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 well‑known gaming personalities were on hand.
Notably, Xbox’s senior leader Asha Sharma was spotted near the front, striking an "X" with her arms as the cameras swept across the crowd. The program began with Geoff Keighley delivering an unusually 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, acknowledging that video games are undergoing rapid change. He referenced the wave of layoffs and the surge in hardware costs driven by an AI‑chip shortage, yet emphasized that developers worldwide continue to press forward, creating fresh experiences for players.
The first trailer set the tone by flashing the name "Hoyoverse," prompting audible gasps of excitement. This reaction underscored the global reach of Hoyoverse’s flagship titles such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. The featured game was Nodusfall, a sleek cooperative action title that clearly draws inspiration from Capcom’s Monster Hunter series.
In the demo, teams of players band together to hunt massive, dragon‑like beasts, showcasing fluid combat and impressive visual fidelity. A noticeable trend throughout the evening was the prominence of Chinese and Korean studios. Several titles from the region were highlighted, 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 presented a new life‑simulation experience called Petit Planet, adding another layer to its already diverse portfolio. Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy franchise, took the stage to unveil Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, slated for a spring 2027 launch. Significantly, the game will release simultaneously on all major platforms, a departure from the previous two entries that were timed PlayStation exclusives.
This move signals Square Enix’s intent to broaden the title’s audience. The event also featured Jon Bloch and Pavel Ulmer of 4A Games, who introduced the trailer for Metro 2039, expected in February 2027.
Bloch described the project as a labor of love that demanded “passion, discipline, and a development team accustomed to working without peace or regularity.” Ulmer added that the process had been “pretty rough, trust me.” The trailer opened with a proud declaration, "Proudly made in Ukraine," underscoring the studio’s resilience amid ongoing challenges. Undoubtedly the night’s biggest surprise was the announcement concerning The Witcher 3. The crowd erupted when CD Projekt Red revealed a comprehensive remaster of the 2015 classic, featuring upgraded combat mechanics, ray‑tracing support, and a host of visual enhancements.
Even more generous, the remastered version will be offered as a free upgrade to anyone who owns the original game as of September 29. In addition, the two original expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, will also be provided at no cost to base‑game owners, paving the way for the upcoming third expansion, Songs of the Past, scheduled for 2027. Level‑design lead Miles Tost explained that the studio had long wanted to deliver “one more story” with Geralt, and a brief look at the new expansion revealed Geralt wielding a fresh chain‑weapon.
Wizards of the Coast used the platform to promote their upcoming space‑adventure title Exodus, set for release on April 7 2027, and also showcased an extended gameplay trailer for a new Dungeons & Dragons game called Warlock, slated for next year with a release window still to be confirmed. Other notable reveals included Behaviour Interactive’s Exterminauts, a lighter‑hearted take on the Helldivers formula developed in partnership with Level Infinite; Lego Skylines, a city‑building game that Paradox Interactive will publish; 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 project, 1001 Threads of Mizan. The evening also delivered a dose of the absurd.
Showa American Story’s trailer featured a protagonist wielding an American flag and an arm‑mounted drill, earning a modest round of applause and suggesting that 4Divinity’s strategy of embracing quirky, over‑the‑top AA titles may be resonating. RedOctane’s Stage Tour prompted genuine cheers, indicating that fans are eager for the return of rhythm‑action guitar games.
Nostalgia made an appearance as well. Sega offered a first look at Crazy Taxi World Tour, while Saber Interactive confirmed Turok: Origins for a spring 2027 launch.
Heroes of Might and Magic III is also receiving a full remake, arriving 27 years after its original 1999 debut. Among the indie highlights were Unrelated Studio’s atmospheric Lofsöng, Airship Syndicate’s Dust: Origins, and Daniel Mullins’ wildly imaginative Pony Island 2: Panda Circus, slated for April 27 2027. The pre‑show segment delivered a few more surprises before the main event kicked off. Team 17 announced Worms: Galactic Tactics, an isometric turn‑based strategy game slated for 2027.
RollerCoaster Tycoon: Wonderworks will soon enter Early Access, retaining the beloved pixel‑art aesthetic of the original series. Dlala Studios’ Murals secured legendary comedian Bob Mortimer for voice‑over work, adding a humorous twist to the title.
Indie studio Duck Reaction teased Perceptum, a haunting experience set for 2027, with a trailer that showed an elderly woman closing her eyes to commune with the beyond. Finally, Amplitude Studios, now independent after separating from Sega in 2024, confirmed Humankind 2 for a 2027 release. Studio head Romain de Waubert de Genlis previously told GamesIndustry.biz that the 2021 original remains Amplitude’s most successful game both financially and in player numbers, raising expectations for the sequel.
Overall, Opening Night Live 2026 demonstrated the industry’s resilience and diversity. Despite economic headwinds and supply‑chain pressures, developers from across the globe showcased a mixture of high‑budget spectacles, thoughtful remasters, and daring indie experiments. The event left attendees with a clear sense that, while challenges persist, creativity and passion continue to drive the medium forward.