Gamescom Opening Night Live roundup: every big reveal, and all the trailers
Gamescom's Opening Night Live wrapped in Cologne on Tuesday, and the two hour show was stacked: a surprise remaster of one of the most loved RPGs ever made, a date window for the final chapter of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, and a parade of world premieres. Here is everything that mattered, with the trailers, drawn from the night's roundups by IGN, VGC, Polygon and Destructoid.
CD Projekt stole the night. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is getting a full remaster with upgraded visuals, new finishers, an expanded photo mode and reworked Signs effects, and it arrives September 29 as a free upgrade for everyone who owns the game. The two story expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, went free for all players the same night.
The studio also closed the show: Songs of the Past is a brand new Witcher 3 expansion due in 2027, a full twelve years after the base game. The first trailer teases its story and a new chain weapon for Geralt, and a developer on stage called it his last adventure before the series hands the reins to Ciri. The Witcher 4 itself stayed off screen, though CD Projekt says it is targeting 2028.
Square Enix set a window for the end of the remake trilogy. Final Fantasy 7 Revelation arrives in spring 2027, launching simultaneously on Switch 2, PS5, PC and Xbox Series X. Director Naoki Hamaguchi introduced a trailer built around the Weapons, the colossal guardians that flatten friend and foe alike, plus the new Typhon summon, open world traversal by parachute, grappling hook and Chocobo, and FITS, an outfit system that grants abilities in the spirit of classic Final Fantasy jobs.
Xbox showed a story trailer for Gears of War: E-Day, the prequel that drops the series back into the first days of the Locust invasion, with Bravo squad and the main Locust villain front and center. It launches October 6 on Xbox Series X and PC.
Genshin Impact publisher Hoyoverse opened the show with something nobody expected from it: Nodusfall, an original co-op action game full of dark fantasy boss fights in the Monster Hunter and Elden Ring mold, not another anime gacha.
Konami's Silent Hill: Townfall got a cast reveal and a date. The series goes first person, relocates the horror to Scotland, and arrives September 24 on PS5, PC and Xbox Series X.
Ubisoft announced Rainbow Six Tactics, a turn based strategy take on the franchise in the XCOM mold with operators drawn from Siege, due next year.
Ananta, the open world action RPG that has been called anime GTA since its 2023 reveal, finally has a date: January 15, 2027 on PS5, PC, Android and iOS. The new trailer shows off a new city and its minigames.
Path of Exile 2 is leaving early access at last: version 1.0 lands December 11, free to play.
The night's shadow drop was Crimson Desert Enhanced, an upgraded edition announced with no warning at all.
City builders got the crossover nobody had on their bingo card: LEGO Skylines, a Cities: Skylines spin-off built out of bricks.
Game of Thrones: War for Westeros showed its first gameplay, and the pitch writes itself: the White Walkers are playable, and this time they are allowed to win.
4A Games took the stage with an extended gameplay trailer for Metro 2039, which looks as bleak and human as the series has ever been.
And the rapid fire round: Capcom showed new Mega Man: Dual Override gameplay and revealed Mega Man skins for Pragmata. Warlock, the Dungeons and Dragons action RPG, got an extended look after its gameplay reveal. Crazy Taxi: World Tour premiered. Exodus set an April 2027 date. Humankind 2 was announced for 2027. Turok: Origins showed a story trailer. PUBG is getting a spin-off called DED.NET. Tides of Annihilation recast its lead role. Hitman unveiled a Snoop Dogg elusive target. RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks heads to early access. Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is getting a remake. The pre-show teased two new Worms games and confirmed Onimusha: Way of the Sword for September 4.
