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, including Xbox’s senior leader Asha Sharma, who was spotted near the front forming a conspicuous “X” with her arms as the cameras swept across the crowd.
The evening began with Geoff Keighley delivering a surprisingly personal opening address. He recounted how, after last year’s event, he flew home to be with his ailing father, who passed away shortly thereafter.
Keighley then turned to the broader state of the industry, noting that "it’s no secret that the video‑game sector is in flux," pointing to the wave of layoffs and the surge in hardware costs driven by a shortage of AI‑related components. Despite those challenges, 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 reminder of the global reach of titles such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. The next showcase was Nodusfall, a sleek cooperative action game that bears a strong resemblance to Capcom’s Monster Hunter series, tasking teams with hunting down draconic beasts in a richly detailed world.
A noticeable trend this year was the prominence of Chinese and Korean studios. The lineup featured several titles from the region, 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 returned with a new life‑simulation offering called Petit Planet, underscoring the company’s continued expansion beyond its flagship action RPGs. Naoki Hamaguchi took the stage to unveil Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, slated for a spring 2027 release.
In a departure from the previous two entries, this installment will launch simultaneously across all platforms, rather than being a timed PlayStation exclusive, signaling Square Enix’s intent to reach the widest possible audience. The event also highlighted 4A Games, with Jon Bloch and Pavel Ulmer presenting 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,” while Ulmer added that development had been “pretty rough, trust me.” The trailer opened with a bold "Proudly made in Ukraine" banner, paying homage to the studio’s origins. Undoubtedly the night’s biggest moment was the announcement concerning The Witcher 3.
The crowd erupted when CD Projekt Red revealed a comprehensive remaster that will introduce upgraded combat mechanics, ray‑tracing graphics, and a host of quality‑of‑life improvements. Even more exciting, the upgrade will be offered as a free update to everyone who owns the original game on September 29. In addition, the two original expansions will be released at no cost to base‑game owners, paving the way for the forthcoming third expansion, Songs of the Past, expected in 2027. Level‑design lead Miles Tost explained that the studio has long wanted to craft “one more story” for Geralt, and a brief glimpse of the new expansion showed the witcher wielding a fresh chain weapon.
Wizards of the Coast used the platform to showcase the space‑exploration title Exodus, due April 7, 2027, and also delivered an extensive gameplay trailer for the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons game Warlock, slated for release next year though a precise date remains unannounced. Other notable reveals included Behaviour Interactive’s Exterminauts (co‑developed 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 MBC network, presented its debut title 1001 Threads of Mizan. A particularly quirky moment arrived with the trailer for Showa American Story, where the protagonist attacks enemies wielding an American flag and an arm‑mounted drill.
The oddball presentation earned a modest round of applause, suggesting that 4Divinity’s strategy of embracing eccentric, AA‑style games may be resonating. Meanwhile, RedOctane’s Stage Tour provoked genuine cheers, indicating that the resurgence of rhythm‑action guitar games is eagerly anticipated by the crowd. Nostalgia also featured heavily. Sega offered the first look at Crazy Taxi World Tour, while Saber Interactive confirmed Turok: Origins for a spring 2027 launch.
Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is receiving 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’ wildly imaginative Pony Island 2: Panda Circus (due April 27, 2027) all received dedicated segments.
The pre‑show segment delivered several early announcements. Team 17 revealed Worms: Galactic Tactics, an isometric turn‑based strategy game slated for 2027.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks is heading to Early Access, preserving the pixel‑art aesthetic of the classic series. Dlala Studios’ Murals secured legendary comedian Bob Mortimer for voice‑over work, adding a unique comedic flavor. Indie studio Duck Reaction’s Perceptum, also slated for 2027, delivered a haunting trailer featuring an elderly woman closing her eyes to commune with the beyond, leaving a lingering chill. Finally, Amplitude Studios announced Humankind 2 for 2027, noting that the studio has operated independently of Sega since 2024.
Romain de Waubert de Genlis had previously told GamesIndustry.biz that the 2021 original was Amplitude’s "most successful game ever both financially and in number of players," setting high expectations for the sequel.