GamesIndustry.biz reported live from the Gamescom Opening Night Live event on Tuesday, marking the eighth edition of the digital showcase. The venue was completely filled, with no empty seats in sight, and a parade of gaming personalities filled the audience. Notably, Xbox senior leader Asha Sharma could be spotted near the front, striking an "X" with her arms as the camera swept across the crowd. The evening kicked off with Geoff Keighley delivering a surprisingly personal opening address.
He shared that after last year’s ceremony he returned home to be with his ailing father, who passed away shortly thereafter. Keighley also took a moment to acknowledge the broader challenges facing the industry, noting, "It’s no secret that the video‑game sector is undergoing rapid change and evolution," and pointing to the wave of layoffs and the surge in hardware prices sparked by the AI‑chip shortage. "Nevertheless, developers around the globe continue to press forward, crafting new experiences," he added. The first trailer set the tone by flashing the word "Hoyoverse," prompting audible gasps of excitement from the audience—a clear nod to the worldwide popularity of titles such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail.
The next showcase was Nodusfall, a slick cooperative action game that bears a striking resemblance to Capcom’s Monster Hunter series, as teams of players band together to hunt massive dragon‑like beasts. A noticeable trend emerged: a strong showing from Chinese and Korean studios. The lineup featured titles like 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.
Additionally, Hoyoverse presented another of its own projects, the life‑simulation game Petit Planet, further underscating the region’s growing influence. Naoki Hamaguchi took the stage to unveil Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, slated for a spring 2027 release. Significantly, this entry will launch on every major platform at the same time, a departure from the previous two installments that were PlayStation‑exclusive launches. The event also featured on‑stage appearances by Jon Bloch and Pavel Ulmer of 4A Games, who rolled out the trailer for Metro 2039, scheduled for February 2027.
Bloch explained that creating a game with such a bleak aesthetic demands “a lot of passion, discipline, and a development team accustomed to working without peace or regularity.” Ulmer added that the production had been “pretty rough, trust me,” as the trailer flashed the proud message “Proudly made in Ukraine." Undoubtedly the night’s biggest sensation was The Witcher 3. The crowd erupted when it was announced that the beloved RPG will receive a comprehensive remaster, featuring upgraded combat mechanics, ray‑tracing support, and a host of visual enhancements. Even more thrilling, CD Projekt Red revealed that 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 be handed out for free to base‑game owners, paving the way for the third expansion, Songs of the Past, due in 2027.
Level‑design lead Miles Tost stepped up to explain that the studio had long wanted “one more story” with Geralt, and a brief glimpse of the upcoming content showed the witcher wielding a brand‑new chain weapon. Wizards of the Coast used its slot to promote the space‑faring adventure Exodus, arriving on April 7 2027, and also delivered an extensive gameplay trailer for the Dungeons & Dragons title Warlock, slated for release sometime next year, though no exact date was provided.
Other notable reveals included Behaviour Interactive’s Exterminauts (co‑produced with Level Infinite), which appears to be a lighter‑hearted take on Helldivers 2; Lego Skylines, a city‑building game published by Paradox Interactive; and Ontos from Frictional Games and Kepler, billed as a spiritual successor to Soma. MBC Game Studio, funded by Saudi Arabia’s MBC network, debuted its first title, 1001 Threads of Mizan. The quirky trailer for Showa American Story—featuring a protagonist who attacks enemies with an American flag and an arm‑mounted drill—earned a modest round of applause, suggesting that 4Divinity’s strategy of embracing off‑beat AAA concepts may be resonating.
Meanwhile, RedOctane’s Stage Tour provoked genuine whoops from the crowd, indicating that the resurgence of rhythm‑action guitar games has been eagerly anticipated. Nostalgia also made an appearance.
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 3 received news of a remake, arriving 27 years after its original 1999 debut.
Indie highlights shone brightly as well. Unrelated Studio presented Lofsöng, Airship Syndicate showed Dust: Origins, and Daniel Mullins teased the eccentric Pony Island 2: Panda Circus, scheduled for April 27 2027. The pre‑show segment delivered additional surprises before the main event began. Team 17 announced Worms: Galactic Tactics, an isometric turn‑based tactics title slated for 2027.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks was revealed as an upcoming Early Access release that retains the pixel‑art aesthetic of the classic series. Dlala Studios’ Murals secured legendary comedian Bob Mortimer for voice‑over work, adding a unique flavor to the project.
Indie studio Duck Reaction’s Perceptum, also due in 2027, made an impact with a haunting trailer featuring an elderly woman closing her eyes to commune with the beyond. Finally, Amplitude Studios—now independent after separating from Sega in 2024—announced Humankind 2 for 2027. Studio head 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.”