Highlights from Gamescom Opening Night Live

This year’s Gamescom kicked off with an exciting Opening Night Live showcase hosted by Geoff Keighley. While we already knew about some titles like Final Fantasy VII Revelation and the new expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, there was plenty more to explore in the two-hour event. If you missed the live show, you can catch the VOD below or keep reading for the key highlights.

First up is Nodusfall, a new dark fantasy game from Hoyoverse, the team behind Genshin Impact. This isn’t your typical anime-inspired gacha game; instead, it channels a vibe reminiscent of FromSoftware titles. Players will team up in groups of four to take down formidable monsters.

Next, Ubisoft unveiled a fresh entry in the Rainbow Six series, but this time it’s a tactical game akin to XCOM rather than a shooter. Assemble a squad of familiar Rainbow Six operators and strategize their infiltration into enemy territory. This title is set to launch next year.

The Coalition showcased Gears of War: E-Day, which Keighley highlighted as an “Xbox console exclusive.” The story trailer hints at a prequel to the Gears saga, featuring a younger Marcus Fenix. The game is slated for release on PC and Xbox Series X/S on October 6.

NetEase presented a new look at Ananta, an anime-inspired sci-fi game with a GTA-like feel. It’s set to launch on January 15 for PC and PS5, and will be free-to-play.

Konami shared a new trailer for Silent Hill: Townfall, showcasing the game’s voice talent and the eerie challenges players will face when it releases on September 24.

We also got a fresh look at Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, which is launching in just two days on August 27.

Sea of Remnants is an intriguing pirate game that blends Tomb Raider elements with turn-based RPG mechanics. It will be free-to-play and is currently accepting pre-registration on its official site.

An updated version of Crimson Desert, titled Enhanced, is now available, featuring new story content and all post-launch updates.

Next, we saw Tides of Annihilation, a fantasy action game that now stars Angela Sant’Albano, known for her role in Resident Evil Requiem, after Jennifer English stepped down from the lead role earlier this year.

Unrelated Studio introduced Lofsong, which offers a darker twist on the Journey experience.

Mega Man: Dual Override, the long-awaited new entry in the platformer series, provided glimpses of the new boss Twinkle Girl. The game is set for release next year, and Pragmata will feature Mega Man skins later this year.

Ubisoft returned with another look at the upcoming Rayman Legends Retold remake, launching on October 1.

A violent trailer for PUBG: Ded.Net teased a closed beta coming soon.

The free-to-play survival game Once Human is now available on consoles.

Remedy showcased a new trailer for Control Resonant, filled with atmospheric vibes, distorted environments, hack-and-slash combat, and some live-action cutscenes. The sequel is set to release on September 24.

Next up was The Blood of Dawnwalker, a dark fantasy action RPG featuring intense combat and some mature themes. It’s launching on September 3.

We also got new footage of the Game of Thrones strategy game War For Westeros, featuring various characters and factions from the series, expected to arrive in early 2027.

Airship Syndicate, known for Darksiders Genesis, revealed Dust: Origins, a new isometric shooter.

After some on-stage theatrics, we got a fresh look at Exodus, a sci-fi RPG reminiscent of Mass Effect, set to release in April.

Maggie Robertson, known for her role in Resident Evil Village, took the stage to discuss Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons. This game follows a warlock named Kaatri and her patron, Tasha, as players navigate their complex relationship using magical powers. The demo showcased some impressive abilities, including a moment where Kaatri swaps places with an enemy to avoid damage. The game is set for release in 2027.

MBC Game Studio introduced 1001 Threads of Mizan, a three-player co-op game inspired by One Thousand and One Nights, also coming in 2027.

Dark fantasy themes continued with SilverPalace’s House of Greed, which adds a horror vibe to the RPG’s multiplayer mode.

Capcom returned with Monster Hunter: Outlanders, an upcoming mobile game that featured a brief cinematic.

4A Games revealed a new gameplay trailer for Metro 2039, discussing the game’s themes related to the effects of war while acknowledging the studio’s challenges amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Snoop Dogg will be the next Elusive Target in Hitman: World of Assassination, with new content available for free from August 27 to September 26.

Fantasy MMO Aion 2 is set to launch on PC on October 5.

After a cinematic trailer for the post-apocalyptic sci-fi game Afterworld, Hoyoverse returned with Petit Planet, a city builder coming to mobile devices later this year.

Following a musical performance from Mewgenics, we got the launch trailer for co-op shooter Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, which is now available on most platforms and will arrive on Switch 2 on September 29.

We returned to dark fantasy with 1666: Amsterdam, which is currently in Early Access.

A trailer for the campy zombie action game Showa American Story showcased a blend of Dead Rising and Yakuza elements.

Road Kings, a truck simulator, is set to launch in March.

For rhythm game enthusiasts, Stage Tour, a Guitar Hero-style game featuring music from various artists, is coming on December 10.

Sega presented a trailer for Crazy Taxi: World Tour’s multiplayer mode, allowing up to four players to race around the game’s maps, with a release planned for 2027.

Next, we saw a new trailer for Turok Origins, set to launch next spring.

Octopus Panic, a studio formed by veterans from Halo and Battlefield, debuted Gravhounds, a shooter and survival game featuring super-soldier dogs. The game is set for early access later this year.

A new city builder called Lego: Skylines was announced, though gameplay details were sparse.

Transport Fever 3, another city management game, is set to launch on September 29.

Next up was Exterminauts, a sci-fi shooter where players team up to take down various alien threats.

Isometric fantasy action game Path of Exile 2 received a trailer and is finally leaving Early Access for a full launch on December 11.

Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is getting a modern remake, 27 years after its original release, with promises of a faithful recreation for modern hardware.

No Law, a new open-world cyberpunk RPG, looks promising for fans of the genre, reminiscent of Cyberpunk 2077.

Project Zeta, a hero PvP game, was also showcased, fitting right into the current gaming landscape.

After a slew of similar titles, we returned to the eerie with tactical shooter Cinder, featuring a cinematic trailer filled with monsters and a squad of shooters facing off against a monstrous lady.

Onto something more unique, Onto is a body horror puzzle game from Frictional Games, featuring actor Stellan Skarsgård, with an exclusive gameplay reveal from Jacksepticeye set for August 26.

Pony Island 2: Panda Circus, the sequel to the original retro compilation action game from the designer of Inscryption, is set to release on April 27.

Zoopunk, an action game featuring anthropomorphic animals, was also showcased, introducing a sword-wielding cat lady.

There Are No Ghosts at the Grand, a “musical horror renovation game,” is set to enter early access in 2026.

Roco Kingdom, an open-world multiplayer creature-collecting RPG, is entering the monster-taming genre with a closed beta starting on October 27.

After a series of cute titles, we shifted back to war with The Defiant.

Next was another isometric action game, Tarae: The Unbound.

Sci-fi shooter Like or Die showcased explosive action and tech-based traversal, fitting its name.

Finally, we reached the headliners. Final Fantasy VII Revelation is set for a spring 2027 release across all consoles, moving away from its previous PlayStation exclusivity. The new trailer features Cloud and his allies facing off against Sephiroth, the impending meteor, and the various Weapons in the climactic finale of the Remake trilogy. While Aerith’s spirit was notably absent from the trailer, it’s likely that Square Enix is keeping any related surprises under wraps.

Closing out the showcase, The Witcher 3 presented a new look at its Songs of the Past expansion and announced a remaster with enhanced visuals, combat, and traversal mechanics. This remaster will be a free upgrade for those who own the original game when it launches on September 29.