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 industry personalities roamed the aisles – Xbox’s senior leader Asha Sharma even struck a playful “X” with her arms as the cameras swept past her.
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 by his ailing father’s side; the elder Keighley passed away shortly thereafter. Keighley then turned to the state of the industry, acknowledging the turbulence that has been felt across the sector. "It’s no secret that the video‑game business is shifting and evolving," he said, pointing to the wave of layoffs and the surge in hardware costs driven by the AI‑chip shortage.
"Nevertheless, developers around the globe are forging ahead, crafting new experiences for players." The first trailer set the tone with a bold flash of the Hoyoverse logo, prompting audible gasps from the crowd. The reaction underscored the worldwide reach of Hoyoverse’s flagship titles such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail.
The showcase then unveiled Nodusfall, a sleek cooperative action game whose gameplay mechanics echo Capcom’s Monster Hunter series, tasking teams with hunting massive draconic beasts. A recurring theme throughout the broadcast was the prominence of East Asian studios. Chinese and Korean developers filled the lineup with a slew of new projects: 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 revealed a life‑simulation title 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 release. Notably, the game will launch simultaneously on every major platform, a departure from the PlayStation‑first strategy employed for the two previous entries in the revived VII saga. The event also featured Jon Bloch and Pavel Ulmer of 4A Games, who presented the trailer for Metro 2039, scheduled for February 2027.
Bloch emphasized the difficulty of creating a game with such a bleak aesthetic, noting that it demands “passion, discipline, and a team accustomed to working under irregular, high‑pressure conditions.” Ulmer added, with a hint of humor, that development had been “pretty rough, trust me.” The trailer opened with a proud declaration: "Proudly made in Ukraine." Undoubtedly the most electrifying announcement came from CD Projekt Red. The studio revealed that The Witcher 3 would receive a comprehensive remaster, featuring upgraded combat, ray‑tracing support, and a host of quality‑of‑life improvements.
Even more exciting, the remaster will be distributed as a free upgrade to anyone who owns the original game as of September 29. In addition, the two original expansions will also be offered at no cost, paving the way for the upcoming third expansion, Songs of the Past, due in 2027.
Level‑design lead Miles Tost explained that the team had long wanted to craft “one more story” for Geralt, and a quick glimpse of the new content showed the witcher wielding a fresh chain weapon. Wizards of the Coast used the platform to preview Exodus, a space‑exploration adventure slated for April 7, 2027, and delivered an extensive gameplay reel for the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons title Warlock, which is expected to launch sometime next year. Other noteworthy reveals included Behaviour Interactive’s Exterminauts (co‑developed with Level Infinite), a lighter‑hearted take on the Helldivers formula; Lego Skylines, a city‑building game published by Paradox Interactive; and Ontos from Frictional Games and Kepler, billed as a spiritual successor to the studio’s acclaimed Soma.
MBC Game Studio, backed by the Saudi broadcaster MBC, introduced its first project, 1001 Threads of Mizan. A particularly quirky moment arrived with the trailer for Showa American Story, where the protagonist battles enemies wielding an American flag and an arm‑mounted drill. The audience responded with a modest round of applause, suggesting that 4Divinity’s strategy of embracing eccentric, AA‑style titles may be resonating. RedOctane’s Stage Tour sparked genuine cheers, indicating that the revival of rhythm‑guitar games is eagerly anticipated.
Nostalgia also made an appearance. Sega unveiled 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 is receiving a full remake, arriving 27 years after its original 1999 debut. Indie offerings shone as well.
Unrelated Studio’s Lofsöng, Airship Syndicate’s Dust: Origins, and Daniel Mullins’ off‑beat Pony Island 2: Panda Circus (due April 27, 2027) each earned a spot in the lineup. The pre‑show segment delivered additional surprises: Team 17 announced Worms: Galactic Tactics, an isometric turn‑based strategy game arriving in 2027; RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks will soon enter Early Access, preserving the beloved pixel‑art aesthetic of its predecessor; and Dlala Studios’ Murals secured British comedian Bob Mortimer for voice work. Duck Reaction’s haunting trailer for Perceptum, set for a 2027 launch, featured an elderly woman closing her eyes to commune with the afterlife, leaving a lingering chill. Finally, Amplitude Studios, now independent after splitting 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 title both financially and in player count.