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 host of industry personalities were on hand – Xbox’s senior leader Asha Sharma could be spotted near the front, striking a playful "X" with her arms as the cameras swept across the audience. The evening began 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 then turned to the broader state of the sector, acknowledging the turbulence that has been felt across the industry: massive layoffs, rising hardware costs driven by the AI‑chip shortage, and shifting consumer expectations.
"Despite these challenges, developers worldwide are forging ahead and crafting new experiences," he affirmed. The first trailer that rolled on the screen displayed the word "Hoyoverse" in bold letters, prompting audible gasps from the crowd.
The reaction underscored the global reach of Hoyoverse’s flagship titles such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. The featured game, Nodusfall, was a sleek cooperative action title that evoked the spirit of Capcom’s Monster Hunter series, inviting players to hunt massive, dragon‑like beasts together.
From that moment, the program signaled a strong Asian presence. Several Chinese and Korean studios showcased their upcoming projects: NC’s cyber‑punk adventure Cinder City, the gritty fighting game Like or Die, Krafton’s battle‑royale sequel PUBG: Ded.Net, Netease’s sci‑fi epic Ananta and the post‑apocalyptic Sea of Remnants, Ti Games’ quirky platformer Zoopunk, and Eclipse Glow Games’ large‑scale strategy Tides of Annihilation. Hoyoverse also revealed a new life‑simulation experience called Petit Planet, adding another feather to its already impressive cap. Naoki Hamaguchi took the stage to introduce Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, slated for a spring 2027 launch.
Notably, this entry will release on all major platforms simultaneously, a departure from the previous two installments that were timed PlayStation exclusives. The event also featured Jon Bloch and Pavel Ulmer of 4A Games, who premiered the trailer for Metro 2039, scheduled for February 2027. Bloch described the development of such a dark title as a test of "passion, discipline, and a team accustomed to working under irregular conditions," while Ulmer candidly admitted the process was "pretty rough, trust me." The trailer opened with a proud declaration: "Proudly made in Ukraine," highlighting the studio’s resilience amid ongoing conflict.
Undoubtedly the night’s climax was the announcement concerning The Witcher 3. The crowd erupted when CD Projekt Red revealed a comprehensive remaster that would bring upgraded combat, ray‑traced lighting, and a host of quality‑of‑life improvements. Even more generous, the remaster will be offered as a free upgrade to anyone who owns the original game on September 29.
In addition, the two original expansions will be provided at no cost, setting the stage for the third expansion, Songs of the Past, due in 2027. Level‑design lead Miles Tost explained that the studio had long wanted to tell "one more story" with Geralt, and a brief glimpse of the upcoming expansion showcased the hero wielding a brand‑new chain weapon. Wizards of the Coast used the platform to promote the space‑exploration title Exodus, arriving on April 7 2027, and delivered an extended gameplay trailer for the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons game Warlock, slated for next year but without a firm release window. Other notable reveals included Behaviour Interactive’s Exterminauts, a lighter‑hearted take on Helldivers 2 co‑produced with Level Infinite; Lego Skylines, a city‑building sandbox 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, debuted its first title, 1001 Threads of Mizan. A tongue‑in‑cheek moment arrived with the absurd trailer for Showa American Story, in which the protagonist attacks enemies wielding an American flag and an arm‑mounted drill. The crowd’s mixed applause suggested that 4Divinity’s strategy of embracing eccentric AA titles may be resonating.
RedOctane’s Stage Tour, a rhythm‑action guitar game, elicited genuine cheers, indicating a strong appetite for a revival of the genre. 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. Among the indie showcases, Unrelated Studio’s atmospheric Lofsöng, Airship Syndicate’s Dust: Origins, and Daniel Mullins’ wildly imaginative Pony Island 2: Panda Circus (arriving April 27 2027) stood out. 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 entered Early Access with a pixel‑art aesthetic faithful to the classic; and Dlala Studios’ horror title Murals secured veteran comedian Bob Mortimer for voice‑over work.
Indie studio Duck Reaction’s haunting trailer for Perceptum, due in 2027, featured an elderly woman closing her eyes to commune with the beyond, leaving a lingering chill. Finally, Amplitude Studios, now independent after separating from Sega in 2024, confirmed Humankind 2 for 2027. Studio head Romain de Waubert de Genlis had previously described the 2021 original as Amplitude’s "most successful game ever both financially and in number of players," setting high expectations for the sequel.