more story” for Geralt, and a brief glimpse of the upcoming content showed the witcher wielding a new chain weapon. Wizards of the Coast used the platform to promote the space‑exploration title *Exodus*, due April 7 2027, and delivered an extended gameplay trailer for the upcoming *Dungeons & Dragons* game *Warlock*, which is slated for next year though a precise launch window has yet to be confirmed. Other noteworthy reveals included *Exterminauts* from Behaviour Interactive and Level Infinite—a lighter‑hearted take on the *Helldivers* formula—plus the city‑building game *Lego Skylines*, which will be published by Paradox Interactive.
Frictional Games introduced *Ontos* and its spiritual successor *Kepler*, positioned as the next evolution of the atmospheric horror series that began with *Soma*. MBC Game Studio, backed by Saudi Arabia’s MBC network, debuted its first title, *1001 Threads of Mizan*.
A tongue‑in‑cheek trailer for *Showa American Story* earned a few chuckles as the protagonist attacked enemies with an American flag and an arm‑mounted drill, suggesting that 4Divinity may be carving a niche with quirky, over‑the‑top action‑adventure titles. Meanwhile, RedOctane’s *Stage Tour* prompted genuine cheers, indicating that fans are eager for the return of rhythm‑based guitar games.
Nostalgia also featured prominently. Sega offered 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 throughout the lineup. Unrelated Studio’s *Lofsöng*, Airship Syndicate’s *Dust: Origins*, and Daniel Mullins’ eccentric sequel *Pony Island 2: Panda Circus*—scheduled for April 27 2027—each received dedicated segments. Pre‑show announcements added further depth. Team 17 revealed *Worms: Galactic Tactics*, an isometric turn‑based strategy title slated for 2027.
*RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks* will soon enter Early Access, retaining the beloved pixel‑art aesthetic of the original. Dlala Studios’ *Murals* secured legendary comedian Bob Mortimer for voice‑over work, while indie studio Duck Reaction teased *Perceptum* (2027) with a haunting trailer featuring an elderly woman closing her eyes to commune with the beyond. Finally, Amplitude Studios announced *Humankind 2* for 2027, noting that the studio became independent from Sega in 2024.
Studio head Romain de Waubert de Genlis had previously told GamesIndustry.biz that the 2021 original was Amplitude’s most successful title both financially and in player numbers. The event closed on a high note, leaving attendees with a clear sense that despite industry turbulence, creativity and ambition remain as vibrant as ever.