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 parade of gaming personalities roamed the aisles – among them Xbox’s senior leader Asha Sharma, who posed with a dramatic “X” formed by her arms as the cameras swept over the crowd. The event 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 sector’s current challenges, noting, “It’s no secret the video‑game industry is in a state of flux,” and pointing to widespread layoffs and the surge in hardware prices caused by the AI‑chip shortage. Despite these headwinds, he affirmed that developers worldwide continue to press on, crafting new experiences for players. The first trailer set the tone by flashing the word “Hoyoverse,” prompting audible gasps from the audience.
The excitement hinted at the global reach of titles such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. The showcase then revealed Nodusfall, a sleek cooperative action game that bears a clear resemblance to Capcom’s Monster Hunter series, with teams of players hunting down massive dragon‑like beasts. A clear pattern emerged: a pronounced presence from Chinese and Korean studios.
Highlights from the region included 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. The lineup also featured another Hoyoverse offering, a life‑simulation title called Petit Planet. Naoki Hamaguchi took the stage to introduce Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, slated for a spring 2027 release.
Notably, this entry will launch on every major platform simultaneously, a departure from the previous two installments that were PlayStation exclusives. Jon Bloch and Pavel Ulmer of 4A Games appeared next to unveil the trailer for Metro 2039, scheduled for February 2027. Bloch explained that creating a game with such a bleak atmosphere demands “passion, discipline, and a team accustomed to working without peace or regularity,” while Ulmer added that development had been “pretty rough, trust me.” The trailer opened with a proud declaration: “Proudly made in Ukraine.” The night’s undeniable climax was the announcement concerning The Witcher 3. The crowd erupted when CD Projekt Red revealed a comprehensive remaster that adds upgraded combat, ray‑tracing support, and a host of quality‑of‑life improvements.
Even more exciting, 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 released for free to base‑game owners, paving the way for the third expansion, Songs of the Past, which arrives in 2027.
Level‑design lead Miles Tost explained that the studio has long wanted “one more story” for Geralt, and a brief glimpse of the upcoming expansion showed the witcher wielding a brand‑new chain weapon. Wizards of the Coast used the platform to promote the space‑adventure Exodus, set for an April 7, 2027 launch, and to share an extended gameplay trailer for the Dungeons & Dragons title Warlock, slated for next year with a date yet to be confirmed. Other notable reveals included Behaviour Interactive’s Exterminauts (co‑developed with Level Infinite), 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, backed by Saudi Arabia’s media giant MBC, debuted its first project, 1001 Threads of Mizan.
A tongue‑in‑cheek moment arrived with the absurd trailer for Showa American Story, where the protagonist battles enemies using an American flag and an arm‑mounted drill. The crowd’s mixed applause suggested that 4Divinity’s strategy of leaning into quirky, over‑the‑top titles might pay off. RedOctane’s Stage Tour also earned genuine cheers, indicating a strong appetite for the revival of rhythm‑action guitar games.
Nostalgia made a cameo when Sega presented a first look at Crazy Taxi World Tour, while Saber Interactive confirmed Turok: Origins for a spring 2027 release. Heroes of Might and Magic III received news of a full remake, arriving 27 years after its original 1999 debut. Indie highlights shone throughout the program. Unrelated Studio’s Lofsöng, Airship Syndicate’s Dust: Origins, and Daniel Mullins’ eccentric Pony Island 2: Panda Circus (due April 27, 2027) each earned dedicated spotlight time.
The pre‑show segment also delivered several surprises. Team 17 announced Worms: Galactic Tactics, an isometric turn‑based strategy game slated for 2027.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks was revealed as an upcoming Early Access title that retains the pixel‑art aesthetic of the classic series. Dlala Studios’ Murals secured legendary British comedian Bob Mortimer for voice‑over work, adding a unique flavor to the project. Indie studio Duck Reaction’s Perceptum, 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 splitting 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 ever, both financially and in player numbers.”