Microsoft has announced that it will be attending this year's Gamescom event to announce a bunch of Xbox news, host Xbox FanFest, and present the first playable public demo of Gears of War: E-Day, which will give players a sneak peek at its campaign mode.

However, some Gears of War fans are itching to see more gameplay footage of this highly anticipated prequel to the franchise. So, the game's developers, Coalition, decided to sate their appetite with a tech demo for Gears of War: E-Day at Unreal Fest Chicago.

This tech demo doesn't show much combat gameplay, as it focuses more on how detailed the game's presentation is, thanks to the Unreal Engine, from its lighting, environmental details, physics, atmosphere, etc.

Gears of War: E-Day then showed a sneak peek at one of its cinematic cutscenes where Marcus Fenix and other soldiers retreat from an encroaching horde of Locust.

As for Xbox FanFest, this will be the second stop of its comeback world tour. Much like its previous appearance at the June 2026 Xbox Games Showcase, it will feature a bevy of activities for Xbox fans to partake in, like playing video games, competitions, Q&As with the game developers, cosplay, and more.

Gamescom 2026 is set to take place from August 26 to August 30, 2026, and will host a variety of other video game announcements and public demos from other developers like Capcom, for example.

Microsoft also has plenty more announcements in store in the lead-up to Gamescom, so stay tuned as we keep an eye out for info in the coming months.

🗨️ Over to you

Are you looking forward to Gamescom 2026? What games are you looking forward to see there?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know in the comments, on Reddit, or in the poll below.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

At Gamescom 2025, I had the opportunity to go hands-on with World of Warcraft's biggest new feature it's had in years.

The veteran MMORPG has entered its third decade as of this year, and remains the top option for subscription-based, persistently online games. Paying subscribers get regular massive content updates which add new dungeons, quests, story beats, and other features every few weeks — with even bigger premium expansions dropping roughly every 18 months.

At Gamescom, Blizzard fully unveiled the next expansion, Midnight, which moves forward its big apocalyptic Worldsoul Saga, while adding a variety of new features. This expansion will rebuild the Blood Elf lands of Quel'thalas, which have been left untouched in-game for almost twenty years. There will be a variety of new zones on top, as well as new features and even a new playable neutral race. But none of these represents Midnight's headline act.

After decades of pleas, Blizzard is finally adding Player Housing to World of Warcraft. The ability to curate and customize your very own dwelling is a staple of many classic MMOs, and has become popularized in adjacent genres like survival games, exemplified by Grounded and Fallout 76.

Blizzard told us during a big World of Warcraft Gamescom interview that getting Player Housing "right" is part of the reason why it took so long. I'm happy to report that they absolutely got it right, but I can't help but wonder if this is part of a bigger, potentially more ground-breaking play for WoW's long-term future.

World of Warcraft's Player Housing is as accessible as it is powerful

But first, let's talk about the hands-on experience. For the Gamescom demo, Blizzard set up a pre-made house that showcased some of the possibilities, while leaving other rooms blank for testers to try out. Naturally, I made a beeline for an empty room and started messing around.

The first thing worth mentioning here is how incredibly easy and intuitive it was to get going. Blizzard cited games like Nintendo's Animal Crossing as inspiration for Player Housing, and that shone through quite clearly.

Of course, manipulating objects with a mouse and keyboard is even easier than it is with a console controller, too, so it wasn't long before I got stuck in, placing bananas on tables and books on shelves.

Indeed, I was impressed by the granularity on offer here. Blizzard gives you the tools to snap objects seamlessly into place — basic mode, they call it. If you just want to slap a bunch of cool furniture and trophies from your grand WoW adventures down, you absolutely can. But if you want to truly make a work of architectural art, the tools are there as well.

In advanced mode, Blizzard takes off the training wheels. Here, you can easily toggle on or off object and grid snapping, and you can scale objects to comically minuscule and awkwardly large. You can also turn off 'no clipping' mode, allowing you to intersect objects with each other. Most similar base building mechanics enforce clipping generally to keep buildings looking realistic and consistent, but Blizzard opted to give players full creative control over how their creations will look.

You can also click into an object and customize its colors and, in some cases, even its textures. Want an interior that is fully furnished in black and grey in full goth fantasy? You can. Want to make an Azerothian pink Barbie doll house? Go crazy.

I was impressed by how many items there were already on offer in the demo, with hundreds of objects of all shapes, sizes, and types available for play. Blizzard has previously noted that players will be rewarded with furnishings and trophies based on in-game achievements as well, including previous accolades from prior expansions. I wonder what will await me and my illustrious 20-year career on launch day.

Each object has a number that represents how much it will cost to put down. In the demo, we had '2,500' to play with, and things like chairs and tables cost like 20 points towards that cap. It was hard in the allotted time frame to get a sense of just how much this would help or hinder creations therein, but hopefully, it will be generous.

WoW houses aren't just a single room, as I previously assumed. You can connect corridors, additional adjacent rooms of all shapes and sizes, and even add an additional floor, complete with its own floor plan. Hopefully, the build limit is beefy enough to allow us to actually fill all of that space.

Indeed, given the variety of items, clipping enabled and control over colorations, I suspect we'll see impressive works of art emerge from WoW's Player Housing system — as well as horrific amalgams of giant objects and warped furnishings.

The weirdest creations will be hidden away inside players' houses, with the neighborhood outside appearing more serene and consistent, based on both Orgrimmar (Horde) and Stormwind (Alliance) architecture.

Blizzard is even tying quests and neighborhood goals to this system, too, for players to collaborate on. It remains to be seen just how much people engage with these new mechanics, lest they become abandoned, similarly to things like Guild Achievements and so on.

You can choose who can enter your home, of course. You can keep the doors locked for all but yourself, or let it be free for anyone to come and check out. It's your space, and Blizzard wants it to feel like your fantasy home-away-from-home — and so far, I'd say they've absolutely nailed it.

But Blizzard keeps saying that this is only the beginning for housing ... whatever could they mean? Let's don some tinfoil hats and theorycraft.

... But what if the system will lead WoW players beyond simply building houses?

I've been playing World of Warcraft for 20 years at this point (yes, I'm old) and have been there for all of the game's major iterations and feature inclusions. The last time I felt so impressed with the scale and scope of a new system was probably back when Blizzard added siege weapons and its vehicle system.

It's archaic by modern standards, but Blizzard has very creatively used this "vehicle" system over the years, adapting it to all sorts of quests, activities, and features. It was originally designed for siege vehicles in battlegrounds like Wintergrasp and so on, but Blizzard has adapted it to create things like puzzle mini-games, give players flashback sequences, and practically anything that could benefit from turning the player into a "pilot" of sorts.

It's with this knowledge that I couldn't help but extrapolate what Player Housing could one day morph into. Blizzard is incredibly creative with how it uses existing systems for "unintended" purposes, and the team has just essentially given players a full-blown level design system. You can see where I'm going with this.

MMORPGs are absolutely dependent on regular content, and many of the biggest service games these days tend to have a user-generated content component (UGC). The power of the tools on offer with Player Housing truly feels like they go beyond a mere gameplay feature. You can carefully and lovingly position pebbles and small trinkets on tables if you want to. It feels far beyond what other systems offer, almost akin to a true level editor of sorts. It got me thinking.

What if Blizzard let players create and publish their own Delves? For example. Microsoft tried something similar with Gears of War 5, letting players create gauntlets using a tile-based level design system. There are other games that have been incredibly successful in this vein, such as Mario Maker, where players can create crazy Mario platform levels and publish them for other players to tackle.

What if Player Housing could be expanded to allow players to customize dungeons, create quests, and other events? Perhaps Blizzard could have final say on what gets made public if they wanted to keep things lore consistent, for example, but there are ways in WoW lore to circumnavigate story implications anyway.

What if these player-made dungeons were just warped visions from the Caverns of Time, for example? Perhaps they could be mini gauntlets like Torghast, or perhaps even give players the tools to create their own Brawler's Guild solo events?

There are many ways this kind of system could be constructed to create low-stakes, lore-friendly events, complete with fun rewards. Roblox, Minecraft mods, and even Fallout 76's player-made escape rooms showcase the potential of UGC when you give players the tools.

It's not a stretch to imagine how Player Housing could one day be expanded upon to give WoW an infinite loop of new features, on top of the premium curated content we've all come to expect and enjoy.

A whole neighborhood of possibilities.

If you know my work, then you probably know that World of Warcraft is absolutely my favorite game of all time. There's something so infectious about the combat, and something still so rewarding about the general gameplay loop, even if the modern product certainly contains flaws here and there (and I'll be writing on those too, of course).

But Player Housing represents something quite incredible for the game. World of Warcraft has been on a mission to broaden its appeal without compromising what it is at its core. So many games make these efforts with big trade-offs, but World of Warcraft has managed to maintain its hardcore raiding scene for most, while continuing to deliver large content patches filled with new quests and story beats. And yes, they don't always get it right, but to have managed to build something as comprehensive and complex as Player Housing in the background is incredibly impressive.

Player Housing is set to become another firm pillar for the game, which has long been notorious for its difficulty on the high-end, atop its ability to require masses of free time in order to engage with it meaningfully.

Blizzard has been working hard to make sure players who don't want to raid on a schedule in groups of 20 people, and players who don't want to get sweaty learning all of the mechanics, have options too. Soloable mini dungeon Delves have been successful to that end, and Player Housing potentially goes even further, giving, largely for the first time, creative players an outlet to truly express themselves.

It could open up a huge new market for WoW, from players who like titles like Animal Crossing or The Sims. And then there are the future UGC possibilities on top as well. I had absolutely zero expectation Player Housing would be as comprehensive as it is, and now that I've tried it, I think it could end up being the most important feature for the game's future in years.

World of Warcraft Player Housing launches in full alongside World of Warcraft: Midnight, slated for Windows PC in early 2026. Those who pre-order Midnight get early access to Player Housing before the end of 2025.

Gamescom 2025 has been and gone, and Microsoft was out in Cologne in force to showcase the first piece of its next-gen hardware puzzle.

The Xbox Ally was revealed a few months ago, following an exclusive report from us on a device Microsoft had codenamed Kennan. The PC gaming handheld has been built in partnership with ASUS, and the hardware has been finished for a fairly long time at this point. What has held it up has been the software side.

Microsoft and its teams at Windows and Xbox have been working flat out to polish new features that will make devices like this feel more "native." Previous Windows-based handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go were often criticized not necessarily for their hardware, but because Windows 11 itself simply didn't handle well on devices like this.

Lenovo tried to solve the input disparity with a dedicated mouse trackpad, with most manufacturers settling for clunky touch controls. However, with the Xbox Ally, Microsoft has enabled many pieces of the Windows experience to be interactive with joysticks and traditional Xbox ABXY buttons, enabling a far more intuitive experience. But is it enough?

We went hands-on with the Xbox Ally across multiple sessions during Gamescom last week, and there are still some big unanswered questions ahead of the device's launch, slated for October 16, 2025.

Sublime hardware, ergonomics, and (seemingly) performance

As someone who has used a ton of these types of devices, I found myself gravitating away from the superior UX on the Steam Deck in favor of the uncompromised power of the Z1E options, namely the Legion Go and ASUS ROG Ally. Losing out on some usability efficacy was worth it to gain raw power and full-bore compatibility, at least for me, but with the Xbox Ally / X, it looks like the usability gap is closing, too.

The first thing I noticed immediately was the ergonomics on the Xbox Ally. Developed in partnership between Microsoft and ASUS, this is a device that prioritizes how it feels to handle, rather than how it looks. The handles look incredibly strange in photographs, potentially, but they make it far superior to hold and use over long periods of time, beating out even the Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch in my view. This is as close to an Xbox controller as one can get in a device like this, and it proves that Microsoft has best-in-class design when it comes to ergonomics.

It's not just about holding the device either. Even things as basic as lifting the device off a desk feels easier with the Xbox Ally, as it has some natural grooves and curvature to help you easily get a hand on it. The back buttons are also placed more thoughtfully into the device, preventing accidental activations — something my Lenovo Legion Go gives me headaches for.

Microsoft and ASUS repositioned the bumpers, triggers, and joysticks to accommodate a more standard "Xbox" feel, and for any Xbox controller user, it makes the experience that much more pleasant. All of your muscle memory is welcome here.

The design of the Xbox Ally could be a bit more congruent visually, though. Most of it is designed with function in mind, rather than form, and that's probably what is ideal in a device like this. The bezels are uneven and oddly chunky, and the mis-match of Xbox and ASUS iconography and fonts are a bit strange.

It's an Xbox device, but it's also a ROG device. It's a quirky and perhaps somewhat unlikely collab, but it's easy to overlook stylistic choices when the feel has been nailed so thoroughly. At the end of the day, you're not looking at the bezels, you're looking at the game being played, and ASUS and Microsoft delivered here.

The display is angled slightly against the handles, which again gives it a more natural fit in the hand. The weight distribution is also very impressive, following trends set by the Xbox Ally's ROG predecessors. It feels a lot lighter than it should on paper, and the sticks, triggers, buttons, and bumpers feel like they hit that "Xbox" quality bar, at least in these demo units.

With feel thoroughly nailed, it rests on game performance to complete the package, and I'm happy to report that the Xbox Ally X and even the Xbox Ally "S" seem to deliver in a big way here.

I played many "AAA" modern games on this thing, including Lies of P, Gears of War: Reloaded, and Hogwarts Legacy. On the more powerful Xbox Ally X, Gears of War ran at a smooth 60 FPS, while Lies of P seemed to hit around 40-50 in "Balanced" AMD FidelityFX modes. Hogwarts Legacy managed around 30 FPS on the demo unit, although I didn't get a ton of time to tweak the settings therein. On the regular white Xbox Ally "S," Forza Horizon 5 managed a buttery smooth solid 60 throughout — which I found to be very impressive, although it is a very optimized game.

The Xbox Ally sports a 7" IPS 1080p display, with a 120 Hz refresh rate complimented by AMD FreeSync. The VRR aspect of it is crucial in a device like this I would say, given that occasional performance hiccups can drop frames, although I didn't notice much of that during my sessions. Full performance reviews won't come until we have the device in hand for more thorough testing, but early impressions here are extremely positive. I'm excited to see how much I can push this thing in the future, given my knowledge of how far the Z1E can go.

Will that performance come at a cost, though?

The elephant(s) in the room

The Xbox Ally's headline act, arguably, is the new Windows 11 features. With the Xbox Ally, you will be able to set the Xbox app as a "full screen" experience, effectively taking over the operation of Windows to give the system some gaming-first functionality. The Windows 11 Desktop and other features get offline in this mode, freeing up RAM and other system resources to focus on gaming performance.

With a long press of the Xbox button, you can also open up the new task switcher pictured above, allowing you to move between apps like Discord, your Xbox library, and the games themselves, without having to exit into the Desktop environment. You can easily select the Desktop from this menu as well if you fancy, giving you access to full-fat Windows for installing things like Steam, mods, and tweaking system settings more deeply.

However, I was able to crash this experience quite easily during my testing sessions. Task switching would also hang occasionally and hit other hiccups. Microsoft says that the development of these features is an ongoing process, and I'm sure this was an older build, but you have to wonder how polished it'll all be for launch day — which is getting close, set for October 16, 2025.

Indeed, there's still a lot we don't know about this device, despite how close we are to launch day. Microsoft isn't giving us the price yet, as ASUS and Xbox mull near-weekly changes to the U.S. global tariffs situation. Microsoft also wouldn't tell us battery life estimations either, citing software readiness.

The AMD Z2E chips are supposedly more efficient than their predecessors. But at 30w, the previous ASUS ROG Ally could barely manage an hour of playtime in a 3D AAA game. But that's part of the beauty of these devices. You can heavily tweak the wattage and play low-intensity 2D titles for scenarios where you don't have access to a power outlet. I've easily got my Lenovo Legion Go to 3 hours of playtime while being conservative with the power draw, but it would still be nice to know what Microsoft is expecting to give us with the Xbox Ally.

The Xbox Ally prices have also leaked via ASUS themselves previously, hitting around $899 and $599 for the X and "S" respectively, depending on tariffs. After seeing Forza Horizon 5 running so well on the Xbox Ally "S," I'm impressed by how much of a great deal that device is going to be at $599, making it likely far more powerful and versatile than the older Steam Deck or the more recent Nintendo Switch 2. Will the boosted performance and battery life be enough to justify $899 on the higher end though? There's still a lot of questions to answer before we get to October 16.

An incredibly promising piece of kit

For all my reticence over price and performance testing, I can't stop thinking about how pleasant it was to use the Xbox Ally. Yes, it had some glitches, but the task switcher and other Windows 11 enhancements were a glimpse at game-changing usability enhancements that these devices absolutely need.

The way the Xbox Ally feels to hold, lift, and simply use is far beyond any other OEM PC gaming device I've used so far, save for potentially the Steam Deck itself. The double USB-C ports, Windows Hello fingerprint reader, and monster Z2E chipset also make the Xbox Ally a potential travel laptop replacement, too, for crazy people like myself.

Indeed, you need to remember that the Xbox Ally is ultimately a PC. This means that Xbox console games will not run on this device. The games need to be Xbox Play Anywhere certified to run on both Xbox and PC, and on devices like the Xbox Ally. The good news is there is well over a thousand Xbox Play Anywhere titles now, and many upcoming games like Silent Hill F and Final Fantasy 7 Intergrade sport the Xbox Play Anywhere moniker.

However, it's true that many, many more don't, and likely never will, as publishers don't want to give away "two" licenses (console and PC) to access their games. As Microsoft continues to push devices like this, it will increasingly cast a shadow over games that don't support Xbox Play Anywhere.

Microsoft will have its work cut out to encourage more developers to support Xbox Play Anywhere to that end, given that the vast majority seem ambivalent right now. Publishers like the idea of you buying games twice, both for console and PC, which is at odds with the platform Microsoft wants to build.

For Xbox games that aren't available on the Xbox Ally, Microsoft will defer to Xbox console remote play and Xbox Cloud Gaming for some titles. The Xbox Ally ultimately represents the first step into a wider handheld world for Microsoft, as its next-gen plans for Xbox continue to line up. But having access to all Xbox games on a handheld remains the Holy Grail, and for now, it looks like Microsoft has side-lined its own first-party Xbox handheld.

NVIDIA is the world's largest AI GPU supplier with roughly 90% of the market, but its AI efforts are not limited to data centers.

NVIDIA's gaming hardware, including RTX graphics cards, includes built-in AI tools that help with upscaling, overall performance, and even game development.

Announced today at Gamescom, NVIDIA's Project G-Assist — an on-device AI helper — has now expanded to all RTX GPUs with 6GB or more VRAM, including laptop graphics cards.

The lower system requirements arrive thanks to "a new, significantly more efficient AI model that's faster and uses 40% less memory while maintaining response accuracy," according to NVIDIA's press release.

NVIDIA says that the updated AI assistant will be available through a Game Ready Driver update within the NVIDIA App on August 19. Just download the G-Assist update on the NVIDIA App's home screen.

With this new update, NVIDIA has also added a collaboration with mod.io that will help discover and deliver G-Assist plugins built by regular users. Anyone can build plugins for G-Assist, just as long as you have an understanding of JSON and Python scripts. A specialized plugin builder is available to download from NVIDIA.

Beyond that, NVIDIA says that another update is expected in September 2025, containing laptop-specific tools to help with NVIDIA BatteryBoost and Battery OPS.

Project G-Assist is a good idea in theory ... not so much in execution. At least not yet. I'm looking forward to giving the updated NVIDIA Project G-Assist a try, as the first attempts at getting it to work were unimpressive (to put it nicely).

What is NVIDIA's Project G-Assist, and should you care?

Announced first at Computex 2024, NVIDIA's Project G-Assist is a free AI assistant built for gamers. It's a Small Language Model (SLM) that runs locally on your PC's RTX graphics card, providing "real-time diagnostics and recommendations to alleviate system bottlenecks, improve power efficiency, optimize game settings, overclock your GPU, and much more," according to NVIDIA's official press release.

The way Project G-Assist is designed allows for "natural language instructions," whether delivered via text or voice. So far, it only understands English, but I expect to see further language support if the project proves popular enough.

As mentioned, users can build their own plugins for Project G-Assist, and they'll now be available directly through the app thanks to a newfound collaboration with mod.io.

When Project G-Assist initially launched, NVIDIA slapped some hefty system requirements on the AI assistant. It required an RTX 30, 40, or 50-series desktop GPU with at least 12GB of VRAM, which excluded even the latest Blackwell RTX 5000 cards like the 8GB RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060. It also lacked support for laptop GPUs and NVIDIA RTX PRO GPUs.

That's all changed, and I'm happy to see Project G-Assist become available for more RTX gamers and developers.

Early issues with NVIDIA's Project G-Assist

Since its inception, NVIDIA's AI assistant has been sitting on a Version 0.1 release. It's an experimental release, but Project G-Assist was a lot worse than any of us expected when we tested it in March 2025.

Yes, it works fine for some, but my colleague Richard Devine had a terrible time attempting to use G-Assist with an RTX 5080 Founders Edition GPU — you know, the first-party cards that NVIDIA makes — with 16GB of VRAM.

Devine's testing revealed that G-Assist didn't do much more than tank framerates (often from triple digits to single digits) or completely lock up the system. Devine tested G-Assist with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Atomfall, and Avowed, and the results were the same across each title.

It's not like Devine was attempting to crash the system. Asking something as simple as "Is G-Sync enabled?" nearly crashed games, and that was despite having 4GB of VRAM more than the previously recommended 12GB.

With NVIDIA introducing a lighter AI model and a new, lower 6GB of VRAM requirement, I'm eager to see how it actually performs on desktop PCs and gaming laptops.

Should you be using NVIDIA's Project G-Assist while PC gaming?

In theory, Project G-Assist could be a useful tool for gamers. Want to make a quick adjustment to system settings without leaving your game? Ask AI to do it for you.

However, as it stands now, G-Assist still has a long way to go. Version 0.2 could solve a lot of the aforementioned issues, and you might find it particularly useful for your specific needs.

👉 Related: The NVIDIA app on Windows 11 could be sapping performance out of your PC games

Project G-Assist is certainly not something I recommend every RTX owner install immediately, but you can test it out with relative ease straight from the official NVIDIA App.

If it's not right for you — or if it continues to flat-out not function properly — you can always uninstall it without harming (as far as we can tell) any other functionality in NVIDIA's app.

Are there privacy concerns related to NVIDIA's Project G-Assist?

Having an AI agent comb through your PC for information might not sit well with everyone, and I don't blame you for being wary.

In the fine print on NVIDIA's main G-Assist page, there are some disclaimers that might make you think twice before installing the feature.

"G-Assist is a pre-release feature and may not be fully functional, may contain errors or design flaws, and may have reduced or different security, privacy, availability and reliability standards relative to commercial versions of NVIDIA offerings."

Below this line is another that basically states that NVIDIA isn't responsible for any damages the AI agent could cause if it gives wrong information or decides to go rogue and tune your PC outside of its operating boundaries.

"AI models generate responses and outputs based on complex algorithms and machine learning techniques, and those responses or outputs may be inaccurate, harmful, biased or indecent. By using G-Assist, you assume the risk of any harm caused by any response or output from it. NVIDIA will not be responsible for any actions, losses, or damages suffered as a result of use of G-Assist or its output. We recommend that you verify the information before relying on it."

Bottom line? Don't take what G-Assist says too seriously, and always put your best common sense before what AI tells you.

Among the many Gamescom 2025 announcements going on this week, one piece of news was shared on August 20, 2025, by Square Enix that is sure to please strategy-RPG fans.

After three years of being locked behind PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch, Square Enix has finally ported the 2022 hit strategy RPG, Triangle Strategy, onto Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 as a shadow-drop release.

If you're unfamiliar with this game, here's what you need to know about Triangle Strategy and why it should be on your radar if you're a fan of Strategy-RPGs.

Triangle Strategy is a turn-based Strategy-RPG released in 2022, inspired by classic titles of the genre like the original Final Fantasy Tactics, Fire Emblem, and Tactics Ogre, to name a few.

It features gorgeous HD-2D visuals popularized by Octopath Traveler and the Live a Live Remake, advanced combat mechanics, and an epic story that is shaped by the player's decisions.

The story is set in Norzelia, a continent on the brink of war between the rivaling nations of the Holy State of Hyzante, the Grand Duchy of Aesfrost, and the Kingdom of Glenbrook.

The game's story has you play the role of Serenoa Wolffort, the heir of one of Glenbrook's noble houses, House Wolffort.

As the conflict between the nations begins to boil, Serenoa sets off on a journey to find allies to aid him on his quest to stop the impending and save Norzelia from the horrors of war.

What's unique about Triangle Strategy's story is that its direction can be shaped by the player by selecting moral choices and choosing certain actions through a unique Voting system.

These decisions also change your character's Conviction alignment between Utility, Morality, and Liberty. Depending on your Conviction, you can unlock multiple new story routes, endings, and even secret units to join your army.

Be warned that certain choices may cause specific party members to disagree with your actions, and may even invite a tragic fate upon them.

Making story decisions won't be the only hard choice you will make in Triangle Strategy, as you will frequently be forced to battle enemies in tactical, turn-based battles.

In Triangle Strategy, battles are waged on grid-based maps where you will need to carefully position your party and utilize their abilities to destroy the opposition.

To succeed, you will need to take advantage of the terrain, have your party form unique battle formations to activate powerful passive abilities, and flank the enemy so your team can perform combo attacks to wipe them out.

In between battles, you can rest up in Encampments to converse with your allies, shop for supplies and gear, improve your team's stats, and practice strategies in Mental Mock Battles before taking on real opponents.

This hit HD-2D Strategy-RPG will be sure to wet players' appetites as they wait for Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles

Square Enix once again continues to fulfill its promise of bringing more JRPGs to multiple platforms by bringing this critically acclaimed title to Xbox, and I'm happy it's doing so.

I personally have never played Triangle Strategy before, but after watching this trailer, I'm really inclined to check it out now.

The turn-based combat looks intense and creative, the story looks intriguing, and the retro-inspired pixel-art graphics are a beautiful sight to behold now that they've been upgraded with 4K resolution support and improved framerates granted by next-gen consoles.

As a fan of Strategy-RPGs like Persona 5 Tactica, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and the Disgaea series, I can't wait to try out Triangle Strategy.

I know it will certainly be a good time to kill until the long-awaited remaster of Final Fantasy Tactics arrives on Xbox, as Triangle Strategy's combat and war story was largely inspired by the original PlayStation One version of that upcoming Xbox title/upcoming PC title.

So, it will serve as a good appetizer to wet my Strategy-RPG palate before Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, the HD remaster of one of the most iconic Final Fantasy games of all time, arrives on September 30, 2025, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam.

World of Warcraft has just made good on its promise to fully reveal its upcoming Midnight expansion at Gamescom 2025 by releasing two trailers during Gamescom 2025's Opening Night Live ceremony.

Blizzard Entertainment's presentation gives players a deeper look into gameplay features already announced, like the Player Housing system, and a sneak peek at the game's plot.

More importantly, the gameplay trailer gives us a look at a ton of newly revealed features like new Zones, Dungeons, Outdoor content, a new playable race, a new Class Specialization (or Spec for short) for the Demon Hunter Class, and much more.

On top of that, this presentation reveals that this upcoming PC title will be launching sometime in 2026.

Here's everything announced for World of Warcraft: Midnight from this presentation.

The presentation begins with a cinematic trailer showing World of Warcraft's current main antagonist, Xal'atath, attacking the city of Silvermoon with an army of monstrous Void Walkers.

Xal'atath's seeks to capture the city's magical, life-giving Sunwell so she can harness its power to get her plans of destroying Azeroth's Worldsoul back on track after they were derailed during the events of World of Warcraft: The War Within.

In this expansion, the player will need to unite the Elven races of Azeroth with the forces of Light into one massive coalition if they hope to defeat Xal'altath and save the Sunwell from being destroyed.

After the cinematic trailer concluded, Blizzard Entertainment showed off a gameplay montage trailer for World of Warcraft: Midnight on its YouTube channel, highlighting all the expansion's new gameplay features.

These new main features include, but are not limited to:

• A deeper look into Player Housing — showing off all the locations we can build our homes at and the accessories we can decorate them with.
• Several new Zones to explore — Eversong Woods, Harandar, Voidstorm, and Zul'Amon.
• Silvermoon City revamped — complete with new graphical details and structures.
• New Dungeons — Den of Nalorakk, Maisara Caverns, Nexus Point Xenas, Voidscar Arena, Blinding Vale, Windrunner Spire, Magister’s Terrace, and Murder Row.
• New Delves — Den of Echoes, Parhelion Plaza, Collegiate Calamity, The Shadow Enclave, Shadowguard Point, Sunkiller Sanctum, and Torment’s Rise.
• New Raids — The Voidspire (six-boss raid), The Dreamfrift (cinematic one-boss raid), and The March on Quel’Danas (cinematic two-boss raid).
• A new playable race called the Haranir — a group of batlike humanoids that debuted in World of Warcraft: The War Within.
• A new Class Specialization for the Demon Hunter class called Devourer — Devourer Demon Hunters channel the power of the Void instead of the Fel to unleash a barrage of mid-range attacks like Void-empowered scythe strikes, Void Ray blasts, and throwing black holes at enemies.
• A new race/class combo — To accommodate the Devourer Demon Hunter Spec, player Void Elves can now become Demon Hunters alongside player Blood Elves and Night Elves.
• Prey — A new outdoor activity where you will be tasked with hunting down unique boss monsters in the open world at multiple difficulty levels for lucrative rewards such as cosmetic gear, mounts, titles, and Player Housing items.
• Training Grounds (PVP) — A new PVP mode that will help players practice their skills against NPCs before going into battle against real players.
• Slayer's Rise (PVP) — An Alterac Valley-inspired, PVP hotspot in the Voidstorm Zone where players fight to destroy enemy bases before defeating their respective opponent's Domanaar commander.

I can't wait to blast enemies to dust with the new Devourer Demon Hunter Spec

All these new gameplay details have me super excited to play World of Warcraft: Midnight. The new Zones look beautiful, Player Housing is looking better by the minute, and the new Haranir race looks so savage and interesting to play as.

My favorite new gameplay detail announcement is, without a doubt, the new Devourer Spec for Demon Hunters.

For nearly 10 years, since the class debuted in World of Warcraft: Legion in 2016, Demon Hunters were the only Class in the game that had two Specs, Havoc and Vengeance.

For those unaware, Specs in World of Warcraft allow a character to specialize in certain aspects of their class. Most classes in the game currently have three Specs, Druids have four, and Demon Hunters only have two.

Havoc was a melee DPS Spec that ravaged enemies with Warglaives, while Vengeance was a Tank spec that drew the ire of enemies with Fel magic.

The new Devourer Spec, meanwhile, is a primarily mid-ranged DPS Spec that combines the explosive power of other magic-based Classes like Mage and Evoker, with the insane agility and mobility tools of the Demon Hunter, essentially creating a whole new playstyle.

It looks so amazingly cool that it makes me want to try out Demon Hunter now, as I haven't played as that Class yet due to their limited Spec options.

With Legion Remix on the horizon, it may be the perfect time now for me to give Demon Hunters a go in preparation for when World of Warcraft: Midnight launches in 2026.

Capcom and Square Enix took the stage at Gamescom 2025 to reveal that Monster Hunter Wilds will get an upcoming crossover event with Final Fantasy XIV and vice versa.

In Monster Hunter Wilds, players will get a chance to ride the Final Fantasy series' iconic Chocobos as cosmetic skins for the Seikret mounts and catch the speedy Cactuar to add their Endemic Life collection.

In addition, Monster Hunter Wilds will add a boss from Final Fantasy XIV to its extensive monster roster — Omega Planates.

Omega Planates is based on Omega, one of the Final Fantasy franchise's most infamous superbosses that made its debut in 1992's Final Fantasy V as a secret, optional boss and has made appearances in future titles since.

Omega is a giant beetle-like robot armed to the teeth with lasers, rocket punches, and tons of world-shattering explosives.

It's often regarded as one of the toughest bosses in Final Fantasy history as Omega is impervious to nearly all forms of damage, it has a mountain of health to chip at, and it can wipe out players in the blink of an eye if they're not prepared.

The Final Fantasy XIV version of Omega is particularly special, as that game made an entire Raid storyline around it, which had players fight Omega numerous times.

Omega was even later given an Ultimate Raid-tier boss fight in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker that pushed raiders to the limit.

Players will get to hunt this Omega and ride Chocobos as part of Monster Hunter Wilds' 3rd Title Update, which will be released sometime in late September 2025.

Meanwhile in Final Fantasy XIV, its Dawntrail expansion will feature a crossover event where players can obtain Monster Hunter Wilds' Seikret mount and take on the intimidating Arkveld in a special Trial raid fight.

Arkveld is Monster Hunter Wilds' flagship monster that was once thought to be extinct and is now on a rampage planning to make everything else extinct.

Arkveld attacks players using the chain-like appendages on its arms as weapons and bombards them with Dragon-elemental explosions, which have a mile-wide radius.

This crossover event will go live for Final Fantasy XIV in early October 2025.

Do note that in order to unlock this fight, players will need to be Lv. 100 and complete the Main Scenario Quest "Dawntrail.

Just when I'm losing hope for Monster Hunter Wilds, one of Final Fantasy's most insane bosses has convinced me to start hunting again.

This isn't the first time that the Monster Hunter has had a huge crossover event with Final Fantasy XIV.

Monster Hunter World had a collaboration with Square Enix's popular MMORPG that added the iconic Behemoth as a boss, and it ended up being one of the hardest in the whole game.

With the addition of Omega, we might be in for a crazier challenge, as this mechanical monstrosity is no joke.

I personally fought Omega in Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster and Final Fantasy XIV, and this thing kicked my butt for many hours on end to the point I was tempted to look up guides on how to beat it.

The Final Fantasy V version of Omega was especially gruelling as it required you to build a very specific party composition and pray you were able to kill Omega faster than it could kill you.

Normally I'd be terrified at the thought of fighting Omega in Monster Hunter Wilds (especially after how nightmarishly difficult fighting the Behemoth was in Monster Hunter: World), but I'm actually happy they're adding this boss to the game.

This boss may help solve the lackluster difficulty problems Monster Hunter Wilds has been suffering from since launch earlier this year.

The endgame update buffing Tempered Monsters is a good start, but we need more challenging monsters that push players to the limit using every tool at their disposal and encourage them to prepare for the hunt with the best gear possible instead of relying on Focus Strikes and Wounds to knock enemies down.

Either way, I can't wait to fight Omega and obtain all kinds of cool gear from farming its metallic hide when the 3rd Title Update for Monster Hunter Wilds launches in late September 2025.

Let's hope this update will also come with Optimization upgrades for the PC version to win back fans who've been review bombing Monster Hunter Wilds for months.

As for the Final Fantasy XIV crossover fight with Arkveld — while I don't play the game anymore after the Dawntrail expansion disappointed me, I'm happy for Final Fantasy fans getting to fight another Monster Hunter monster other than Rathalos which was added in Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood.

Arkveld was a really cool monster to hunt in Monster Hunter Wilds, and I hope he'll be just as fun to fight in Final Fantasy XIV and potentially give players a chance to earn a mount version of Arkveld for their mount collection.

Monster Hunter Wilds is available for purchase on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has gone official on the Gamescom Opening Night Live stage. The next premium entry in the long-running annual franchise is developed by Treyarch Studios and Raven Software and takes players into the near future of 2035 to continue the story of David "Section" Mason.

Black Ops 7 is a full-length, premium game experience that was developed in tandem with and is a direct sequel to 2024's Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. However, the game expands on the Black Ops world that players already know and love. The campaign can be tackled as either a single-player experience or in a squad of up to four players cooperatively.

The Black Ops franchise is no stranger to campaign coop, but Black Ops 7 will mark the first time that a cooperative campaign has been an option since 2015's Call of Duty: Black Ops 3.

It will also add on to the campaign with an all-new Endgame, which allows players to dive into the map of Avalon, donning wing suits, either solo or with a squad of four. The Endgame mode will feature a full PvE experience, with up to 32 players joining forces in four-person squads.

New year, new multiplayer

In addition to an extended campaign, signature Call of Duty multiplayer returns for Black Ops 7 with new advanced movement that builds on Black Ops 6's omnimovement system.

Grapple hooks, boost jumps, and wall jumps all make an appearance in multiplayer. Wing suits also make their first-ever appearance in multiplayer, though they are seemingly limited to Black Ops 7's brand-new 20v20 Skirmish mode. The mode is surprisingly similar to large-scale battles like those we saw in the recent Battlefield 6 beta, complete with vehicles and 2035-era futuristic tech.

Skirmish will not take over multiplayer, however, as players can still expect to drop into the classic multiplayer experience with sixteen maps (thirteen new, three remastered from Call of Duty: Black Ops 2).

Zombies fans rejoice

Zombies fans can look forward to a return of the round-based zombies experience that is universally loved by the community, but with a few new twists. Players will have to build a brand-new Wonder Vehicle in order to traverse the mode's biggest map to date.

For those of us who prefer smaller experiences, new Survival maps will also come to Zombies. These bite size maps are inspired by the Liberty Falls experience, which was a fan-favorite from Black Ops 6.

Speaking of fan-favorites, Dead Ops Arcade is also returning to Call of Duty after skipping Black Ops 6. The top-down game-within-a-game mode will feature four-player coop in some twin-stick zombie action across dozens of maps.

Launch details

If the trailer has you hyped for Black Ops 7, the good news is you won't have to wait long to dive into the new experience. The game was developed by Treyarch Studios in partnership with Raven Software and will be available globally on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Battle.net, Xbox on PC, and Steam on Friday, November 14.

Activision Central Design, Activision Central Technology, Activision QA, Activision Shanghai, Beenox, Demonware, Digital Legends, High Moon Studios, infinity Ward, and Sledgehammer Games all provided additional development support for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

For more information on the development and launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, check out our recent interview with Treyarch.

Black Ops 7 beta access

An Open Beta will be free across all platforms, with players who preorder Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 gaining early access to the beta on October 2. All players can join in on the beta from October 5 through 8.

If you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription on Xbox or Xbox on PC, you can wing suit into Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 at launch as part of your subscription.

Gamescom 2025 is drawing to a close, and we've detailed all of the biggest Xbox and PC gaming announcements from the show that you should be aware of.

I'll start with a quick rundown of the biggest news and reveals with links to more in-depth articles. Further down on the page is Gamecom 2025 news as it was revealed. — Rebecca Spear, Gaming Editor

Biggest Gamescom 2025 announcements

• Hollow Knight: Silksong release date was finally revealed to be Sept. 4, 2025.
• Xbox Ally hands-on let us take a look at the new Windows 11 mode for handhelds and see how well it works.
• Xbox's Handheld Compatibility Program was revealed for the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally.
• Xbox Ally handheld listing pages are at Best Buy, but preorders aren't live yet.
• ROG revealed a new Xbox-certified wireless controller with 1,000Hz polling and TMR joysticks that won't drift.
• Monster Hunter Wilds + Final Fantasy XIV colab brings Chocobos, Cactuar, and the powerful Omega boss to MHW.
• World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion got fully revealed with details on gameplay features like the plot and the player housing system.
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants DLC brings the archeologist back to ancient Rome and the Colosseum.
• Fallout TV series Season 2 trailer dropped, giving more insights into this show inspired by Bethesda's gaming series.

RELATED: All Xbox and PC games from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025

Gamescom 2025 news at it got revealed

What to expect from Xbox at Gamescom 2025

Thanks to the Xbox Wire blog post last month, we know that Xbox has exciting plans in store for Gamescom 2025, including, but not limited to:

• Hollow Knight: Silksong details and a demo at the event for people to try
• Attendee hands-on experience with the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally X handheld gaming PC
• A theater experience for The Outer Worlds 2 (a game that is releasing Oct 29)
• Over 20 games for attendees to play
• World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion unveiling
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 reveal on Aug 19

I'm personally the most excited about the Xbox Ally handhelds, and can't wait to get a peek at the Windows 11 optimization Microsoft has been working on. With any luck, it will make these devices feel more like using a console, with the simple interface similar to a Steam Deck if implemented correctly. — Rebecca Spear, Gaming Editor

The Division 2 is where it's at

Haha, I got in here first, and nobody can stop me talking about what I'm most interested in from this week's Gamescom festivities! Sure there'll be some incredible new games announced, and ERMAGHERD SILKSONG! But I'm less fussed by that than I am about the teaser of something new coming to my everlasting favorite, The Division 2.

The image above is the second tease we've seen from Ubisoft of snow coming to the game, but beyond that, not a lot else. The first tease promised something "completely new" and long-time fans of the franchise know that snow, itself, is not new. It's new for the second game, but not for the franchise. That first tease also showed the Capitol Building looking a little different.

Whatever it is, it's coming out during Gamescom. So that's basically all I'm really looking out for. — Richard Devine, Managing Editor

It's Fallout time, and I've got spurs that jingle-jangle-jingle

Bethesda Game Studios already confirmed that we'll be seeing a trailer for the second season of the Fallout TV series during this presentation.

Ahead of the showcase, we also got our first drop of images, showing different members of the cast both after and before the atomic bombs fell.

I'm fascinated to see just what they're willing to share with the first trailer, and I cannot wait for this season's premiere in December. I'm calling it right now, we'll get just a GLIMPSE of a Deathclaw in this first-look. — Samuel Tolbert, contributor

Keeper will be at the ONL preshow

From its Bluesky account, developer Double Fine explained that its upcoming atmospheric puzzle adventure, Keeper, will be part of the Gamescom Opening Night Live preshow.

In case you aren't familiar with this title yet, you take on the role of a sentient lighthouse with legs who explores an island with a bird buddy. As with most Double Fine games, it has a unique art style that intentionally mixes cuteness with a slight feeling of unease.

I, for one, am excited to check out Keeper when it launches and am looking forward to learning more about it. — Rebecca Spear, Gaming Editor

Where to watch Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025

• Youtube
• Twitch

To kick things off, The Game Awards and Summer Game Fest host, Geoff Keighley, is presenting Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025 on Tuesday, Aug. 19, at 11am PT / 2pm ET / 7pm BST/ 8pm CEST.

We already know that several highly anticipated titles will be at the show, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, The Outer Worlds 2, the World of Warcraft Midnight expansion, Resident Evil Requiem, Ghost of Yōtei, and much more.

Not to mention, Xbox isn't just having one broadcast, but two broadcasts on two different days.

Just so you know, Gamescom Opening Night Live is expected to run for two hours, and there is a 30-minute preshow before that. As such, you might want to grab something to eat or maybe even play one of your favorite games while tuning in.

If you're in the US like me, you might be watching the show in the middle of a workday. For those of you who aren't able to watch the event as it unfolds, we've got you covered. — Rebecca Spear, Gaming Editor

The Gamescom Opening Night Live preshow has started

The preshow is finally kicking off right now. It's expected to last 30-minutes before the official two-hour Opening Night Live livestream starts. — Rebecca Spear, Gaming Editor

Games highlighted during the preshow

I've included platforms and release dates when the info was provided.

• Outlaws + Handful of Missions Remaster (Xbox, Steam, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch)
• Denshattack — Spring 2026 (Xbox Seires X|S, Xbox PC, Steam, PS5)
• Keeper — Oct 17, 2025 (Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC)
• He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction — Coming soon (Xbox Series X|S, Steam, PS5, Nintendo Switch)
• Absolum — October 9
• Long Gone
• Valor Mortis — (Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS5)
• PVKK — Summer 2026 (Steam)
• Routine — (Xbox, Xbox Game Pass, Steam)
• Swords of Legends
• Road Kings — 2026 (Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS5)
• Pac-Man World Re-Pac 2 Sonic the Hedgehog DLC — September 26
• Sonic Racing CrossWorlds Pac-Man DLC — September 25

Gamescom ONL has started!

Geoff Keighley has just walked onto the stage. Gamescom Opening Night Live is about to officially start!

An extended look at Hollow Knight: Silksong is incoming!

In a brief video clip, we got to see new Silksong footage and Keighley promised that we'll be getting an extended look at the highly-anticipated game this week.

A new look at Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

We got to see a new trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, showing some twisted locations reminiscent of what you'd find in Inception or Remedy's Control. I'm talking about highways twisting up into the sky toward floating islands and folded cities.

Preorders are available now, with the Vault Edition providing several extras.

The endgame is a brand new PvE multiplayer experience. This gives players the chance to explore the world beyond the mission.

There will be a Call of Duty Direct on Sept 30, where more news will be revealed.

Lords of the Fallen II will be even more violent

A gorgeous cinematic showed off a violent fantasy adventure where an armored individual took on a multi-armed woman.

It's coming in 2026 to Xbox Series X|S, Epic Games Store, and PS5 and is promised to be "bloodier, faster, and more brutal than ever."

A Sekiro anime is incoming!

An anime based on Sekiro is coming to Crunchy Roll!

A brand new LEGO Batman seemingly nods to the masked crusader's entire legacy

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight allows players to interact with many of the caped crusader's biggest enemies. From what was shown, there are plenty of easter eggs nodding to various Batman movies and various story lines.

Monster Hunter Wilds + Final Fantasy XIV crossover announced!

A crossover has been announced that will bring Final Fantasy XIV into Monster Hunter Wilds, including the mega boss Omega, for players to fight.

We got to see a brand-new trailer showing Hunters riding Chocobos and taking down monsters.

The crossover arrives in late September.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War coming 2026

The real-time strategy game (RTS) is coming in 2026 and is available to wishlist now on Steam.

A trailer for Onimusha Way of the Sword

We got to see a new trailer for Onimusha Way of the Sword.

This exciting and grotesquely beautiful game is coming 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and PS5.

A look at Arknights: Endfield

Arknights: Endfield is a post-apocalyptic anime-style RPG that's coming to Windows, PS5, Google Play, and the App Store.

Europa Universalis V is open for prepurchase

We got a look at the RTS wargame and the cultures that it will allow players to engage with. No release date was given, but it is ready for prepurchase now.

Another look at Daemon X Machina Titanic Scion

We got to take a look at this upcoming mecha shooter, which is set to launch September 5, 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, Steam, PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2. It's available to preorder now.

People from the Fallout TV show came on stage before a new trailer was shown

Four people involved with the making of the Fallout TV show joined Keighley on stage, including Ella Purnell, who plays Lucy MacLean, and Aaron Moten, who plays Maximus.

We got a look at the New Vegas location where season two takes place, along with our first look at a Deathclaw.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is getting DLC!

The adventurous archaeologist and professor seems to be exploring ancient Roman ruins, including the Colosseum, in the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants expansion.

It's coming September 4, 2025, to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Steam, and PS5.

What's more, the game will even come to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.

Deadpool is back in VR for Meta Quest

We got to see a trailer of our favorite sassy superhero fighting baddies, making money, and being his usual badmouth self.

Marvel's Deadpool VR is coming exclusively to Meta Quest 3 and 3S on November 18, 2025.

A World of Tanks 2.0 trailer

This trailer showed a tank making its way through various terrain, including water, a snowy mountainous region, a forest, and a swamp, while fighting other tanks.

It's releasing in the Asia-Pacific on September 1 and in Europe and North America on September 3.

Gear up with John Carpenter's Toxic Commando

This fast-paced trailer showed plenty of abominations getting shot while players worked together to survive and explore the wild world.

It's expected to launch early 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5.

Death by Scrolling gives off SNES Zelda vibes

This pixel-art game takes place in purgatory and has you running through a dangerous world filled with enemies and hazards. There are different characters to play as as you "run, fight, loot, and don't stop."

Zero Parades for Fake Radicals shows off an 80s futuristic style

This game trailer caught my attention with its blue and red art style and its 80s-futurisitic aesthetic. There wasn't much to pull from it, but we know it's a "story-rich espionage RPG" that's coming to Steam.

A frenetic action trailer shows off more of Ninja Gaiden 4

This latest Ninja Gaiden 4 trailer gives us a look at the game's main plot, where you will initially play as Yakumo before being able to play as Ryu Hayabusa.

It releases worldwide Xbox Series X|S, Windows, and PlayStation 5 on October 21, 2025.

Control mechs and massive machines in Cinder City

We got a look at Cinder City, NCSoft's upcoming MMO tactical shooter formerly known as Project LLL. There were powerful mechs, choppers, tanks, and more.

Time Takers forces you to earn your time

Time Takers puts a new twist on the multiplayer shooter genre by giving you a countdown that you're constantly working against. You gain more time as you take down enemies. It's a free to play game "coming soon" to Steam.

We got another look at the horrors in Silent Hill f

The trailer shows some of the haunting locations and horrors that teenage protagonist Shimizu Hinako encounters while exploring a rural Japanese town.

It's available September 25, 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Windows, Epic Games Store, and PS5. Preorders are now available.

La Divina Commedia takes us to hell

The trailer opens on a sword-wielding fighter taking down a deadly dog-like beast. It appears to be a retelling of the Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy.

This haunting game is coming to Steam. No date was listed.

The dead merge together in Cronos: The New Dawn

A new trailer showed the helmeted protagonist from Cronos: The New Dawn taking down grotesque enemies while exploring a haunting world.

It's coming on September 5, 2025 to Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2.

The Deluxe Edition gives players 48 hours early access, the base games, and several other goodies.

Take a look at the companions in this new The Outer Worlds 2 trailer

This quick trailer focused on the companions in The Outer Worlds 2, showing their distinct personalities, styles, and weapons.

The Outer Worlds 2 launches Oct 29. The Premium Edition gives you the digital base game, a Corporate Appreciation Prize pack, a DLC Pass for Story Expansions 1 & 2, and a digital artbook. There's also a preorder bonus that gives you Commander Zane's Battle Pack.

A quick look at the free InZOI: Island Getaway DLC

Krafton Inc.'s first free DLC for its free-to-play life-sim is coming to Steam and Mac app Store on August 20.

Various anime characters rush around with weapons in Fate Trigger

This shooter survival battle royale has players take control of various anime characters while defeating opponents. It's set to release Q1 2026 on PC.

Moonlighter 2 The Endless Vault early access coming in October

A quick trailer showed us gameplay from the upcoming Moonlighter 2 The Endless Vault which is coming to early access on Steam, PC Game Pass, and Windows on October 23, 2025.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 looks awesome

A quick trailer reminds us that this violent first-person RPG action game is set to launch on October 21, 2025. It's coming to Epic Games Store, Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5.

Enshrouded Wake of the Water teased for October

The wildly popular Enshrouded will be getting update 7 in October, as teased during Gamescom. We saw a character swimming underwater and fighting lizard creatures.

The base game is currently available to play on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, GeForce NOW, and Microsoft Windows.

An extremely quick teaser for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II's second expansion

A very short trailer teased that the second expansion for KCD2 is headed gamers' way on September 9. It's currently available for wishlisting.

Cult of the Lamb is getting a major expansion

A trailer shows the lamb reaching his hand out and touching a creepy figure that makes additional lamb-shaped creatures appear for the Cult of the Lamb Woolhaven expansion.

This massive paid expansion is coming early 2026.

An epic World of Warcraft: Midnight cinematic builds hype

World of Warcraft fans, rejoice! We got a gorgeous cinematic showing the main conflict for the Midnight expansion. It's coming in 2026 and is available for pre-order.

Project Spectrum world premier gives us another horror game

A haunting trailer for Project Spectrum brings us yet another horror game at Gamescom. No platforms or release date was listed.

Tanks, tanks, and more tanks shown off in World of Tanks: HEAT

This action hero shooter displayed military might as various tanks tore through terrain while shooting fiery explosives.

World of Tanks: HEAT will be playable on Steam, Steam Deck, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. No release date was revealed, but you can wishlist it already.

Resident Evil: Requiem's new trailer teases a secretive past

This trailer gives us another look at Grace Ashcroft, the FBI agent with a traumatic past.

She's shown working on her laptop as a storm rages outside. Suddenly, the phone rings, asking for her before abruptly hanging up. A moment later, the lights go out. Her mother grabs her hand and leads her out into the dark hallway.

However, when they come across a man they seem to already know, he apologizes for the outage before a hooded figure puts a plastic bag over his head and hurls him to the floor.

The trailer makes it very clear that the mother knows something and is hiding a secret from Grace.

Capcom's new horror game is slated to launch February 27, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and PS5.

The show ended with a teaser for Game Science's new Black Myth: Zhong Kui adventure

In this very brief trailer, we learned that Games Science, the team behind Black Myth: Wukong, has another game in store — Black Myth: Khong Zui.

We see two men carefully sneaking around a building before two massive armored creatures and an even larger tiger stroll past them. Atop the tiger is an ominous masked figure.

No date or platforms were listed.

That's a wrap for Gamescom Opening Night Live!

With those announcements out in the open, Gamescom ONL has officially concluded. But don't worry. There are still plenty more exciting Xbox and PC gaming announcements to look forward to as Gamescom 2025 continues.

Check back here for the latest news as more gets revealed. — Rebecca Spear, Gaming Editor

Quick list of every Xbox and PC game shown at Gamescom ONL 2025

For a more succinct list of all of the Xbox and PC games shown off during Gamescom ONL 2025, as well as links to said games (when possible), check out the following:

Every Xbox and PC game shown during Opening Night Live at Gamescom 2025

The Game Awards 2025 returns this December

Before ending ONL, Keighley quickly revealed that The Game Awards 2025 will take place on December 11, 2025. As always, we'll be here to cover that event and discuss the Xbox and PC games that win awards.

More details will be revealed this Fall.

Is Silent Hill f really a Silent Hill game?

By far, my biggest takeaway from Gamescom is that Silent Hill f still feels more like a 'Siren' game than a 'Silent Hill' sequel (or prequel). I love the first three games, and even the fourth to a lesser degree, but I don't understand how this fits into the lore.

I'm optimistic, though, and willing to be proven wrong. I just don't want this to feel ham-fisted and as though the brand name was just tacked on for the sake of it. Can there be something interesting enough that takes the midwest creepiness all the way to Japan?

Intriguing. — Ben Wilson, Senior Editor

The Xbox Ally arrives in October!

During Gamescom 2025, Microsoft finally revealed exactly when the ROG Xbox Ally partner gaming handhelds will be available for players to pick up. The Xbox Ally X and Xbox Ally are slated to launch on Oct. 16, 2025 in most markets.

Additionally, the company revealed the new Handheld Compatibility Program, which will help indicate to players whether or not a game is properly optimized or might need some additional tweaks.

Prices have still not been disclosed for the devices, with Microsoft saying details will be arriving "in the coming weeks."

I had the chance to use the Xbox Ally X to play Gears of War: Reloaded back after the Xbox Games Showcase 2025, and I was impressed with the system's feel and overall look. Hopefully that experience is indicative of what is to come this fall. — Samuel Tolbert, contributor

How would you rate Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025?

Dozens of games were shown off during ONL and the preshow before it. Did the show live up to your expectations? Tell us how you'd rate it.

I never expected a LEGO Batman game to utilize Batman Arkham mechanics, but I'm here for it

The original Batman Arkham game holds a special place in my gaming library as one of the first superhero games to really get gameplay right. So, I was shocked when I noticed multiple tools and mechanics from this classic in the trailer for LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight at Gamescom ONL 2025.

In a very Arkham-reminiscent way, we see LEGO Batman spraying Explosive Gel in the shape of a bat on a wall, performing melee combos on a gang of baddies, gliding over Gotham, sneaking around overhead before taking enemies down. It almost feels like LEGO Batman Arkham.

Like many of you, I was disappointed by both Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, but this upcoming LEGO game looks like it could scratch this itch that those other games didn't satisfy.

It feels like a cartoony successor to Rocksteady Studio's classic games. — Rebecca Spear, Gaming Editor

Our own Jez Corden has been able to use the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X handhelds at Gamescom

Our own Jez Corden has been able to get his hands on the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X while at Gamescom 2025, so you can expect him to write about his experience when he gets back.

As shown in the embedded image above, these devices offer a very similar layout to the ROG Ally line, but with grips inspired by the Xbox Wireless Controller.

Meanwhile, a convenient Xbox button above the D-Pad makes it easy to interact with settings and your library of games.

This highly-anticipated device is set to launch on October 16, 2025. No official price has been revealed yet, but the Best Buy pages are already up. — Rebecca Spear, Gaming Editor

ASUS ROG revealed its first Xbox-certified wireless controller

During Gamescom 2025, a new Xbox-certified wireless controller for PC and Xbox was revealed by ASUS ROG. The ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless is a premium gamepad with TMR joysticks, 1,000Hz polling rate, programmable back buttons, and more.

Its features allow people to customize their playing experience without having to worry about drifting joysticks. It's looking like a strong competitor to the premium Razer Wolverine V3 Pro controller, which also uses TMR sensors. — Rebecca Spear, Gaming Editor

Hollow Knight: Silksong finally has a release date!

During a special presentation today, Team Cherry finally revealed the long-awaited release date for Hollow Knight: Silksong. It will release on September 4, 2025.

In case you didn't know, Silksong is one of the most highly anticipated games and has been number one on Steam's Top Wishlists chart for multiple years.

I personally cannot wait to get my hands on this Metroidvania sequel and I'm sure many of you are looking forward to September as well. — Rebecca Spear, Gaming Editor

Hands-on with Xbox Ally's new Windows OS mode optimized for handhelds

My colleague, Zac Bowden, is currently at Gamescom 2025 and has been able to go hands-on with the Xbox Ally. While using it, he took a look at the new full screen mode, a Windows experience optimized for handhelds.

He says, "When in the full screen mode, all apps and games now also run in full screen. This mode disables the ability to run multiple apps in cascading windows like you would in a traditional desktop environment, which makes sense on a handheld PC with a smaller 8-inch screen. In fact, window controls like close and minimize are outright removed from the interface."

He further points out that he sees no reason why this new mode shouldn't work on a full-blown PC.

His overall takeaway is that this mode feels like a "bandaid solution to address the UX problems," but he hopes that Microsoft releases additional "improvements down the line."

The Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X will launch on October 16, 2025, so there is still time for Microsoft to release updates before these handhelds launch. — Rebecca Spear, Gaming Editor

Learn what's next for The Division 2 with a special livestream

Gamescom continues to truck along and for me, and people like me, it's time to pull up a chair and see what's next for The Division 2. The first of the dedicated panels from Cologne goes live at 6 p.m. local time, which is 5 p.m. in the UK, 12 noon on the East Coast and 9 a.m on the West Coast.

Agents, form an orderly queue and head over to their Twitch channel to see what's going down. — Richard Devine, Managing Editor

The Division 2's next season is called "The Pact"

Well, we have to wait until Friday to find out what the snow is all about in The Division 2, but we do know more now about the next season.

Dropping September 9, Year 7 Season 2 will be known as The Pact. For the first time, enemy factions are teaming up against The Division. In The Pact, agents will be fighting against a united enemy made up of the Hyenas, Outcasts, and True Sons, the three original enemy factions from the base game.

Furthermore, the final season of Year 7 will be called Mutiny, but we don't know what that's about since it would probably spoil the narrative for The Pact. Tune in again tomorrow to see what snowy future lies ahead! — Richard Devine, Managing Editor

The Awesome Indies Show 2025 is going on right now!

Love cozy or unique games from small studios? You can get information about the exciting indie games coming out in the next several months during the Gamescom Awesome Indies Show 2025, going on now. — Rebecca Spear, Gaming Editor

Tarantulas are coming to Grounded 2

Obsidian Entertainment and Eidos Montreal teased an upcoming Grounded 2 update that will bring AXL, a huge tarantula boss, to the game.

That's bad news for anyone who doesn't care for spiders, but it provides an awesome new challenge for everyone else enjoying Grounded 2 early access. — Rebecca Spear, Gaming Editor

Diving deeper into that Fallout Season 2 trailer

While there's been a lot to enjoy over Gamescom, the trailer for the next chapter of the Fallout TV series is still one of the best things I've seen. While it avoided going too heavy into story details, the quick flashes of different scenes still have heavy implications for the Wasteland.

I took some time to carefully analyze the first teaser trailer for Fallout Season 2, and there are a few key takeaways that viewers may have missed. Just as an example, look at the image above. If you've played Fallout: New Vegas, that armor might look familiar...

Season 2 of the Fallout TV series is set to premiere on December 17, with new episodes dropping weekly. I can't wait. — Samuel Tolbert, contributor

Hollow Knight: Silksong is probably the second most anticipated game right now, only behind GTA 6. Fans have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting, but at long last the game will be properly breaking cover.

Xbox has announced that the sequel to the cult hit, Hollow Knight, will not only be at Gamescom, but it'll be on its booth and playable for the hundreds of thousands of gamers coming through the doors.

That's right, get yourself a ticket to Gamescom and you can go play Hollow Knight: Silksong on PC and the still-to-be-released Xbox ROG Ally X handheld.

"This year, the Xbox booth will be full of fantastic upcoming games from Xbox and our incredible third-party partners coming to Xbox, PC, and Game Pass this Holiday and beyond – and yes, that includes Hollow Knight: Silksong. On top of that, there will be the first ever public opportunity to go hands-on with the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, as well as other fun activities and photo opportunities."

The long wait for Hollow Knight: Silksong and the reaction of its fan base to any sniff of news is pretty much a meme at this point. All in good fun, of course, but aside from GTA 6 it's a fever rarely seen.

Both Xbox and Nintendo have taken their own individual opportunities to remind folks that Silksong is indeed planned to come to the platforms, albeit, without saying when.

You have to feel, though, that if the game is playable at Gamescom on the Xbox booth, surely a release date for it might actually be coming at the same event? Right? RIGHT?!

Xbox at Gamescom isn't just about Hollow Knight: Silksong, though. It's a pretty stacked lineup of games, and since it's a public event, regular gamers get to experience them.

Also making an appearance will be:

• Grounded 2
• Ninja Gaiden 4
• Indiana Jones and The Great Circle: The Order of Giants DLC
• Age of Empires
• Age of Mythology: Retold
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
• The Outer Worlds 2
• Borderlands 4
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
• Final Fantasy XVI
• Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

And that list isn't everything. Xbox is also promising "a couple more surprises" from its partners at the show, too.

World of Warcraft will also have a big presence, with the game's next expansion, Midnight, being revealed at the show. And of course, the full reveal of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

If you're heading to Gamescom, or you want to follow all the Xbox action from the show, check out the full rundown over at Xbox Wire.

There's great news for Call of Duty fans, as we now know when to expect more details on the next entry in the yearly franchise. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is being shown off during Opening Night Live at Gamescom 2025 on Tuesday, August 19, at 11:00 a.m. PT/ 2:00 p.m. ET.

Geoff Keighley — host of Summer Game Fest, Opening Night Live at Gamescom, and the Game Awards — shared the news via X (Twitter) on Monday, announcing that Black Ops 7 would kick off Gamescom in a "massive" way.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was first announced with a CGI trailer at the end of the Xbox Games Showcase in June. The trailer confirms the return of protagonist David Mason, who was one of the playable characters in 2012's Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 campaign.

This game is notably the first-ever back-to-back sequel the Call of Duty franchise has ever seen, coming hot on the heels of last year's Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Treyarch and Raven Software are once again leading co-development, with the two studios having also led co-development on Black Ops 6 and 2020's Black Ops: Cold War.

While we don't have exact details at the moment, it seems fair, given the phrasing here, to expect a full gameplay reveal for Black Ops 7, perhaps getting a look at the campaign, multiplayer, and zombies components of the title. It also seems fair to expect a release date for the game.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is slated to launch at some point this fall across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC (via Battle.net, Steam, and Xbox PC), PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4.

As an Xbox first-party game, it'll also be available day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

There's no news right now regarding a Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game, but reports indicate Activision is still committed to bringing the Call of Duty franchise to Nintendo's platform, as promised by Microsoft back during its bid to acquire Activision Blizzard King in 2023.

Xbox is busy at Gamescom 2025

In addition to Activision showing up with Black Ops 7, other Xbox teams are already confirmed to be taking part at Gamescom. Bethesda Softworks will be present, while the World of Warcraft team at Blizzard Entertainment is also showing up.

It's not clear at this time what Bethesda will be showing, but Blizzard Entertainment will be diving into Midnight, the next big expansion in World of Warcraft.

Personally, I'm hoping to see Bethesda share more on what's next for Starfield, including the next rumored expansion and any updates that the developers have planned.

While Summer Game Fest 2025 and the accompanying Xbox Games Showcase are only weeks in the rearview mirror, the Xbox team is already locking in its attendance at the next big gaming event, with Xbox confirmed for Gamescom 2025 from August 20 through 24 in Cologne, Germany.

The announcement comes via a post on the official Xbox Bluesky account on Monday. There aren't many details at the moment, but we do know that Bethesda Softworks will also be attending, with the Xbox publisher confirming its presence via X (Twitter).

Blizzard Entertainment will also be headed to the annual German gaming event, with the World of Warcraft team presenting Midnight, the next chapter in the "Worldsoul Saga" that was first outlined back during BlizzCon 2023.

According to the team's announcement, the World of Warcraft booth will include "five days of non-stop community celebration," with a cosplay showcase, developer meet-and-greets, and more. This comes on top of news for World of Warcraft: Midnight that'll be shared during the show itself.

What else will Xbox show at Gamescom?

The Xbox teams have so many different projects that it's difficult to say exactly what will be present at Gamescom. With Bethesda Softworks in attendance however, we can narrow things down a bit.

Bethesda and MachineGames shared a first look at the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle DLC expansion, The Order of Giants, during the Xbox Games Showcase. Maybe we'll get to see even more here?

There's also promised campaign DLC for DOOM: The Dark Ages, though I wouldn't be surprised if this is first unveiled at a stream accompanying the id Software-focused QuakeCon 2025.

This time last week, I was on day two of the Gamescom 2024 rollercoaster—a gaming conference so massive that I'm pretty sure I walked the circumference of the Earth. Half of that distance was spent just navigating the audaciously huge Xbox booth, it's biggest ever. By that point, I had already played so many games that they nearly blended into one pixelated fever dream. But now that I'm back home and able to reflect on my time in Cologne with more clarity, there are seven games that truly stood out to me.

These are my personal picks from the show—some I knew I would enjoy, while others weren't even on my radar before the trip but are now firmly on my wishlist. All but one (which isn't a video game) will be coming to Xbox.

Monster Hunter Wilds

I'm already a firm fan of the Monster Hunter franchise, with Monster Hunter World being my first introduction to the series, and later playing Monster Hunter Rise when it came to Xbox Game Pass. Heading into my time with Monster Hunter Wilds, I knew I was going to love it. From what I've seen so far, it's a juiced-up, harder, better, faster, stronger version of its predecessor. It’s exactly what I’d expect in a sequel, and sometimes, predictability is a good thing.

Monster Hunter Wilds takes everything I love about World and adds some further conveniences. For instance, mounts now have a built-in GPS to follow your prey. Once you’ve picked up the scent of your monster, your mount will automatically walk to its location, giving you a chance to grab a drink and enjoy the scenery. Of course, you can take the reins at any time to regain control. You can also switch and use weapons while mounted, which was a game-changer for me as I jumped into the hunt with my favorite weapon, the Bow. Given my limited time with the game and the two quests I played, I stuck with the weapon I know and love, but I was pleasantly surprised by its upgrades.

The Bow is now much more maneuverable, no longer freezing you in place with the Dragon Piercer move, allowing you to react more fluidly to the enemy. Power coatings no longer run out in the field (though you have to reapply them every 8 coatings), and there’s an exciting new Tracer feature that lets you target specific body parts—handy for crafting. The Arc Shot returns, but instead of raining rocks on your prey, it now rains arrows, which feels much more fitting for the build. You can also combine this with the new Focus attack for some devastating damage.

All in all, while I played something that felt initially familiar, it had enough improvements to keep things exciting. I'm eager to experiment more with the Bow build when Monster Hunter Wilds launches on Xbox in 2025.

Winterburrow

Winter Burrow was the perfect game to end a chaotic first day at the conference. It’s a charming and cozy survival adventure from Pine Creek Games. The premise is simple: you’re a cute little mouse trying to fix up your childhood home, and to do so, you’ll need to brave the elements and gather materials. Think Ark Survival, but instead of dinosaurs, you’re hitting beetles with a twig. The stresses of the day melted away as I spent time in this game collecting wood and stone for my home.

Winter Burrow is pleasantly slow-paced as you rebuild your fireplace, set up a nice seating area, and gradually add more furniture to your cozy tree stump. The game does get more perilous as night falls, and if you stay out in the cold too long, you can freeze to death. This leads itself nicely to another quest where you need to knit a jumper and some woolly pants for your next venture into the wilderness. Along my travels, I met shopkeepers who sold crafting items, and the developers mentioned that those who don’t want to venture into the more risky parts of the game can earn coins and buy what they need from these merchants.

As my time as a mouse drew to a close, I really wished I could take the game home with me on my Steam Deck. It seems perfectly suited for handheld play and is ultimately where I’ll enjoy it most—but the game is also coming to Xbox Game Pass in 2025.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Of all the games mentioned here, my absolute favorite and the standout of the conference was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I've gone into more detail in my full Expedition 33 preview about how its breathtaking visuals and unique combat system truly shine, especially considering the small team of 30 people who created it. Remarkably, this is the first-ever game from the small studio Sandfall Interactive, and if the final product is as good as the preview, it could be a game-of-the-year contender.

The gameplay we experienced introduced us to three fascinating characters: Gustave, Lune, and Meille, each with their own abilities and skill trees, between whom the player can switch. The story follows them as they explore a linear environment in Lumeire, a land inspired by Belle Époque France. Each monster they encounter in combat has its own pulsing theme tune. The combat system is particularly unusual; during the player’s turn, it’s turn-based and operates on an action point system similar to games like Baldur's Gate 3 and XCOM. However, when it’s the enemy’s turn, you’re pulled straight back into real-time, with the ability to dodge, parry, and counterattack. It’s an engaging approach to combat, and I’m just disappointed we didn’t get to try it ourselves. But with the launch in 2025, and the game being available on Xbox Game Pass from day one, I guess I’ll just have to wait until then!

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King of Meat

King of Meat wasn't on my radar at all prior to the wacky trailer at Gamescom 2024, which featured an animated Geoff Keighley being dragged into its torture chambers. However, it was the first booth I visited in the Xbox stand, and I left with more than just a free foam finger—I left wanting to play more. The hack-and-slash combat has you competing in a dystopian game show as part of a 4-player co-op team, and the art style took me way back to the Happy Wars days on the Xbox 360. The objective is simple: smash stuff. Smash everything, find treasure, and get rewarded for more efficient smashing and locating the targets. The platforming elements are forgiving enough to avoid frustration, making it a straightforward loop of smash, grab, and watch your score climb. Perfect. After your smashing spree, you can use in-game currency to buy cosmetics, tweak your character, show off to your friends, and upgrade abilities on your skill tree.

Where the game will really come into its own is with the promise of user-generated levels. Much like the classic Little Big Planet, you'll be able to play all sorts of dungeons created by both the developers and the community, all using the same tools. King of Meat is coming to Xbox on an as-yet-unknown date, and you can sign up here for the playtest. As for why it's called King of Meat? I asked the developers, and that remains a mystery.

Avowed

My anticipation for Avowed has ebbed and flowed with each new reveal. Initially, I was incredibly excited by the first reveal, which hinted at a dark fantasy setting—Skyrim with better combat, if you will. However, as more details emerged, to be completely honest, my excitement waned. The art style wasn't what I was expecting from a dark-toned fantasy game. But after the latest behind-closed-doors gameplay I saw, I’m back on board. Alongside clear visual improvements in the setting, where Avowed really shines is in the quest lines and dialogues. Based on The Outer Worlds and Pentiment, I know that if Obsidian can do anything, it’s tell an incredible story and make your choices feel impactful, and that was clearly on display in the demo.

My colleague, who was lucky enough to play, shared their experience playing through Avowed for the first time. Similarly, in the mission I observed, there were numerous different endings available for one simple quest, with consequences that could even lead to the death of a character. Your choices matter greatly, and this also extends to character building, where abilities and equipped treasure make a significant difference to your playstyle. Throughout the demo, we as an audience were asked to make choices that determined how the story would move forward, so I’m sure everyone who walked into the Avowed booth that day experienced a different outcome.

I’m now relieved by the announced delay until February 18, 2025, for Avowed's release, as it allows the game to shine away from the hectic holiday release calendar. I’ll certainly be one of the many eager to explore the world of Eora when it arrives.

Starfield: Shattered Space 

Starfield: Shattered Space will be the first DLC for Bethesda's space exploration RPG, launching on September 30. You can actually get the premium upgrade on sale right now at CD Keys for $25.19 ensuring you're ready ahead of launch. The base game is playable through Xbox Game Pass. Shattered Space will continue our story in Starfield, but with a noticeably darker tone. It introduces a fully purpose-built area dedicated to the House Va’ruun faction, a cult of space serpent worshippers—finally, the fantasy sci-fi epic I was looking for!

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my time with Starfield, but its story didn’t evoke as much emotion in me as previous Bethesda titles. However, I always sensed the potential, and I think Shattered Space is going to fill in those gaps. Reality as we know it is torn apart by a vortex, spewing forth twisted creatures as the setting really leans into horror themes. You’ll follow blood smears to find your crewmates, and the combat, as shown in a new trailer, is more chaotic and close-quarters, with melee weapons—including a space sword.

The return to focused storytelling, rather than procedurally generated environments, is going to breathe new life into Starfield, and I can't wait to experience it.

Console Wars: The Card Game

I saved the best for last, and it’s not even a video game. Console Wars: The Card Game takes something that isn’t fun at all—dealing with console warriors—and turns the toxic practice into a hilarious game. Created by our friends over at Xbox Era, the Kickstarter hit its target with ease long before the game arrived at Gamescom, but you can still back Console Wars today to secure your pack of cards and help the team hit their stretch goals, delivering even more additions to the deck.

If you enjoy games like Exploding Kittens and Unstable Unicorns, you’ll love Console Wars. Four of us sat around the table, each representing a platform. With our cards in hand, we each collected games, trying to turn them into fully-fledged franchises, all while hoping we had enough fans in our pile to support those projects. In Console Wars, without fans, you’re vulnerable—and their value varies between Casuals and Hardcore, even the Grans and the Karens.

Throughout the game, our business dealings were constantly sabotaged by other players using underhanded tactics to steal fans and franchises. Using cards to manipulate the market in your favor, and even introducing Battle Passes to squeeze more income, the game becomes increasingly ruthless and hilarious as the turns roll by. Xbox Era has designed the cards to make the games recognizable enough that it’s immediately obvious why Call of Shooty is worth a lot more investment than single-player Alan Woke. Console Wars pokes fun at what can sometimes be the worst part of being in the gaming community, and I’ve already backed it so I can enjoy a high-stakes game with my PlayStation- and Nintendo-loving family when my cards arrive. Just don’t tell them I’ve already played and have an advantage…

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Over to you...

These are just a handful of the games I saw at Gamescom 2024, and everyone’s list of memorable titles will be wildly different. Among my friend group, some were most excited for Star Wars Outlaws, Space Marine 2, and I can’t deny the massive queue for games like Assassin's Creed: Shadows. It was truly impossible to see and experience everything due to the size of the event, but I’d love to know what your favorite games were, whether you attended or simply watched the livestreams. Comment below with your picks!

What you need to know

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the first game from small developer Sandfall Interactive and will be launching day 1 on Xbox Game Pass in 2025.
• A brand new gameplay trailer was shown behind closed doors at Gamescom 2024, and launched publically yesterday showing the unique combat mechanics and dark fantasy setting of the game.
• The game looks incredible using the Unreal Engine 5, and was my favorite game at the whole conference.

Since returning from my first ever Gamescom, the one question everyone had to ask was, "What was the best game you saw?" and until now, I've had to keep pretty quiet on the matter. However, last night, the embargo finally lifted on the gameplay reveal trailer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and now everyone has got to see the fantastic trailer we saw behind closed doors, and I can shout from the rooftops that this was my hands down best game. I also got to watch a developer play the game and chat through its concepts, but for now, let's break down this new trailer. 

Characters I immediately want to know more about

It isn't easy to convey a snapshot of an intricate story in a trailer for a new game, and it actually makes me care about the characters immediately — but Clair Obscur pulls it off with ease. Straight away, we are introduced to two main characters, Gustave, the "resourceful and dedicated engineer," and Lune, the "passionate scholar and mage," who are retracing the steps of Expeditions that came before them. The seed is sown, Expedition 33 is not the first, and many have failed before them, but at what exactly? What are they looking for? All we know so far is that the protagonist, the 'Painteress,' is painting down an ever-decreasing number of people and reducing the life span of everyone in this world. "There was a time 30 was considered young," Gustave remarks.

Initially, I thought the game was taking place underwater, but the developers explained to us that this was a 'surrealist' inspired by Belle Époque, a long romanticized period in French history prior to the First World War. The graphics and, indeed, the face modeling are exquisite to watch; the developers explained to us that what started as development in Unreal Engine 4 has now advanced to Unreal Engine 5. As a small team of only 30 people, the visuals they have been able to pull off here are impressive and have been aided by Epic's Metahuman tech to do heavy lifting on the facial models.

But back to Gustave and Lune, the trailer shows us the player in control of Gustave as the duo navigate the world of Lumière, though it was explained to us on the day that there will be six characters in total that you can switch between, each with their own attributes and skill trees. I already want to know more about Gustave and Lune, and indeed, a later character we are introduced to, Maelle, who the pair have been searching for. In our preview Maelle was lost and found in the care of a mysterious 'Curator' who seemed to be a threatening figure but one the party could train their moves on. 

Combat like nothing I've seen before

Characters and visuals aside, the real standout of the trailer and the gameplay we witnessed behind the scenes was the combat, which is like nothing I've seen before. Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 combines both turn-based combat for the player characters and real-time combat for the enemy into something quite unusual, and I was slightly disappointed we didn't get to hop in with a controller ourselves.

As you can see from the trailer, when it is the player's turn, they can select to aim with their weapon, use an item, or choose a skill. This all plays out in a traditional turn-based system similar to what you would experience in Baldurs Gate 3, but not from the traditional isometric viewpoint we are used to. 

As the characters cycle through their turns using an Action Point (AP) system, we then get to the enemy turn in which the combat switches from turn based to real-time. Both in the gameplay trailer and in the developer chat where we watched them play through an early level in the game, we saw that during this real time turn you have the ability to dodge attacks, parry and counter. The developer was extremely skilled and hitting the parry each time but we were told it's actually quite difficult, but not so much when you've been playing the same level all day for viewers at Gamescom!

Interwoven in combat is a QTE system allowing impressive and satisfying combos to inflict bonus damage to your foes. Following the short combat scene we are shown, Luna indicates that the whole fight could have been avoided altogether — so perhaps fighting everything you encounter in the world of Lumière isn't always the answer? It is also possible, given the dodge and parry system, to get through a fight without taking a single hit, so I anticipate many 'hit-less' speedruns dropping on YouTube when this game launches. 

We'll be able to unlock new skins for our characters

At the end of the presentation, I asked if we would be able to customize our characters in the world of Lumiere — and the developers confirmed that cosmetic customization would be available so you can get full Style points and unlock new skins for the characters as you play through the game. Fans of Style Souls rejoice! I and many others can't wait to dive into the world that Sandfall Interactive have crafted next year.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will launch on Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and Windows 10/11 in 2025, and will also be available on day one with Xbox Game Pass. Lock in 2 years of Xbox Game Pass for $5 a month. 

What you need to know

• Nacon is a French gaming accessory design company creating officially licensed, "Designed for" Xbox-branded controllers.
• Nacon unveiled the Revolution X Unlimited controller during Gamescom 2024, highlighting the wireless controller's built-in LCD screen, precision inputs, and use of Hall Effect technology.
• Xbox only allowed third-party wireless controllers to launch for the platform starting in 2023.
• The Revolution X Unlimited controller from Nacon has a "Fall 2024" release window, and no price has been announced yet.

In partnership with the Designed for Xbox program, Nacon has unveiled a new wireless, officially licensed controller for Xbox and PC.

The new controller, unveiled at Gamescom 2024, is called the Revolution X Unlimited and is billed as a premium peripheral. Nacon has a 10-year history producing accessories and previously released the Revolution X and Revolution Pro controllers. The Revolution X Unlimited is the French company's first wireless controller, designed for Xbox, and is capable of a latency-free wireless connection to both Xbox consoles and PCs when connected via a USB dongle. The Revolution X Unlimited can also connect via wired or Bluetooth, though latency may be introduced. 

Until 2023, third-party controller manufacturers were limited to producing wired controllers for Xbox hardware due to Microsoft's proprietary technology for wireless controllers. Now that restrictions against wireless peripherals for Xbox have begun to ease, more third-party companies have taken on the challenge to bring wireless Designed for Xbox controllers to market.

"Nacon's R&D team has put in an enormous amount of work to design a controller that will meet the expectations of the most demanding gamers," said Yannick Allaert, Head of Accessories Division at Nacon. The Revolution X Unlimited controller is designed to be ideal for First-Person Shooter and Third-Person Shooter games, emphasizing features that offer precision and durability. This includes implementing Hall effect technology to reduce stick drift and trigger blockers for adaptability. Six programmable shortcut buttons, alternative directional pads, extra weights, stick heads, and stick rings further boost adaptability as the player can adjust the controller's layout to suit their preferred play style.

Compared to its predecessors, the most significant change for the Revolution X Unlimited is introducing a built-in LCD at the front and center of the controller. The LCD screen makes it easy to program the Revolution X Unlimited controller and navigate the peripheral's function for saving multiple game profiles. It can also be used for audio source mixing, opening the door for players to finally find the perfect balance of chat, music, and gameplay audio being blasted straight into their ears. It's all capped off with a 10-hour battery life on a single charge.

Unfortunately, the Revolution X Unlimited has no set release date yet. Nacon has only alluded to a Fall 2024 launch window. The price of the Revolution X Unlimited was also not revealed, though Nacon's previously released Revolution X hit store shelves with a $99.99 price tag. Due to its more advanced features, the Revolution X Unlimited will likely have a significantly higher MSRP.

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What you need to know

• Following the announcement of his new game Masters of Albion during Gamescom 2024's Opening Night Live show, Peter Molyneux has been asked if it's a Fable game and if it's in the same universe.
• In an interview that appeared in Video Games Chronicle, Molyneux asserted that Masters of Albion shares a universe with Fable, but isn't a Fable game.
• Molyneux co-founded Fable's original developer Lionhead Studios, but left the studio in 2012 a few years before Microsoft shuttered it in 2016. Fable is still a Microsoft property, and a Fable reboot coming out in 2025 is in development at Playground Games. It will be a first-party Xbox and Windows PC exclusive.
• Molyneux claims that because Albion is a historical term for Great Britain, it can't be copyrighted. However, he's ultimately unsure if that reasoning will hold up in a legal dispute.

One of the biggest surprises from the Gamescom 2024 Opening Night Live show was the reveal of Masters of Albion — a new "god game" in which you wield ancient powers from the skies to develop and protect a growing society in a fantasy world. It's coming from a team of ex-Fable developers led by Peter Molyneux, who co-founded Fable's original developer Lionhead Studios and served as the lead designer on its three mainline Fable RPG titles released prior to his departure in 2012 and Microsoft's subsequent closure of the studio in 2016. He went on to create 22cans, which is the developer that's now building Masters of Albion.

Masters of Albion looks to be an evolution of what Molyneux and Lionhead created with its popular Black & White god game series, though the fact it's set in the world of Albion has many raising eyebrows. Albion is the name of Fable's setting, after all, and Fable is still a Microsoft property; in fact, under the Xbox Game Studios banner, Playground Games is building a Fable reboot that's scheduled to launch in 2025 as an Xbox and PC exclusive. So is Masters of Albion a Fable game? And if so, how does the legality of that work?

These questions were posed to Molyneux in an interview that appeared in Video Games Chronicle, and his answers are pretty interesting. Ultimately, he argues that you can't copyright Albion because it's a widely acknowledged historical term for Great Britain. He also asserts that Masters of Albion is indeed set in Fable's "familiar, vast" world.

"[It’s] like saying if you set a game in America, you can’t set any other game in America,” he explained in the interview. “So Albion can’t be copyrighted. It’s the name for England and Wales and that’s how we get away with it."

“Fable was set in Albion, Masters of Albion is set in Albion,” Molyneux continued, clarifying that his new game shares a setting with Fable.

This sounds like a fairly solid argument to me, though I'm obviously not a legal expert. Evidently, neither is Molyneux, made apparent by his admission that he's not sure if his logic would actually hold up in a courtroom. 

"I don’t know if I’m honest, I don’t really know… I hope so," he said. "I mean you would think that the responsible person I should be, I would’ve spent the last six months in lawyers’ offices…"

One thing that's clear, though, is that while 22cans says Masters of Albion is set in the same universe as Fable, it is in no way being considered a Fable game by the studio.

"It’s not actually Fable 5 or anything like that, but if you’ve played Fable, then definitely Masters of Albion will be familiar to you. One of the things that we have got and we absolutely wanted a nail was the humor," he noted. "I think in the Fable games, it’s not so much about telling jokes, it’s more about giving you, the player, the ability to do ridiculous and funny things. And we’ve got that in Masters of Albion in absolute spades. I think we’re really nailing that."

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The trailer for Masters of Albion showed off how you can feed your peasants rat meat pie and equip them with swords made out of bread loaves, so I don't doubt Molyneux on that front. Still, with the upcoming Fable reboot positioned as one of Microsoft's biggest and most important Xbox exclusives (and one of the biggest new games headed to Xbox Game Pass), I'm curious to see if the company will challenge 22cans' use of Albion. Only time will tell.

As for Masters of Albion's release date, it's unclear right now, though it is available to wishlist on Steam. Whether it's coming to Xbox, PlayStation, and other platforms as well as Windows PC is also unknown at the moment, though Molyneux's mention that he needed to "come home to PC and console" when introducing the game suggests there's a good chance it is.

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What you need to know

• Preorders are now live for three new Xbox console models.
• A white discless Xbox Series X, a 2TB Galaxy Black special edition Xbox Series X, and a 1TB Xbox Series S can all now be preordered through Microsoft's website.
• The new console models will start shipping on October 15, 2024 in the United States and October 29, 2024 in other markets.

Three new Xbox console models are on the way. The Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition and the Xbox Series X 1TB Digital Edition will launch on October 15, 2024 in the United States. The Xbox Series S 1TB in Robot White has the same launch date. All three of the new models can be preordered now through Microsoft's website.

We already knew about the new console models, since Microsoft announced them back in June. Several of our writers got to see them in person as well, as shown above. The in-person images give a better look at how the Galaxy Black Xbox Series X looks. The exact launch date of the new Xbox models is now known as well. You can preorder the consoles now, but they'll start shipping on October 15, 2024 in the United States and October 29, 2024 in other markets.

The Xbox Series X 2 TB Galaxy Black Special Edition is the most expensive at $599.99, but that price gets you a large amount of storage to keep the best Xbox games on your system. The Xbox Series X 1TB Digital Edition ($449.99) and the Xbox Series S 1TB in Robot White ($349.99) have respectable amounts of storage, especially when compared to the base models of the respective consoles.

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Preorders for the consoles are live now. Those in the United States should get their preorders on October 15, 2024. The console models are also available in Xbox hardware supported regions and markets, though customers outside the United States will have to wait until October 29, 2024 to receive their preorders.

The launch of preorders for the new console models comes during Gamescom 2024, which has stirred up excitement among gamers. It also ensures that those who preorder the consoles now get their new gadgets before the 2024 holidays, assuming supply meets demand.

If you want to expand the storage of your console rather than purchase a new one, the discounted 2TB Seagate Expansion Card is down to $229.99 right now, which is $20 off its normal price.

What you need to know

• A new trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds, the next-gen successor to Capcom's best-selling title of all time, Monster Hunter World, has been revealed at Gamescom 2024.
• This trailer showcases a tiny glimpse of the game's story and characters, a new locale, NPC followers, and two new brand monsters to fight.
• Monster Hunter Wilds is set to release in 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

The annual Gamescom 2024 convention is underway and brings with it a smorgasbord of announcements and trailers for a variety of games. One such game getting a new trailer during Gamecom's Opening Night Live ceremony is Monster Hunter Wilds, the next mainline entry in Capcom's Monster Hunter franchise.

The trailer begins by showing us a glimpse of the game's story. In Monster Hunter Wilds, a band of hunters are traversing a treacherous realm known as the Forbidden Lands in search of a hunting expedition that went missing there. 

During our heroes' journey in this trailer, they encounter two terrifying monsters that have never been seen before in a Monster Hunter game. The first of these creatures is the Lala Barina, a giant spider monster that resides in the Scarlet Forest and attacks its prey using paralyzing poison and deadly stingers.

The second is a monster that we've only seen brief glimpses of in Monster Hunter Wilds' Summer Game Fest trailer, but now we know what is it - the Rey Dau. This gigantic beast of a Flying Wyvern is the apex predator of the Windward Plains and attacks its prey whenever the region's sandstorms occur by zapping its opponents with lightning bolts shot from its head.

In addition to these beasts being added to Monster Hunter Wilds' list of monsters, this trailer reveals that this game will include NPC Support Hunters. This was a mechanic that debuted in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak that allowed solo players to bring NPC hunters along with them during hunts and now it's coming back for Monster Hunter Wilds.

On top of that, the Turf Wars mechanic introduced in Monster Hunter World will be returning for Monster Hunter Wilds also. Turf Wars are when two certain monsters make eye contact in the same area and initiate a cinematic battle where they deal massive damage to one another. Players can take advantage of this mechanic by luring monsters together so they can beat each other up, and weakening them so the player will be able to finish them off quickly.

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I can't wait to hunt these new monsters

These new monsters coming to Monster Hunter Wilds look absolutely amazing. With Lala Barina, I'm happy to see a new large insect monster being added to the roster as giant monsters in most Monster Hunter games tend to have some most character designs and the weapons you get for killing them look stunning and offer useful status effects that can cripple monsters.

As for the Rey Dau, I am both awe-stricken over how cool it looks and terrified at how brutal its lightning attacks are. I have a feeling that this monstrosity is going to be the first major test of the player's skill and mastery of the Monster Hunter Wilds list of weapons and whether they have it takes to progress through the story. 

However new players to the series won't have to worry too much about tackling these beasts as the NPC Support Hunters will be there to help them should they need it. The NPC Support Hunters were very competent and useful in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, so I have no doubt they will just be as helpful in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Either way, I'm extremely looking forward to challenging these monsters whether I'm fighting them solo, with NPCs, or with fellow players in online co-op when Monster Hunter Wilds launches next year for consoles and PC.

Monster Hunter Wilds, the next-gen successor to one of Capcom's best Xbox games and best PC games, Monster Hunter World, is scheduled to launch in 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

What you need to know

• Civilization is a legendary turn-based strategy game published by Take Two Interactive. 
• The latest installment, Civilization VII, just had its gameplay revealed for the first time at Gamescom 2024. 
• In addition, Take Two revealed the Civilization 7 will drop on February 11, 2024 for all platforms. 

One of gaming's most legendary franchises just revealed gameplay for its seventh outing. 

Civilization VII is set to launch on February 11, 2025, across all platforms. Steam PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and even Nintendo Switch. At Gamescom 2024, we got our first gameplay in-engine look at for Civilization 7. The gameplay trailer showcases a step up in fidelity, and offers a small glimpse at new gameplay refinements players can expect. 

In Civilization, players take command of various historical leaders and grow a small settlement of primitive humans into an advanced technological society. Competing against other civilizations on the map with turn-based moves, players must strategize and carefully balance their expansion and resource harvesting against other players on the board. Historically, you can gun for different types of global domination, whether it's trade, technological prowess, or even military dominance. If you drop a nuke, you may find the entire world turning against you, however. 

Civilization VII looks to continue the traditions expected of the franchise, complete with that addictive progression, alongside natural hazards like tornados and the like. 

We'll be sure to bring you more information as soon as we have it. 

What you need to know

• Gamescom is a major, annual convention that brings together thousands of people to celebrate video games.
• Now, Xbox has detailed its Gamescom 2024 plans, including showcasing over 50 Xbox games alongside Activision Blizzard.
• There will be hands-on demos, live shows and guided previews, the opportunity to win free prizes, and much more.
• Confirmed games include Avowed, Starfield, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Towerborne, Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred, and many more first and third-party Xbox titles.

It was basically a given that Xbox would have a huge presence at Gamescom 2024, as the major publisher is rarely missed at the biggest video games conventions and shows (and, also, Xbox already confirmed it'd be at Gamescom). Now, we know exactly what to expect from Xbox in Cologne, Germany this year, with the company joining forces with its new subsidiary Activision Blizzard for the first time to offer players at the show and abroad a ton of fun experiences.

Xbox's Gamescom presence later this year will boast over 50 new and upcoming Xbox and Windows PC games, split between Xbox's first-party studios and third-party partners. There will be plenty of hands-on demos, theater shows (that are also livestreamed worldwide), opportunities for fans to win assorted prizes, all the Xbox and Activision Blizzard merch you could ask for, and much more. It's looking to be a big year for Xbox, with accessibility being a priority to allow as many people as possible to experience it.

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So, we already knew that Xbox was planning its 'biggest booth ever' for Gamescom 2024, but we finally know what that actually looks like. The Xbox and Activision Blizzard booth will let attendees and fans go hands-on with a ton of games, including (but certainly not limited to) Age of Mythology: Retold, Ara: History Untold, Towerborne, Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred, Fallout 76: Milepost Zero, and The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road.

Don't forget the third-party studios, as many of Xbox's partners are also excited to let attendees go hands-on with their games, including Star Wars Outlaws, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Atomfall, and a ton of various ID@Xbox titles. There will be dozens of games to play, but Xbox is showing off even more beyond the hands-on demos for the best upcoming Xbox games.

Xbox will also be hosting exclusive presentations in a dedicated theater (which will also be livestreamed globally) with new information and previews of Obsidian Entertainment's fantasy RPG Avowed, Bethesda Softworks' Starfield: Shattered Space expansion, and MachineGames' Nazi-punching Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Blizzard will have its own showings, with an interactive experience for World of Warcraft: The War Within, a tournament for Diablo Immortal, and even a life-sized D.VA from Overwatch 2 (shown alongside a new all-electric Porsche, for some reason).

One great bit of news from all these announcements is the fact that Xbox is focusing on accessibility at Gamescom 2024. Each booth will be wheelchair accessible, Xbox Adaptive Controllers will be available for each demo if requested, ASL and DGS sign language interpreters and audio description guides will be on site, Xbox will provide accessory aids and a "quiet room" for anyone who needs them, and Xbox's "Here to Help" staff will be readily available to answer questions and provide guidance.

That still isn't everything, though. The next few sections will be dedicated to Xbox's fan-centric events at Gamescom 2024, when you can expect Xbox to go live worldwide, and what you need to know about Gamescom itself.

For the Xbox fans @ Gamescom 2024

Aside from the demos and live shows, Xbox will have various areas set aside for fans with unique events, experiences, and opportunities. Here's a quick rundown of what to expect:

• Xbox Game Pass will have its own section at Gamescom 2024 teaching players about all the different ways Game Pass can make gaming more fun for you. On top of that, Game Pass will be hosting giveaways and rewarding prizes through various games, with attendees able to win prizes like:
  • Xbox Game Pass tokens
  • NVIDIA GeForce Now tokens
  • PC and console storage
  • Xbox Cloud Gaming devices
  • HP OMEN and HyperX monitors, headsets, microphones, mice, and keyboards
• The Xbox Gear Shop will have a physical booth set up at Gamescom 2024 for attendees to buy merch and accessories for Xbox, Bethesda, Call of Duty, and more.
• Xbox will maintain a dedicated Community Area at Gamescom 2024 to let attendees get away from the hustle and bustle of the main show, and will feature special activities like cosplay meetups, trivia games, and meet-and-greets with developers, voice actors, and more.
• Xbox FanFest will also be making a return, bringing together Xbox's biggest fans for an exclusive event. If you're planning to attend Gamescom, you can sign up at the Xbox FanFest site and use code FANFEST for a chance to win tickets to this event.

Three days of Xbox and Bethesda livestreams

You don't have to go to Gamescom directly to learn more about the Xbox's upcoming games lineup, as both Xbox and Bethesda will be hosting daily livestreams. You'll be able to find the streams on Xbox's Twitch, Xbox's Facebook, and Xbox's YouTube. The livestreams will be English, but will also be available to stream in German, Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Czech, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, Mexican Spanish and Turkish, and ASL and English Audio Descriptions.

Xbox and Bethesda both will be streaming on Aug. 21, 22, and 23 for Gamescom, with Xbox's daily stream starting at 6:00 a.m. PT / 9:00 a.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. BST / 3:00 p.m. CEST, with each day being focused on a different collection of upcoming Xbox games. Bethesda will have its own daily stream starting at 5:00 a.m. PT / 8:00 a.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. BST / 2:00 p.m. CEST.

You can read more about all of this on the Xbox @Gamescom 2024 site.

What is Gamescom 2024 and when does it start?

Gamescom is one of the oldest (still-running) video games conventions, bringing together gamers, fans, and companies from around the world for an annual event in Cologne, Germany. Since 2009, Gamescom has been a huge source of new games announcements and reveals, the opportunity for hands-on demos and previews, and more. Xbox has historically had a huge presence at Gamescom, and it'll be bigger than ever this year.

If you want to attend Gamescom or live around Cologne, Germany, Gamescom 2024 officially kicks off on Aug. 20, 2024 with an opening ceremony, with the main event taking place across Aug. 21-25, 2024. Even if you can't attend yourself, plenty of Gamescom 2024 will be streamed worldwide via various streaming services, especially direct from companies like Xbox.

What you need to know

• Xbox Game Studios has announced it will be attending the world's biggest gaming convention, Gamescom 2024, to hold what it describes as its 'biggest booth yet'.
• In addition, Xbox has announced it will bring several upcoming Xbox titles to the event, with plans to reveal more games as we get closer to Gamescom 2024.
• Gamescom 2024 will take place in Cologne, Germany from August 21, 2024, to August 25, 2024. However, there will be an opening ceremony on August 20, 2024. 

On June 20, Xbox Game Studios announced on their X account that it will once again be attending the world-famous gaming convention, Gamescom, and declared it will be hosting its, and I quote, "biggest booth yet".

Xbox Game Studios followed up by saying that it plans to show off several upcoming Xbox titles at its booth. 

The games that have been announced so far are Age of Mythology: Retold, Avowed, Ara: History Untold, Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred, Diablo Immortal, The Elder Scrolls Online, Fallout 76, Towerborne & World of Warcraft: The War Within.

These won't be the only games as Xbox has stated it will reveal more titles at its booth over the coming weeks in the lead-up to Gamescom 2024. Of course, Xbox will no doubt also share more information regarding the titles it announced during the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 event and perhaps reveal new titles on top of that.

What is Gamescom and when does it start?

For those unfamiliar, Gamescom is one of the world's longest-running gaming conventions that's been annually held in Cologne, Germany, since 2009. AAA and indie developers and publishers flock to this event to hold booths where they present the latest information updates for their upcoming games and sometimes reveal projects they are in the pipeline.

What makes Gamescom special is that this convention is open to the general public. People can buy tickets and queue up to play games that are already out or currently in development. 

This year's Gamescom convention will begin with an opening ceremony on August 20, 2024, and the event will fully commence on August 21, 2024, until August 25, 2024. 

The full opening times (as described on Gamescom's official website) are as follows:

* Trade Visitor and Media Day. 21.08.2024 is a trade visitor and media day. The organizer may grant access to the entertainment area to a limited number of private visitors on Wednesday. Admission for private visitors from 1:00 p.m.** onwards (only with Wildcard). Trade Vistors do not need a Wildcard.

** Admission for trade visitors already from 9:00 a.m. with the entertainment area opening simultaneously.

* Trade Visitor and Media Day. 21-8-2024 is a trade visitor and media day. The organizer may grant access to the entertainment area to a limited number of private visitors on Wednesday. Admission for private visitors from 1:00 p.m. onwards (only with Wildcard).

What new surprises will Gamescom 2024 have in store for the videogame industry?

In the wake of E3 closing down for good, Gamescom has now become one of, if not, the biggest gaming convention in the world. With this in mind, Xbox and several other studios will want to bring their A-game for this event and capture the audiences with their latest upcoming titles.

Personally speaking, the Xbox games I'm hoping to see more of at Gamescom are the hack n' slash co-op game Towerborne (which our Jez Corden gave a positive impression at last year's Gamescom), and DOOM: The Dark Ages, my personal favorite Xbox title that was announced at Xbox Games Showcase 2024 (and like Samuel Talbot, I still haven't stopped rewatching its extremely awesome reveal trailer).

My most anticipated upcoming Xbox game at Gamescom (which isn't published by Xbox Game Studios) is Monster Hunter Wilds, which has been confirmed to make an appearance there by the game's official German X account.

On a side note, my most anticipated upcoming Xbox game at Gamescom (which isn't published by Xbox Game Studios) is Monster Hunter Wilds, which has been confirmed to make an appearance there by the game's official German X account. Not only will Capcom be showing more gameplay details, but Monster Hunter Wilds will also be playable for the first time for visitors attending the event.

With this exciting news, I can't wait to see what else Xbox, Capcom, and all the other gaming developers and publishers have up their sleeves when Gamescom 2024 opens from August 21, 2024, to August 25, 2024. Here's hoping we get to see the public viewing of Monster Hunter Wilds' behind-closed-doors gameplay preview that we saw at Summer Game Fest 2024.

As I write this, I'm recovering mind, body, and soul from the all-encompassing, all-sensory euphoria that is Gamescom. 

Last year's Gamescom was a muted affair. The first since the height of the pandemic, many publishers opted either for smaller events or absence entirely. Microsoft had a small presence, perhaps the smallest presence I've seen from the publisher in my eight years of hitting up Gamescom. Other publishers, such as Sony and Nintendo, didn't appear at all. A lot can change in a year, though. 

This year's Xbox booth at Gamescom 2023 was the biggest I've ever seen from the company, even counting for E3 and other major events. It was the emergence of a new Xbox, one where Bethesda games are now part of Team Green, rather than separated out into another hall. Starfield, Elder Scrolls Online, and even Fallout had a presence on the stage floor, flanked by major upcoming titles like Stalker 2, Forza Motorsport, and many more.

I got to check out dozens of games from publishers of all shapes and sizes throughout the event. Some I can talk about now, others are under embargo until a later date. However, ahead of my ongoing preview coverage and content, I just wanted to jot down my 7 best experiences from Gamescom 2023, for upcoming Xbox games and upcoming PC games alike.

Towerborne

I'd heard about Towerborne a few years ago, under its codename Project Belfry. Within some of the documentation we received from our sources, it seemed emphatically that Towerborne was a side-scrolling beat 'em up, with an edge of action RPG traditions. If that sounds enticing, wait until our full preview coming up in the next couple of weeks. 

Towerborne absolutely nails its premise, set in a cataclysmic, but hopeful world where a mysterious event has left the realm with only one safe place: the Belfry. It's from here where players can band together in teams of four either online or via local co-op, and battle to gradually turn the tide against this unnamed encroaching corruption. 

Where Towerborne excited me the most was in its combat, although its gorgeous side-scrolling Ori-esque art certainly helped. A weighty, tactile weapon feel accompanies a variety of loot, build opportunities, and deep skill expression to make this my unexpected game of the show. Towerborne was fantastic, and Stoic could be on to a big win here. 

Frostpunk 2

Frostpunk was a city-builder with an edge of survivalism and deep societal mechanics from 11 Bit Studios. The game enjoyed a rapturous life cycle, warranting large DLC expansions that vastly expanded the original game, which was arguably one of the best games of 2018. Since then, fans have been wondering what might come next, especially since 11 Bit Studios isn't exactly known for sequels. Well, this is one instance where Frostpunk couldn't be ignored. 

Behind closed doors at Gamescom, I was treated to a lengthy demo of this upcoming sequel — Frostpunk 2. While I can't say much more than that right now, I do have a preview coming, and I don't think they'll mind me calling it one of my top games of Gamescom 2023. Frostpunk fans, please stay tuned. 

Cities Skylines 2

Cities Skylines II was announced a short while ago, perhaps somewhat unexpectedly. The original game is still excellent and has mountains of DLC that expand the base game far beyond its original premise. 

In the post-Sim City world following EA's disastrous handling of the franchise, Cities Skylines came in to pick up the pieces and is set to expand the franchise even further with its sequel. 

I have a full preview coming soon for Cities Skylines II, but this was one game I struggled to leave behind at the event. Fans of the original will appreciate the familiar systems, but Colossal Order has tripled down on realism for the sequel. I was blown away by the sheer scale and intricacy of some of the staple buildings, and how much more space management will constrain and force creativity in this sure-fire hit sequel.  

The Alters

Here's yet another game I have a preview coming for in the next few weeks, but once again, I don't think they'll mind me calling it one of my favorite games of the show. 

The Alters was revealed with a cryptic trailer a little while back, once again by 11 Bit Studios of Frostpunk fame. The CGI trailer is set on some kind of barren planet, where an army of seeming clones toils in a large space vehicle that looks like a giant hamster wheel. There's very little to go on from that alone, but what I saw at Gamescom made it all slot into place. 

Developed by some of the minds behind This War of Mine, The Alters was a mind-bending demonstration that I can't wait to get into more detail on. Fans of 11 Bit survivalism titles will want to keep an eye out for this one. 

Endless Dungeon

After missing a couple of previous preview events for Endless Dungeon, I finally got my hands on the game at Gamescom 2023, and I'm oh-so glad I did. 

Endless Dungeon is a tower defence action RPG, with roguelike elements and a hero-based class design structure. Set in the popular Endless franchise universe and developed by Sega's Amplitude team, Endless Dungeon is a multiplayer-first experience where players team up and guide a cutesy robot through derelict, alien-filled environs. 

I'll have a full preview up in the coming weeks, but Endless Dungeon was every bit as infectious as Towerborne, with tight combat, satisfying tower defence gameplay, and vibrant visuals. If they can land the game well, it could end up being a big hit for Amplitude and Sega alike. 

ARA: History Untold

I also went hands-on with ARA: History Untold, the 4x strategy game in development by Oxide. I discovered that Oxide is comprised of Firaxis vets known for their work on the Civilization franchise, and it really shows up strongly in ARA: History Untold, in the best possible way. 

ARA really doubles down on being a historical showcase, with the goal of modernizing the Civilization formula for a new age. Gone is the rigid hexagonal grid from Civ, and in its place is a gorgeous modern fully 3D world, which errs on realism and scale as you build and construct your civilizations. 

I think the build I played for ARA was missing some optimization and even some animations since combat events were just fireballs instead of the grand melees we saw from the game's various trailers, but the underlying gameplay was incredibly exciting, with infectious complexity rammed with opportunities to get creative. 

Crimson Desert

My final entry, and perhaps the most painful one, since I'm not able to really discuss what I saw in any detail. I was treated to a behind-closed-doors viewing of Crimson Desert with the Pearl Abyss team, after the impressive new trailer debuted earlier that week at ONL. 

During my latest Xbox Two Podcast, my co-host mentioned his scepticism that the trailer Pearl Abyss demonstrated was actually like... real. There are countless examples of games being "downgraded" from CGI-enhanced trailers using pre-rendered, not-live gameplay. Watch Dogs and The Division are two historical culprits, for example. 

I don't think Pearl Abyss will mind me saying that the above trailer is very much real. I saw live gameplay of a developer showcasing some of the game's systems, and features, and was summarily blown away. The full preview will have to wait for a later date, but seriously, keep your eye on Crimson Desert. 

So, so many more

Gamescom 2023 was an absolute blast. A whirlwind of creativity, developer passion, and a new quality bar being set as we head deeper into the Xbox Series X|S generation. There were tons of other games I saw at the show, including Stalker 2, Sonic Superstars, Persona 5 Tactica, and others, and I'm working on previews and content for a lot of these in the coming weeks (after my tentative Starfield review... whew). 

Be sure to keep an eye on our upcoming Xbox games and upcoming PC games lists for a full run-down of all the best new games on the horizon. Hit the comments and let me know what games you're looking forward to, and I'll be back soon to give more detail on all of the above titles, and more, in the near future. 

What you need to know

• It has been expected for weeks that AMD would finally reveal two new mid-tier graphics cards at its Gamescom event. 
• AMD it seems has accidentally spoiled its own party, leaking the RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT early. 
• Images show off the new reference design and dual 8-pin power connectors. 

Companies usually hate leaks, but in this situation, AMD only has itself to blame. Ahead of the Red Team's Gamescom press event where it was expected we'd see new mid-tier graphics cards; we know we're going to see those mid-tier graphics cards. 

In a now deleted Tweet (wait, are they still Tweets?) as reported on by VideoCardz, AMD has outed the RX 7800 XT and the RX 7700 XT. Sadly, for GPU nerds everywhere, there wasn't much in the way of details, but there are a couple of images that both confirm the names and show off the new reference designs for them. 

The reference designs look pretty slick, even if most of the AMD partners will slap their own coolers over the top. The cards both boast a dual-fan design, appear to be regular dual-slot cards (your PC case is already smiling) and use a dual 8-pin power connector. 

Both are expected to be based on AMD's Navi 32 architecture and earlier leaks suggest a 16GB VRAM configuration for the RX 7800 XT and 12GB in the RX 7700 XT. Presumably we'll have the usual performance comparisons to predecessors and competitors to come during the event these were supposed to be first seen at. 

I'm also hoping AMD gets back to being aggressive on pricing. NVIDIA continues to dominate the GPU space for gaming and doesn't seem to care about emptying wallets in the process. Intel is doing its best on that front but is still very much the newcomer and underdog. AMD is in a better position to turn a few heads, but the price will certainly have to be right. 

AMD's event takes place today at 11 a.m. ET (4 p.m. BST, 5 p.m. local time) so we don't have much longer to wait. 

What you need to know

• During Opening Night Live at Gamescom 2023, Remedy Entertainment showed a new trailer for Alan Wake 2.
• The trailer is focused on Alan Wake, who is trapped in the Dark Place.
• Alan Wake 2 is scheduled to launch on Oct. 27, 2023.

Ready for a glimpse of the Dark Place?

To close out the show for Opening Night Live at Gamescom 2023, Remedy Entertainment showed up with another trailer for Alan Wake 2. Unlike the Summer Game Fest 2023 gameplay, which focused on co-protagonist Saga Anderson, this trailer is all about the horror that titular writer Alan Wake is currently trapped in, which seems to include the world of the mysterious Mr. Door.

In classic Remedy style, the trailer also fuses live-action scenes with bits of gameplay, adding to the surreal nature of everything happening. You can check out the trailer below:

During the trailer, we also hear mention of Alan's doppleganger, the illusive Mr. Scratch. There are monsters coming after Alan, who is desperate to escape the Dark Place and be "written out of the story."

Alan Wake 2 is slated to arrive on Oct. 27, 2023, after being delayed by just a few days. It'll be available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5 as a digital-only release.

Analysis: Scratching at my brain

Remedy is providing more and more teases, and while none of these trailers have been substantial in nature, it's clear there's a big mystery at the heart of the narrative. In particular, I'm curious about how everything with Mr. Door falls into place, as he seems to be hosting a talk show in the Dark Place that Alan is an unwilling guest on. 

And just what is Mr. Scratch up to?

What you need to know

• AMD hinted that it will unveil new Radeon GPUs at Gamescom next week.
• The RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT launched late last year, and AMD started shipping the RX 7600 in May 2023.
• AMD's press conference at Gamescom will take place on August 25, leaving only a handful of days of waiting and speculating.

PC gamers and AMD enthusiasts will soon have a new graphics card, or cards, to check out. AMD's Scott Herkelman teased that the company will make "major product announcements" at Gamescom 2023. That event takes place next week, and AMD's press conference will kick off at 11 AM ET on August 25. Gamescom takes place in Cologne, Germany, so AMD's announcements will be made at 5 PM local time.

AMD launched its RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT in December of last year. The company then revealed the more affordable RX 7600 XT in May 2023, but it's been quiet on the RX 7000 Series front since then. With the high end and low end of the range sufficiently covered, it's expected that AMD will announce GPUs in the middle of its RX 7000 Series at Gamescom.

An accidental post by PowerColor briefly showed specs for the RX 7800 XT, though that page has since been taken down. VideoCardz was able to snag specs of the graphics card before PowerColor took the details down, however. Based on what was seen, the RX 7800 XT will have a shader counter of 3840, 16GB of memory, and a 256-bit memory bus. PowerColor's post was about a premium model, so some specs would differ on other RX 7800 XT GPUs.

Leaks or official word on an RX 7700 XT have been harder to find. There's also a chance that AMD will unveil different GPUs than what's speculated by the rumor mill and leaks.

AMD could announce both of the aforementioned graphics cards at Gamescom or just one of them. Herkelman's said multiple announcements were on the way, so it seems likely that several graphics cards will be announced. We only have to wait until next week to find out.

What you need to know

• Ahead of Gamescom 2023 later this month, Microsoft has revealed details about Xbox's presence at the show.
• 30 Xbox games will be playable across 150 stations, with photo ops, community events, and presentations in a 300-seat theater that you can attend and engage with each day.
• Some games at the event include STALKER 2, Payday 3, Armored Core 6, Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty expansion, and Persona 5 Tactica.
• Microsoft is also livestreaming three-hour long broadcasts across three days for those that can't make it to Gamescom in-person. These streams will feature developer deep dives and community

Ahead of the Gamescom 2023 trade fair coming to Cologne, Germany later in August, Microsoft has revealed what fans can expect to see from Xbox on the showfloor. 

During the event, attendees can look forward to the opportunity to enjoy 30 games across 150 gaming stations, engage with various "photo ops and activities," and view presentations for Starfield, Forza Motorsport, and Ara: History Untold in a 300-seat theater. Playable games at the show will include the world gameplay debuts of STALKER 2, Payday 3, Jusant, Armored Core 6, Party Animals, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Under the Waves, Persona 5 Tactica, and more, along with Towerborne and upcoming content headed to The Elder Scrolls Online and Microsoft Flight Simulator. The full list of games can be found here.

Microsoft is also hosting a PC Game Pass Challenge that will give fans the opportunity to win a variety of different prizes, including PC Game Pass subscriptions, HP OMEN gaming laptops, HyperX PC gaming headsets, and memberships for NVIDIA GeForce NOW Ultimate. Details on this challenge are scarce, though Microsoft calls it an "adventure" for attendees to experience in its blog post.

Notably, the full Xbox Booth has been organized with safety and accessibility in mind. The entire area will be wheelchair accessible and Xbox Adaptive Controllers will be available to those that need them. Additionally, certain stations will have desks with adjustable height, and several American Sign Language (ASL) and German Sign Language (DGS) interpreters will be present along with "Here to Help" staff that will offer general assistance. Microsoft says that sensory aids and a quiet room will be available, too.

You'll find the Xbox Booth at Hall 8 of the Koelnmesse trade fair center at the North entrance. Below, we've listed when it's scheduled to be available throughout Aug. 24-27.

• Thursday, Aug. 24: 10:00am – 8:00pm CEST  
• Friday, Aug. 25: 10:00am – 8:00pm CEST  
• Saturday, Aug. 26: 9:00am – 8:00 pm CEST  
• Sunday, Aug. 27: 9:00am – 8:00pm CEST 

If you can't make it in-person, Microsoft will be livestreaming for roughly three hours each day throughout Aug. 23-25 to bring you coverage of the event. These streams will include plenty of developer deep dives and gameplay footage, along with segments centered around the Xbox community. The broadcast will be available in English, German, Castilian Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Latin America Spanish, and ASL, and will be streamed live on Xbox social media channels on YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook, among others.

Gamescom is one of the biggest annual video game events, as many of the industry's largest developers reveal what they're working on. Gamescom is returning for 2022 in person, and is promising fans a close look at what big name publishers like Xbox and Ubisoft have in store, as well as what smaller indie developers are working on.

Here's everything you need to know about Gamescom 2022 ahead of the start of the event, including an overview of what it is, a look at the Gamescom 2022 schedule, and details on how you can watch livestreams of each conference and event. 

What is Gamescom 2022?

Gamescom, similar to the E3 show in North America, is a large convention that invites gamers to go to the Cologne Trade Fair exhibition center in Cologne, Germany and check out the latest reveals and showcases from developers and publishers from all over the world. In addition to hosting hundreds of thousands of attendees and giving them a chance to go hands-on with upcoming games, Gamescom also features various livestreams that allow fans at home to check out the show.

Notably, 2022 is the first year since 2019 that a physical Gamescom event has been held. Due to health and safety concerns brought about by the pandemic, Gamescom was virtual-only in 2020 and 2021. 

Games shown off during Gamescom are typically playable on several or all platforms, including Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch. However, developers and publishers may also reveal or spotlight titles that are partially exclusive to a select few platforms, or fully exclusive to one of them.

Gamescom 2022 schedule and dates

Gamescom 2022 takes place over a week. This year, it kicks off Tuesday, Aug. 23, and ends on Sunday, Aug. 28. It starts with the Opening Night Live show and concludes with the final day of the Gamescom City Festival.

There will undoubtedly be smaller Gamescom events and streams throughout the week, though the schedule below focuses on the main showcases that fans can look forward to. Note that Sony, Nintendo, Electronic Arts, and Activision Blizzard have all confirmed they will not be attending Gamescom 2022.

How to watch Gamescom 2022

All four of the major game showcases planned for Gamescom will be livestreamed so you can view the announcements and reveals as people in person at the event do. Here's a guide on how you can watch each event, as well as an idea of what you can expect from each of them.

Opening Night Live

Gamescom's Opening Night Live show is hosted by none other than Geoff Keighley, and based on everything we know about the event so far, it sounds like he's kicking off Gamescom with a bang. According to recent tweets from Keighley, fans can expect a two-hour showcase with appearances from over 30 games, including Return to Monkey Island, Sonic Frontiers, High on Life, Hogwarts Legacy, The Callisto Protocol, The Expanse: A Telltale Series, Gotham Knights, The Outlast Trials, and more.

Here's where you can watch Opening Night Live:

• YouTube
• Twitch

Future Games Show

The GamesRadar-hosted Future Games Show returns for Gamescom 2022, and will feature roughly 50 games from publishers such as Team17, 505 Games, Prime Matter, and others. We don't know many specific details about the event yet but expect a ton of indie game announcements and trailers.

Here's where you can watch the Future Games Show:

• YouTube
• Twitch

Xbox Booth Live

While Microsoft isn't holding a full Xbox conference this year, there will be a six-hour Xbox Booth Live show with developer interviews, discussions, and gameplay showcases. According to Microsoft, you can expect to see Microsoft Flight Simulator, Gunfire Reborn, Sea of Thieves, Lies of P, High on Life, Grounded, Pentiment, A Plague Tale: Requiem, Minecraft Legends, Planet of Lana, and Age of Empires 4.

Here's where you can watch the Xbox Booth Live show:

• YouTube
• Twitch

Awesome Indies Show

Gamescom 2021's Awesome Indies Show is returning for Gamescom 2022, with the festival's website confirming that fans "can once again look forward to exclusive trailers, gameplay and a unique arrangement" during the event. You can expect to see some brand new indie games coming later in 2022 and beyond, including titles from publishers like Team17, Thunderful, and Raw Fury.

Here's where you can watch the Awesome Indies Show:

• YouTube
• Twitch

Gamescom 2022: The biggest publishers attending

Both in and outside of the big livestreams mentioned above, we expect to get closer looks at several games coming from some of the industry's biggest publishers. 

Ubisoft

Ubisoft is one huge developer and publisher that has confirmed it will be at Gamescom. The studio may not host an event since it has a Ubisoft Forward show planned for early September, though we won't know for sure until Ubisoft provides some details. 

In any event, we may see more from games like Skull and Bones or the ambitious Assassin's Creed Infinity. We'll also likely see Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, the Splinter Cell remake, or the free-to-play shooter The Division Heartland. If the stars align, Beyond Good and Evil 2 could appear, although rumors say that game is still a ways out.

2K Games

It's very likely that 2K Games will have some DLC for Tiny Tina's Wonderlands to show off, especially since we haven't heard anything about the planned "Glutton's Gamble" release since developer Gearbox revealed the game's roadmap alongside the Coiled Captors DLC in April 2022. We'll also likely see footage from the upcoming New Tales from the Borderlands game (details leaked earlier this week on Amazon) or the recently-delayed superhero title Marvel's Midnight Suns. In the biggest stretch, we may also catch a glimpse of the new BioShock game 2K confirmed was coming in 2019.

505 Games

505 Games has announced it's bringing an "amazing line up" to Gamescom 2022. In addition to the FPS roguelike Gunfire Reborn that the publisher is showing during the Xbox Booth Live stream, we also expect to see the Eiyuden Chronicles RPG and Among the Trolls, a survival action-adventure title set in a Finnish forest. We could see Miasma Chronicles as well, which is a brand new turn-based exploration RPG set in the near-future.

THQ Nordic

THQ Nordic has confirmed it's showing a wide variety of new games at Gamescom, including the Alone in the Dark reboot, Outcast 2, Wreckreation, Destroy All Humans! 2: Reprobed, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake, SpellForce: Conquest of Eo, The Valiant, Tempest Rising, and AEW: Fight Forever. Attendees will be able to play demos of these titles, though it's unclear if fans will get to see them during a stream.

PLAION

The game everyone expects PLAION (formerly known as Koch Media) to spotlight at Gamescom is the Saint's Row (2022) reboot, which is slated to launch on Aug. 23 — the same day that the festival begins. We may also see The Chant, a third-person horror game set to release on Nov. 11, and looks at Goat Simulator 3 and Payday 3, both of which are releasing in 2023. 

Bandai Namco

We're begging Bandai Namco to tease some Elden Ring DLC this Gamescom — we want more reasons to dive back into what is easily one of the best Xbox games ever made — but even if that doesn't happen, the publisher likely still has some good stuff in store. We wouldn't be surprised to see the One Piece Odyssey RPG, the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle remake, or the multiplayer survival game Dragon Ball: Tie Breakers.

Warner Bros.

Beyond the appearances of Hogwarts Legacy and Gotham Knights that we know are coming during the major Gamescom 2022 showcases, we might get a look at the upcoming Suicide Squad game expected to release in 2023. With the free-to-play platform fighter MultiVersus blowing up the internet lately, it also wouldn't surprise us if we got a sneak peek at some upcoming MultiVersus characters.

What you need to know

• Gamescom is returning in 2022 with a physical event in Cologne, Germany.
• Gamescom 2022 is being held from August 24 through August 28, 2022.
• New hygiene and safety protocols are being implemented in the return of this physical event.
• Digital presentations like Opening Night Live at Gamescom will still be held.

Gamescom is returning as a physical, in-person event in 2022. This is marked departure from the past two years, which saw fully digital events in 2020 and 2021.

According to the press release, Gamescom 2022 will be using a new "hygiene and safety concept" to ensure better safety for the attendees. While the focus is once again on large-scale in-person event, the digital programs aren't being removed, with the return of Opening Night Light at Gamescom and more. While there's no date just yet, it's safe to expect that Geoff Keighley, creator and host of the Game Awards and Summer Game Fest, will return to host Opening Night Live at Gamescom.

Gamescom 2022 is being designed with a "Gamescom goes green" concept in mind, with an emphasis on reducing CO2 emissions through carbon offsets. In 2019, the last fully in-person Gamescom event, over 370,000 people attended the event, leading to packed lines and long wait times for trying out demo stations.

Ever since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, the gaming world has been radically altered, with an increased focus on online events and digital presentations. Notably, it is currently unclear what E3 2022 looks like and if the event will even be held. Meanwhile, Keighley has confirmed that Summer Game Fest will return, though we'll have to wait for more information.

What you need to know

• Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC) will be upgraded for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.
• The upgraded version will be available in February 2022 as a free update for existing owners on console.
• New features and cars are also on the way.

Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC) is an extremely popular racer on PC but it's fair to say the console version never quite lived up to the same standard. That's not entirely on the developer, but it's all about to change now the Xbox Series X and PS5 are a thing. A new, fully upgraded version of the game that's being referred to as the Gen 9 update, will be coming in early 2022.

The current launch date is set for February 24 2022 and will be a free update for existing owners on each platform with cross-gen play. In terms of what we can expect from the Xbox Series X version, the developer has stated that 4K at 60 FPS is the target, but nothing is yet guaranteed as it's still in active development.

The priority is a stable 60 FPS frame rate from the Unreal Engine-based title, and it will also support dynamic resolution. If 4K can't be hit at a stable 60 FPS we're told that the resolution will be the highest they can get. We are promised that the next-gen console version will be incredibly close to the PC release, adding features like a FOV slider into the mix as well. There's no plan to introduce ray tracing, because the frame rate is more important, though on PC a DLSS update is coming soon.

The next-gen console version will also get an exclusive feature that won't, as it stands, be coming to the PC version. When the upgrade is made available, so too will private lobbies. So get some buddies together.

Other nuggets of new information about ACC have also been teased, not least one of the next new cars coming to the game. It seems everyone wants the BMW M4 GT3 and so it will be coming to ACC for free for all players, though there's no time frame on that right now. There are about half a dozen cars currently in the pipeline that are hopefully coming to the game in Q1 2022.

ACC is also launching on Mobile, with an iOS version of the game launching on August 31. At this time there are no plans for Android, but if you've got a iPhone or an iPad it looks pretty interesting and the sound of the cars is immense.

Gamescom 2021 is in full swing after Wednesday's massive Opening Night Live event and the Xbox event the day before, but the show isn't slowing down yet. The Future Games Show, hosted by GamesRadar+, just concluded, and was filled with announcements and updates from some of the most anticipated indie and "AA" games.

Indie games often don't garner the same level of attention as more brazen "AAA" projects shown off at the aforementioned earlier events, but these titles are some of the most creative and unique experiences in video gaming. As is customary for the Future Games Show at this point, the stream covered dozens of indie games with new trailers, announcements, and so much more. If you weren't able to catch the show or might've missed something, we compiled everything that was shown off right here.

Games shown off during the Future Games Show can arrive on practically every modern gaming platform, including Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC, Switch, and more. Many of these games may end up being some of the best Xbox games (or best games in general) when they release.

What is every announcement from the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021?

Dozens of games were shown off during the Future Games Show, all for different reasons. Between reveals, gameplay footage, teasers, demos, development updates, and more, there's a lot to cover. Here's every announcement from the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021.

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate — Daemonhunters

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate — Daemonhunters is another entry in the extensive Warhammer universe, and arrives on PC sometime in 2022. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Frontier Foundry delivered on earlier promises and delivered a brand-new cinematic trailer.

Super Animal Royale

Super Animal Royale is an adorable free-to-play battle royale that pits 64 players against each other, and has been in various stages of release and game previews. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Modus Games shared a new launch trailer for Super Animal Royale, which is now available for free across all major gaming platforms.

Life is Strange: True Colors

Life is Strange: True Colors officially continues the popular Life is Strange franchise, and is set to release on Sept. 10, 2021 across most major gaming platforms, with a Switch release coming later. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Square Enix delivered all-new gameplay footage of Life is Strange: True Colors.

Sands of Aura

Sands of Aura is an exciting open-world adventure game that explores a world buried beneath sand. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Freedom Games shared a new trailer and announced that early access for Sands of Aura comes to Steam on Oct. 21, 2021.

Nine free demos

During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, it was revealed that nine free demos are available to play right now, including:

• Project Downfall
• The Last Cube
• Aeon Drive
• The Garden Path
• To the Rescue
• Inkulinati
• Beserk Boy
• Chicken Police: Paint It Red
• Coromon

Jurassic World Aftermath 2

During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Oculus Studios announced Jurassic World Aftermath 2, a sequel bringing fresh puzzles and dinosaur action to the Oculus Quest on Sept. 30, 2021.

Project Relic

Project Relic is a chaotic souls-like that's slated for release at some point in 2023. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, we got a new gameplay trailer for Project Relic.

Moonglow Bay

Moonglow Bay is one of the more hotly anticipated upcoming indie games. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Coatsink revealed the release date of Moonglow Bay on Xbox and PC: Oct. 7, 2021.

In Sound Mind

In Sound Mind is a chaotic first-person psychological thriller with challenging puzzles. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Modus Games revealed the release date of In Sound Mind on Xbox, PlayStation, and Xbox: Sept. 28, 2021. Switch is arriving later in 2021.

Rustler

Rustler is an open-world action game that lets you become a bully in medieval times. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Modus Games revealed the release date of Rustler on all major gaming platforms: Aug. 31, 2021.

Salt and Sacrifice

Salt and Sacrifice is a brutal souls-like platformer coming to PlayStation and PC sometime in 2022. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, we got a new trailer for Salt and Sacrifice going over some of the game's multiplayer and online features.

Timberborn

Timberborn is an upcoming city-building game revolving around beavers. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Mechanistry revealed that Timberborn enters early access on PC on Sept. 15, 2021.

Trading Time

During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Merge Games announced Trading Time, an upcoming sandbox exploration game coming to PC.

SMALLAND

SMALLAND is an upcoming multiplayer survival game that's arriving on PC, with a demo coming soon in Oct. 2021. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Merge Games revealed a new gameplay trailer for SMALLAND.

Dolmen

Dolmen is an upcoming cosmic horror action-RPG coming to Xbox, PlayStation, and PC at some point in 2022. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Prime Matter shared a new gameplay trailer for Dolmen.

Games to watch montage

During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, a montage of some of the most exciting upcoming indie games was revealed, including:

• A Wake Inn
• Clid the Snail
• KeyWe
• DEATHRUN TV
• Mythbusters: The Game
• Scorchlands
• Monster Harvest
• Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
• Core Keeper

MADiSON

MADiSON is an upcoming first-person psychological horror game coming to PC in 2021 and consoles in 2022. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Nosebleed Games shared a new gameplay trailer for MADiSON.

DokeV

DokeV is an insane-looking action-adventure game coming to PC and consoles in 2022. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Pearl Abyss shared a gameplay overview trailer of DokeV.

Soulstice

Soulstice is an upcoming action-RPG game coming to PC and current-gen consoles in 2022. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Modus Games revealed a new gameplay trailer for Soulstice.

Team 17 montage

During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Team 17 showed off a montage of some of their games, including:

• Greak: Memories of Azur
• Hammerting
• Batora Lost Haven
• Epic Chef
• Hell Let Loose
• Broken Roads
• Honey, I Joined a Cult
• Sheltered 2
• The Unliving
• Crown Trick

Arcadegeddon

Arcadegeddon is a co-op shooter in early access on PC and PS5, with a full release in 2022. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Illfonic revealed upcoming updates coming to Arcadegeddon later this year.

Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodhunt

Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodhunt is an upcoming free-to-play battle royale game. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Sharkmob AB revealed that early access is coming to Steam on Sept. 7, 2021.

Medieval Dynasty

Medieval Dynasty is a first-person open-world survival game set during the medieval era. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Toplitz Productions revealed that Medieval Dynasty is releasing for PC on Sept. 23, 2021.

Noguchi's Bell

Noguchi's Bell is an animated series about samurai made entirely inside of Dreams. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, we got to see a trailer for Noguchi's Bell.

Imp of the Sun

Imp of the Sun is a 2D action-platformer coming to PC in early 2022. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Sunwolf Entertainment shared a new trailer for Imp of the Sun.

Maneater: Truth Quest

Maneater is a brutal shark RPG that's currently available for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Tripwire Interactive shared a new trailer for Maneater's upcoming DLC, Truth Quest, which arrives on Aug. 31, 2021.

Tails of Iron

Tails of Iron is an upcoming action-adventure game coming to all major gaming platforms on Sept. 17, 2021. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, we got a new gameplay trailer for Tails of Iron.

Freedom Games montage

During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Freedom Games show off a montage of some of their games, including:

• Retreat to Enen
• Clouzy!
• Cat Cafe Manager
• Sky Fleet
• One Lonely Outpost
• Guardians of Hyelore
• Mail Time
• Monster Outbreak

Gungrave G.O.R.E.

Gungrave G.O.R.E. is the revival of a classic third-person shooter franchise coming to Xbox, PlayStation, and PC sometime in 2022. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, we got a new cinematic trailer for Gungrave G.O.R.E.

Alaskan Truck Simulator

Alaskan Truck Simulator is a realistic truck simulator coming to PC in early 2022, with consoles following later on. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, we got a new gameplay trailer of Alaskan Truck Simulator.

War Hospital

War Hospital is an intense strategy game set during WW1 coming to Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in late 2022. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Movie Games shared a gameplay teaser of War Hospital.

Jurassic World Evolution 2

Jurassic World Evolution 2 is the sequel to the popular dinosaur theme park creator, coming to Xbox, PlayStation, and PC sometime in 2022. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Frontier Developments shared a new trailer featuring two new dinosaurs.

Serial Cleaners

Serial Cleaners is a stealth action crime game coming to all major gaming platforms sometime in 2022. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Draw Distance shared a new character trailer for Serial Cleaners.

9 Years of Shadows

9 Years of Shadows is an upcoming 2D action platformer. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Freedom Games shared a new gameplay trailer for 9 Years of Shadows.

FAR: Changing Tides

FAR: Changing Tides is the sequel to the award-winning vehicle-driven adventure, coming to all major gaming platforms in early 2022. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Frontier Foundry shared a new gameplay trailer for FAR: Changing Tides.

Balsa Model Flight Simulator

Balsa Model Flight Simulator is a powerful flight simulator and creator for model aircraft from the creators of Kerbal Space Program. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Floating Origin Interactive revealed that the Open Beta for Balsa Model Flight Simulator is available on PC now.

Trepang2

During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, Team 17 announced Trepang2, a fast-paced gun-fu first-person shooter coming to PC in 2022.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is an upcoming fighting game filled with a wide assortment of Nickelodeon characters, coming to all major gaming platforms later this year. During the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021, we got a new character trailer for CatDog in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl.

We also got a new character trailer for April O'Neil in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl.

Gamescom 2021 kicked it into high gear on Wednesday with updates on all the most anticipated upcoming games and a sneak peek at what happens beyond 2021. The headliner event of the convention is none other than Opening Night Live (ONL), hosted by Geoff Keighley.

ONL was filled with a ton of announcements, trailers, and updates for some of the best upcoming Xbox games and more, and comes the day after the less exciting (but still important) Xbox Gamescom 2021 event. ONL brought out some of the big guns for today's event, and it was extremely easy to miss something. We've compiled every announcement from Opening Night Live at Gamescom 2021 to ensure you didn't miss a thing.

Games shown off during Opening Night Live can arrive on practically every modern gaming platform, including Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC, Switch, and more. Many of these games may end up being some of the best Xbox games (or best games in general) when they release.

What are the major announcements from the Opening Night Live Gamescom 2021 event?

ONL, being the flagship stream of Gamescom 2021, was filled with some of the biggest announcements and news we can expect from the entirety of the event, from the biggest cross-platforms games to surprise appearances from Xbox Game Studios and Microsoft.

Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite was mysteriously missing from Xbox's Gamescom 2021 event, but that's because the flagship FPS made an appearance during Opening Night Live. First off, Halo Infinite scored a new cinematic trailer for Season 1 of its free-to-play multiplayer. More importantly, however, it finally confirmed that Halo Infinite officially releases on Dec. 8, 2021.

Halo Infinite's campaign and multiplayer will release simultaneously, but, unfortunately, Halo Infinite will be missing campaign co-op and Forge custom games at launch. If you're interested in Halo Infinite, be sure to read our guide on preordering Halo Infinite ahead of its release.

Halo Infinite Limited Edition Xbox Series X & Elite Controller

Immediately after dominating Opening Night Live with its release date announcement, we got another reveal: two new pieces of limited edition Xbox hardware, both of which look absolutely incredible. Halo Infinite is getting a Limited Edition Xbox Series X and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, with both available for preorder later today before their release later this year. The Xbox Series X bundle that includes the game, a Limited Edition Xbox Wireless Controller, and the stunning custom console.

The standalone limited edition controller is a Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, so it's a premium controller that has been decked out in Master Chief's legendary colors. It's expected for both limited edition hardware options to have low availability, so be sure to preorder as soon as possible. Both the Halo Infinite Limited Edition Xbox Series X and Halo Infinite Limited Edition Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 are expected to release on Nov. 15, 2022.

Saints Row

The Saints Row franchise is infamous for being the more chaotic and silly counterpart to Grand Theft Auto. However, in recent years, the Saints Row games have fallen out of favor as they drift farther from what made them special in the first place. Deep Silver and Volition is seeking to rectify this reality with the announcement of a Saints Row reboot game during Gamescom 2021.

The Saints Row reboot game seeks to take the franchise back to its roots, which will likely make fans of older Saints Row titles excited. The Saints Row reboot is available for preorder now, and is coming to Xbox, PlayStation, and PC on Feb. 25, 2022, and will be full to the brim of over-the-top violence.

Marvel's Midnight Suns

Marvel's Midnight Suns is an all-new game from Firaxis, the creators of XCOM, that explores the story of a brand-new customizable superhero. Midnight Suns is a tactical RPG, but we unfortunately don't have a ton of details on gameplay or what the final product will look like (although we do know it won't just be another XCOM). We do know that the cast is massive, featuring popular Marvel characters like Iron Man, Ghost Rider, Dr. Strange, and more.

Marvel's Midnight Suns is set to release sometime in March 2022, and we'll be able to see more gameplay for the game in the coming months.

Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West is one of the most hotly anticipated PlayStation exclusive games, and was originally slated for release in 2021. However, rumors of a delay were confirmed today during the Opening Night Live event. Horizon Forbidden West is now releasing on Feb. 18, 2022, with preorders set to open on Sept. 2.

This delay will give Guerrilla Games the time they need to polish the game, and will hopefully lead Horizon Forbidden West to dominate our list of best PS5 games when it releases early next year.

Death Stranding Director's Cut

Death Stranding is one of the more unique games for PlayStation and PC, and Hideo Kojima is expanding upon his original vision with a ton of new content, quality-of-life improvements, and more. At Gamescom, Death Stranding Director's Cut got an extended preview trailer showcasing all the major additions and changes included in the new edition of the game.

There's a lot to unpack in the trailer, and players who enjoyed the interesting blend of experiences that Death Stranding offered when it initially released may find plenty of reasons to revisit the game again when it releases on Sept. 24, 2021.

Call of Duty: Vanguard

A new Call of Duty comes around every year, and 2021 is bringing us Call of Duty: Vanguard. During Opening Night Live, Activision showed nearly 10 minutes of uninterrupted gameplay footage from its single-player campaign, showcasing how the new title seeks to differentiate itself from the increasingly competitive first-person shooter genre.

Our Call of Duty: Vanguard preview will tell you everything you need to know right now about the upcoming entry in the long-running franchise. The game revisits WWII where many other games have tread before, but promises to tell a new story this time around with less of a focus on large-scale battles. Call of Duty: Vanguard officially releases on Nov. 5, 2021.

Splitgate

Splitgate is a free-to-play multiplayer shooter that has absolutely blown up in open beta thanks to its Halo-esque combat and Portal-like gameplay mechanics. On Wednesday, Splitgate announced that its Open Beta will continue with Season 0, a free update that's now available to players.

Season 0 will add a ton of new content to Splitgate, most notably a new Battle Pass that can be purchased and completed for a wide variety of in-game rewards. There's also a new close combat game mode and a slick looking map.

What is every announcement from the Opening Night Live Gamescom 2021 event?

While the biggest announcements from Opening Night Live are liable to capture headlines everywhere, there was plenty of awesome news and reveals during the show that might otherwise slip between the cracks. Fortunately, we captured every announcement during Opening Night Live at Gamescom 2021 and put them all in one place: here.

Saints Row reboot reveal trailer

Marvel's Midnight Suns reveal trailer

Call of Duty: Vanguard gameplay trailer

Halo Infinite multiplayer cinematic & release date

Halo Infinite Limited Edition Xbox Elite Controller reveal

Halo Infinite Limited Edition Xbox Series X reveal

Cult of the Lamb trailer

Midnight Fight Express trailer

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge trailer

Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles character trailer

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania trailer

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania Morgana character reveal

Splitgate Season 0 trailer

Rider's Republic Open Beta trailer

Century: Age of Ashes

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga trailer

SYNCED: Off Planet trailer

The Outlast Trials trailer

DokeV gameplay trailer

Jurassic World Evolution 2 trailer

Far Cry 6 story trailer

Vampire: The Masquerade Blood Hunt trailer

Park Beyond reveal trailer

JETT: The Far Shore trailer

Horizon Forbidden West release date

New World trailer

Marvel Future Revolution launch trailer

Tales of Luminaria mobile reveal trailer

Jumanji: The Curse Returns trailer

Lost Judgement

Oberhasli announcement

Fall Guys Jungle Book trailer

Replaced original soundtrack trailer

Age of Empires IV gameplay trailer

Valheim Hearth & Home Update trailer

Crossfire X multiplayer trailer

World of Tanks

Genshin Impact Aloy trailer

Sifu release date trailer

Death Stranding Director's Cut preview trailer

It doesn't feel like it has been that long since the massive Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase at E3 2021, but Xbox is back again with another event, this time at Gamescom 2021. Rather than a flurry of brand-new reveals and major surprises, Xbox instead focused on the best upcoming Xbox games with this event.

That doesn't mean there's nothing to get excited about, though, as the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event was filled with games bound to join our list of best Xbox games with a ton of new announcements, trailers, updates, and more. There's a lot to cover, so we've gathered everything announced during the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event, so you can make sure you didn't miss a thing.

The games shown off during the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event can head anywhere in the wide Xbox family of platforms, including Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, Xbox Game Pass, and even Xbox Cloud Gaming.

What are the major announcements from the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event?

Xbox made it clear that fans shouldn't expect any of the mind-shatteringly large reveals that we saw in the last large-scale Xbox event, but that doesn't mean there weren't some major announcements and a few surprises during the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event. From games like Forza Horizon 5 and Psychonauts 2 to other exciting news drops, here are the major announcements from the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event.

Xbox Cloud Gaming

Xbox Cloud Gaming is a growing service that lets players jump into Xbox games on their phone, tablet, or PC. The service is already pretty fantastic for certain users, but Microsoft has finally confirmed a long-rumored use case for the cloud-enabled technology. Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to Xbox consoles later this year, which includes Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

What does this means? Xbox Series X|S owners will be able to try out games before installing them on their console, potentially saving time and space. However, the move is even more significant for Xbox One owners, who will actually be able to play Xbox Series X|S exclusive games like The Medium on their aging consoles, or take advantage of Xbox Series X|S Optimized versions of games. This is a huge move for those who aren't quite willing to or are unable to upgrade to current-gen gaming hardware.

Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 made a big appearance at the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event, but mostly featured trailers and announcements exciting to those already amped up about the upcoming racing game. Playground Games showcased the opening moments of FH5 with a new gameplay trailer, showing how players will take control of several cars all across the Mexico-bound map, before finally racing the 2021 Mercedes-AMG Project ONE to the first Horizon Festival.

Speaking of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG Project ONE supercar, Playground also finally revealed the Forza Horizon 5 cover art and cars, which is dominated by the aforementioned vehicle. The cover art looks amazing, and features a beautiful Mexican landscape in the background.

Of course, the Project ONE isn't alone, and is being joined by two 2021 Ford Broncos Badlands, which are situated in the background of the cover art (and appropriately offroad). Alongside these reveals, Forza Horizon 5 got a new collection of slick new trailers. After the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event, Playground intends to host its own Let's Go stream to talk more about Forza Horizon 5.

Forza Horizon 5 Xbox Wireless Controller

One of the biggest surprise announcements from the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event was the reveal of the limited edition Forza Horizon 5 Xbox Wireless Controller. The unique controller features a semi-transparent yellow design splashed with color, and it looks absolutely incredible. The Forza Horizon 5 Xbox Wireless Controller is available for preorder now, and should arrive by the time the full game releases on Nov. 9.

Crusader Kings 3

One of the best strategy games (and best PC games in general) you can play right now is Crusader Kings 3, which is already available through Xbox Game Pass for PC. However, Paradox Interactive announced during the event that Crusader Kings 3 is officially coming to current-gen consoles.

We don't have all the details yet (like a release date or even release window), but Crusader Kings 3 is coming to Xbox Series X|S and PS5 at some point, courtesy of a partnership with Lab42. Even better, we know that Crusader Kings 3 is launching into Xbox Game Pass on consoles, joining its PC counterpart.

Wasteland 3's second DLC

Wasteland 3 was one of the best Xbox RPGs when it first released, but since then has continued to evolve and improve under inXile Entertainment's guidance. During the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event, inXile showed off what's coming to Wasteland 3 in the future, and players should rejoice. Wasteland 3's second DLC, Cult of the Holy Detonation is arriving on Oct. 5 for all platforms, and will include a ton of new content for players.

On top of a new area, characters, enemies, bosses, weapons, armor, combat experiences, and general improvements and bug fixes, Wasteland 3 is also getting a new collection perfect for those who want the complete experience. Wasteland 3 Colorado Collection arrives on the same day as the Cult of the Holy Detonation DLC, and includes both major DLC expansions (The Battle of Steeltown and Cult of the Holy Detonation) and the Colorado Survival Gear bonus items.

State of Decay 2

Undead Labs and Xbox Game Studios are hard at work on State of Decay 3, but that doesn't mean State of Decay 2 is being left by the wayside. The community-building zombie survival game continues to evolve over time with incessant post-launch support from Undead Labs, and the next major release for State of Decay 2 is coming on Sept. 1.

State of Decay 2: Homecoming is a free update coming to all SoD2 players, and takes the original Trumbull Valley map and remasters it, adds new areas, and provides tons of new stories for players to explore. On top of the new map, there's also plenty of new weapons, gear, and missions. State of Decay 2: Homecoming arrives as State of Decay 2 celebrates officially reaching over 10 million lifetime players.

Sea of Thieves

Sea of Thieves: A Pirate's Life just barely released, and the quintessential pirate adventure game from Rare Limited and Xbox Game Studios is already moving on to its next epic collaboration. Sea of Thieves is partnering with Borderlands to release the Mayhem themed ship set, which all players can earn for free by completing the limited-time event.

When does the event happen? Right now! The Sea of Thieves and Borderlands event runs from today, Aug. 24, 2021, until Sept. 7, 2021. Be sure to hop into Sea of Thieves in the next few weeks for a chance at earning the exclusive ship. In case you missed it, this is why you should be playing Sea of Thieves in 2021.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator had a ton to show off during the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event, including a sneak peek at World Update VI and two new aircraft. However, the highlight of Microsoft Flight Simulator's updates at today's event was a teaser trailer for the introduction of true, high-speed competitive aircraft racing.

Reno Air Races are coming to Microsoft Flight Simulator for PC and Xbox consoles later this year as a free update, and will test the skills of any flyer with intense action. This will come around the time the highly anticipated Top Gun Maverick DLC is expected.

Psychonauts 2

Psychonauts 2 is finally releasing, after a 16-year-long wait from the original. While Psychonauts 2 releases for Xbox, PC, and cloud platforms tomorrow, that didn't stop the game from showing up during the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event with a new launch trailer, and even a surprise appearance from mastermind Tim Schafer.

If you're excited for Psychonauts 2, be sure to read our Psychonauts 2 review, and prepare yourself for this psychedelic 3D platforming adventure with our ultimate Psychonauts 2 beginner's guide.

Dying Light 2

Dying Light 2: Stay Human is one of the more anticipated upcoming zombie games. At the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event, Dying Light 2 got a new gameplay trailer sharing more details about the world, showcasing new parkour and combat mechanics, and more. The trailer placed a clear focus on Dying Light 2's fluid and versatile movement, which looks pretty great.

Afterward, Lead Game Designer Tymon Smektała and Animation Director Dawid Lubryka from Techland shared some of their own thoughts on Dying Light 2, as well as new details about the game. Some of these details include how humans are more numerous and dangerous, and players will need to combine a lot of the game's elements to survive.

What is every announcement from the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event?

There were a few surprises during the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event, but there were plenty of announcements that fell more in line with general expectations. Of course, there are still reasons to get excited here with new gameplay trailers and updates from some of the most anticipated upcoming games. Here's every announcement from the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event.

Dying Light 2 gameplay trailer

Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update VI trailer

Microsoft Flight Simulator Junkers JU-52 teaser

Microsoft Flight Simulator Volocopter teaser

Microsoft Flight Simulator Reno Air Races teaser

Humble Games Xbox Game Pass trailer

Into the Pit reveal trailer

Age of Empires IV trebuchet history trailer

Xbox Cloud Gaming on Xbox consoles

Wasteland 3: Cult of the Holy Detonation & Wasteland 3 Colorado Collection trailer

Sea of Thieves & Borderlands event announcement

State of Decay 2: Homecoming announcement

Stray Blade reveal trailer

Crusader Kings 3 console announcement trailer

Psychonauts 2 launch trailer

The Gunk gameplay trailer

Forza Horizon 5 Xbox Wireless Controller reveal

Forza Horizon 5 cover cars trailer

Forza Horizon 5 opening drive trailer

What are the Xbox Game Pass announcements from the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event?

Xbox Game Pass appeared at the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event plenty of times, which shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody. This event may not have been as packed with Xbox Game Pass announcements as earlier events, but there was still plenty of games shown off during the event that are heading to the subscription service. Here's every Xbox Game Pass announcement from the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event.

• Age of Empires IV (PC) — Oct. 28, 2021
• Archvale (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — No release date
• Bushiden (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — No release date
• Chinatown Detective Agency (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — No release date
• Crusader Kings 3 (Xbox Series X|S & PC) — No release date
• Dodgeball Academia (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Available now
• Flynn: Son of Crimson (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Sept. 15, 2021
• Forza Horizon 5 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Nov. 9
• Into the Pit (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & PC) — Oct. 19
• Midnight Fight Express (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — No release date
• Next Space Rebels (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — No release date
• Psychonauts 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Aug. 25
• Signalis (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — No release date
• The Gunk (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & PC) — December 2021
• Unpacking (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — No release date
• Unsighted (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — No release date

What you need to know

• Forza Horizon 5 is an epic open-world racing game coming from Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios.
• Ahead of its arrival on Xbox, PC, and Xbox Game Pass later this year, Playground is steadily trickling out new information.
• Today, during the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event, Playground showed off the first five minutes of Forza Horizon 5.
• The gameplay trailer shows a selection of cars being dropped out of cargo planes, for players to drive through various environments.

One of the most anticipated games of 2021 is undoubtedly Forza Horizon 5, which arrives later this year courtesy of Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios. Ahead of FH5's imminent release, Playground has begun the long journey of teases and information reveals, culminating in a new trailer during the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event. Players can now check out what the initial drive in Forza Horizon 5 is all about with a new gameplay trailer, which looks expectantly incredible for a game expected to launch into our list of best Xbox racing games.

The new Forza Horizon 5 gameplay trailer showcases the game's opening moments, which will have players take control of a variety of vehicles, from the extensive Forza Horizon 5 car list, that have literally been airdropped from cargo planes onto different areas of the Forza Horizon 5 map. At the end, players will take control of the powerful Mercedes-AMG Project ONE supercar to race to the first Horizon Festival site in Forza Horizon 5. The trailer looks great, and is suitably intense for the most ambitious Forza Horizon game yet. You can watch the trailer above, or check out additional images below.

There's truly a ridiculous number of reasons to be excited for what Playground Games is delivering with FH5. If you want to learn everything we know about this flagship racing game, be sure to check out our ultimate guide to Forza Horizon 5. Forza Horizon 5 is already available for preorder, and can even give you four days of early access with the Premium Edition.

In case you missed it, Xbox also revealed the Forza Horizon 5 cover cars and art and a new Forza Horizon 5 Limited Edition Xbox Wireless Controller, which is now available to preorder.

Forza Horizon 5 officially releases on Nov. 9, 2021 for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, Xbox Game Pass, and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

What you need to know

• Later this year, Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios are releasing Forza Horizon 5, a grand open-world racing adventure.
• Before Horizon 5 officially releases, Playground is slowly trickling out new information and reveals to excited players.
• At the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event, Playground officially revealed the cover cars and art for Forza Horizon 5.
• The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE and Ford Bronco Badlands dominate the cover of FH5, and it looks amazing.

Forza Horizon 5 was already making waves during the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event with a new limited edition Xbox Wireless Controller, but Playground Games couldn't stop there. Shortly after, the official cover art for Forza Horizon 5 was finally revealed, and subsequently, the cars that accompany it. Forza Horizon 5 is almost certainly going to be one of the best Xbox racing games when it releases, and now at least its cover looks the part.

The flagship car for Forza Horizon 5 is absolutely not going to shock anyone who has followed along with FH5's development, as this car has been featured heavily in previous trailers and images and comes straight off the Forza Horizon 5 car list. The 2021 Mercedes-AMG Project ONE supercar looks dashing in red, and absolutely dominates the front of Forza Horizon 5's slick cover art. There's also a new trailer showing off the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE, which you can watch above.

The Project ONE isn't alone, however, as Forza Horizon 5's cover art features not one, but two 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands racing alongside the aforementioned supercar. A separate trailer has been dedicated to the Ford Bronco revival, which is a perfect fit for the Forza Horizon 5 map, which will feature tons of hardcore offroading to push the SUV to its absolute limits. There's truly a ridiculous number of reasons to be excited for what Playground Games is delivering with Horizon 5. If you want to learn everything we know about this flagship racing game, be sure to check out our ultimate guide to Forza Horizon 5. Forza Horizon 5 is already available for preorder, and can even give you four days of early access with the Premium Edition.

In case you missed it, Xbox also revealed the Forza Horizon 5 opening drive gameplay and a new Forza Horizon 5 Limited Edition Xbox Wireless Controller, which is now available to preorder.

Forza Horizon 5 officially releases on Nov. 9, 2021 for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, Xbox Game Pass, and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

2021 has been a fascinating year for video games, and has been filled with a myriad of delays, announcements and updates, new game releases, and much more. Marking our progress through the year has been several major video game events, and the next one is just around the corner. Gamescom is returning for another year, once again in an all-digital format, and it's bringing along with it dozens of partners like Xbox, Ubisoft, EA, and more.

Here's what you need to know about watching Gamescom 2021, and what you should expect.

What is Gamescom 2021?

Gamescom is a video game conference similar to E3, and in the past was a large convention where thousands of players and press could flock to witness the latest developments in video games. Because of the ongoing global pandemic and changing circumstances, Gamescom made the transition to an all-digital format last year, instead becoming a platform for video game companies and developers to announce their latest projects and connect with their fans.

Gamescom is returning in 2021, and will be hosted by none other than Geoff Keighley. This time around, Gamescom 2021 is boasting dozens of different partners that will make their presence known over the three-day period (four, if you count the early Xbox event). Players can expect new looks at some of the biggest games coming later this year, as well as a sneak peek at what the future may include.

The games that appear at Gamescom 2021 might be headed to any modern gaming platform, including Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.

How do I watch Gamescom 2021?

Officially, Gamescom 2021 begins Wednesday, Aug. 25, and ends Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. Of course, the all-digital event isn't going to comprise of one neverending stream, and instead will be a three-day period in which Gamescom partners can host their own streams, announce new projects, and give their communities updates and news. Gamescom 2021 technically kicks off with the "Opening Night Live" stream hosted by Geoff Keighley, but Xbox is making an appearance at Gamescom 2021 as one of the biggest single partners with a separate stream the day before.

Here's how you can watch all the major events we know of in Gamescom 2021, and a bit of what you can expect from them.

Opening Night Live

Gamescom 2021 officially begins with Opening Night Live, a two-hour long stream that's being hosted by noted industry insider Geoff Keighley. Opening Night Light begins Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. CET, and will likely feature appearances from a ton of official Gamescom 2021 partners.

Here's where you can watch Opening Night Live:

• Twitch
• YouTube

What to expect

Opening Night Live is the centerpiece of Gamescom 2021, so it makes sense that the two-hour stream will be packed to the brim with game updates and announcements. Players and viewers should expect game demos and trailers for some of the biggest games coming out in 2021, as well as a sneak peek at the future of video games with new reveals and more. Gamescom 2021 is boasting of an impressive list of partners this time around, any of which can make an appearance during Opening Night Live.

Some of Gamescom 2021's partners that might show up at ONL include:

• Electronic Arts
• Ubisoft
• Bandai Namco
• SEGA
• 505 Games
• And more

Opening Night Live may not be as heavy on the sheer level of reveals and world premiers as E3 2021 was, but players who are excited for a particular upcoming game might get to see more of it during ONL at Gamescom 2021.

Xbox

The day before Gamescom 2021, Xbox is hosting its own event, hosted by Parris Lilly and Kate Yeager. The Gamescom 2021 Xbox event begins Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CET, and will likely focus on already-announced games from Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks, likely joining the list of the best Xbox games you can play.

Here's where you can watch the Gamescom 2021 Xbox event:

• Twitch
• YouTube
  • YouTube (ASL)
  • YouTube (Audio description)
• Facebook Gaming
• Twitter

What to expect

We're expecting to see updates and announcements from Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks. Don't expect any big new game reveals during the event, as Xbox will be focused on in-depth dives into some of the best upcoming Xbox games instead. This means we might see highly anticipated titles like Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5, possibly with new gameplay footage and possibly even demos. It also means the event should be more tame than previous Xbox events this year.

Some fans may be disappointed by the stripped-back Gamescom 2021 Xbox event after the incredibly busy Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase at E3 2021, but Xbox is now focused on driving home how special its current lineup of upcoming games really is.

Future Games Show

The Future Games Show is making another stop in 2021 at Gamescom, once again hosted by GamesRadar. The Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021 begins Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 p.m. CET, and will likely feature appearances from indie developers and publishers. It'll be hosted by actor Maggie Robertson (Lady Dimitrescu from Resident Evil Village) and voice actor Aaron LePlante (The Duke from Resident Evil Village).

Here's where you can watch the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021:

• Twitch
• YouTube
• Facebook Gaming
• Twitter

What to expect

The Future Games Show is a haven for indie developers and publishers that need a platform to showcase their work, and the event is returning in Gamescom 2021 with a new batch of partners. Players should expect appearances from partners like Koch Media, Team17, Frontier Developments, Tripwire Interactive, and more. While we're not likely to see any surprise announcements from "AAA" games, the Future Games Show may have a few surprises up its sleeve that makes the show worth watching.

Like other events at Gamescom 2021, the focus at the Future Games Show will probably be mostly on games arriving later this year, with a sneak peek at what's coming beyond.

What you need to know

• The Saints Row franchise is full of quirky, chaotic, and dark open-world adventure games.
• However, the series has fallen in popularity in recent years, with no all-new entries since 2013.
• The Saints Row team has teased the reveal of a brand-new full Saints Row game at Gamescom 2021 Opening Night Live.
• We don't know much about the game, but it looks like this is a completely new Saints Row experience, and possibly a reboot of the franchise.

After the disappointing release of Saints Row IV, the chaotic and humorous Saints Row franchise has languished without a single new game. Saints Row: The Third Remastered was an excellent revival of (arguably) the last great Saints Row game, but fans of this insane open-world series have been eagerly waiting for something new. Today, the Saints Row team has not-so-subtly teased the arrival of a brand-new Saints Row game at Gamescom 2021 during the Opening Night Live stream.

We don't have all the information on what this new Saints Row game will look like (after all, it hasn't been revealed yet), but with the official Saints Row website displaying a "Rebooting..." message and the team's cryptic responses on their social media, it's almost certain that this is a completely new Saints Row game (and not a remaster of an older title). It also seems likely that this Saints Row game isn't going to be "Saints Row V" and pick up where Saints Row IV left off, and instead will reboot the series and take it into a new direction.

We won't have long to wait to find out, fortunately, as Gamescom Opening Night Live airs on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. If you want to make sure you don't miss anything, be sure to read about how to watch Gamescom 2021 and what to expect. If Deep Silver can properly capture what made earlier Saints Row games so special (and successfully bring the series into the modern video game industry), the new Saints Row title could be one of the best Xbox games around.

Need a great Saints Row game to quench your thirst in the meantime? In case you missed it, Saints Row: The Third Remastered was just Optimized for Xbox Series X|S for free, and it looks better than ever.

What you need to know

• Gamescom is a huge gaming event that typically happens yearly.
• Gamescom Opening Night Live is officially returning for 2021, and will be hosted by Geoff Keighley.
• You'll be able to tune into Gamescom ONL on August 24, 2021 for video game announcements, surprises, and more.

2021 has been an exceptionally busy year for video games, with more video game events than you can shake a joystick at and a fair amount of video game delays as well. Now, we know that Gamescom is returning in its digital format with Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021, hosted by the ever-present Geoff Keighley. Gamescom ONL 2021 is scheduled to begin on August 24, 2021.

There's no indication of what exactly can be expected at Gamescom ONL 2021, especially with the myriad of other gaming events already planned for this year, but Keighley promises video game announcements, surprises, and news. In his initial announcement, Keighley also promised more Gamescom ONL-related news later this summer, so we'll have to sit tight for any more information. The event will certainly be online-only, will be available to watch later, and will be available on demand.

Gamescom used to be a physical in-person event, but the recent pandemic and a shift in how companies approach announcements has changed this. Gamescom is now digital-only.

More people than ever before are playing video games in 2021, and this has been an incredible year for new releases and announcements already. If you're struggling to keep up with all the announcements, we'll be here to keep you posted on all of it. You can also invest in one of the Best External SSDs for Xbox Series X|S, which will help ensure that you never run out of space for all the games coming this year and next.

What you need to know

• DOOM Eternal is the hotly anticipated follow up to the DOOM reboot in 2016.
• It already features a stellar and visceral campaign, but DOOM Eternal is about to get even bigger.
• It's first expansion, The Ancient Gods, Part 1, was just revealed today by Geoff Keighley.
• It'll get its world premiere during the Summer Game Fest on August 27, 2020.

DOOM Eternal had big shoes to fill after the surprise reboot of the classic DOOM series in 2016, and it met the challenge with aplomb. Satisfying combat, gor(e)geous visuals, and a shredding soundtrack meant DOOM Eternal was certain to succeed. Now we know the name for the first campaign expansion for the game, the Ancient Gods, Part 1, as well as when you can tune in to its world premiere. Geoff Keighley dropped the news on his Twitter today.

The Ancient Gods, Part 1, will get a world premiere (either a trailer, or hopefully gameplay) on the opening night of the Summer Game Fest hosted by Geoff Keighley. This means you can tune in on August 27, 2020, and watch the stream as DOOM Eternal's first campaign expansion is officially revealed, and all its goretastic details are revealed.

All we know about the expansion is the name right now, but you can be sure it'll feature more demon slaying action, likely with new baddies, guns, and abilities, and give DOOM fans a hefty reason to dive back into Hell. Judging by the name, it's also safe to say that at least one other part is planned, so we can expect more expansions under 'the Ancient Gods" name further down the line.

We'll have to wait until August 27 to learn anything new, but in the meantime, are you excited for the DOOM Eternal expansion? Are you still playing today? Let us know in the comments below!

Related: Our full DOOM Eternal Xbox One review

Xbox

Main

• What is Xbox Game Pass?
• Best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and S
• Must-buy Xbox One Headsets
• Our Favorite Xbox One Wireless Headsets
• Best Upcoming Xbox Games for 2021
• Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series S

What you need to know

• Gamescom 2020 as a physical gathering had to be canceled due to the ongoing pandemic.
• It's still proceeding as a digital event.
• A list of several companies taking part in Gamescom 2020 has been released.

Gamescom 2020 is still going ahead as an all-digital event, though naturally the physical presence had to be canceled due to the global pandemic. Ahead of Gamescom 2020, the attendance of several major gaming companies has just been confirmed. Microsoft and Xbox, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and more will be present in some capacity. You can see a list of some of the attendees below.

• Activision Blizzard
• astragon
• Bandai Namco Entertainment
• Bethesda
• Electronic Arts
• ESL
• Headup
• Indie Arena Booth
• Koch Media
• Microsoft/Xbox
• SEGA Europe
• Wargaming
• Ubisoft
• Yager Development GmbH

A list of additional companies attending the showcase can be found here. The list will grow as more confirm attendance to the event, so as you check back the list will keep growing.

Geoff Keighley, host of the Game Awards and Summer Game Fest, is hosting Opening Night Live at Gamescom on August 27. This event is a digital showcase of announcements that will end Summer Game Fest. You can check our ever-growing, ever-changing list of major gaming events this summer right here.

Xbox

Main

• What is Xbox Game Pass?
• Best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and S
• Must-buy Xbox One Headsets
• Our Favorite Xbox One Wireless Headsets
• Best Upcoming Xbox Games for 2021
• Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series S

What you need to know

• Gamescom Opening Night Live is a digital show that will conclude Summer Game Fest.
• It's being produced by Geoff Keighley, host of the Game Awards.
• Gamescom Opening Night Live is being moved back slightly and will now begin on August 27.

While Gamescom Opening Night Live was previously scheduled to begin on August 24, there's been a slight change of plans. Geoff Keighley, host of Gamescom Opening Night Live, shared today that the showcase was being moved back slightly. It'll now begin on August 27, 2020. Gamescom Opening Night Live is the finale to the Summer Game Fest, a series of events collected by Keighley into one large summer-long program.

While the physical show for Gamescom 2020 was cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic, the Opening Night Live showcase is kicking off three days of digital events for Gamescom.

If you're curious when every gaming event this summer is happening, you can check our master list right here, which includes the full lineup for Summer Game Fest that has been revealed so far.

Xbox

Main

• What is Xbox Game Pass?
• Best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and S
• Must-buy Xbox One Headsets
• Our Favorite Xbox One Wireless Headsets
• Best Upcoming Xbox Games for 2021
• Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series S

What you need to know

• Gamescom 2020 would have been held in August 2020.
• The show attracted a crowd of 373,000 people in 2019.
• The German government has extended the ban on large events through August 31.
• As a result, Gamescom 2020's physical show will have to be canceled.

Update: April 16, 2020 Geoff Keighley has confirmed that Gamescom Opening Night Live will be an all-digital show held on Monday, August 24, 2020.

Update: April 15, 2020 Gamescom has issued an official announcement, stating the show will continue and be held digitally. More details to come at a later date.

While Gamescom 2020 was already looking increasingly unlikely to occur in the sense a physical show, the show's fate has just been set in stone. The German government has decided to extend the ban on large-scale physical events though August 31. Since Gamescom is held annually in Germany in the second half of August, the event won't be able to be held.

Due to the ongoing outbreak, most large events across the world have been canceled, with people being encouraged to work from home when possible. Earlier this year, E3 2020 was canceled and GDC 2020 was tentatively postponed.

It's possible that a digital event of some kind will be held as a result of this decision. Last year, Geoff Keighley, host of the Game Awards, debuted a new show called Gamescom Opening Night Live, which had games and announcements from over 15 different publishers. We'll be sure to provide an update as more news comes out on this topic.

Xbox

Main

• What is Xbox Game Pass?
• Best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and S
• Must-buy Xbox One Headsets
• Our Favorite Xbox One Wireless Headsets
• Best Upcoming Xbox Games for 2021
• Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series S

What you need to know

• Gamescom 2020 is scheduled to take place in Cologne, Germany, in late August.
• Current restrictions in Cologne only apply until April.
• With E3 already cancelled, Gamescom might end up being a bigger focus than ever.

It's impossible to escape the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, with seemingly larger and larger parts of everyday life being restricted to try and curb its spread. That, of course, stretches to big events, with the likes of MWC, GDC, Build and E3 already called off this year. For gamers, the focus has begun to shift to August's Gamescom in Cologne, Germany,

Cologne, like many areas of Germany, has begun restricting movement and gatherings of people as part of its efforts to contain the spread, but currently, Gamescom is scheduled to go ahead as planned as it's outside the current restrictions.

With around 370,000 people attending Gamescom every year, it's one of the biggest events anywhere in Europe so naturally, caution will be exercised. Currently, it's set to begin on August 25. Should it be cancelled or postponed, the organisers have already confirmed that ticket purchases will be fully reimbursed.

Gamescom 2019 is underway, and we've seen a load of new game announcements, including some for PCVR systems as well as release dates for games we've been eagerly anticipating. We rounded them up right here so you know what to save up for.

Westworld Awakening

From developer Survios — creators of other VR games like Raw Data, Creed: Rise to Glory, and the upcoming Battlewake — Westworld Awakening is set in the fictional Westworld universe we've had the pleasure of visiting for two seasons on HBO.

The game is set during the proceedings of the second season, and you play as protagonist Kate as she navigates the terrifying underground Delos laboratory. It's up to you to solve puzzles and ultimately escape your pursuer, who in this case is a serial killer host named Hank. If you love horror games and you love Westworld, this one should be a no-brainer. Grab it now for Vive and Rift, and check out our review for much more information.

Down the Rabbit Hole: VR

Currently in development for HTC Vive, Down the Rabbit Hole: VR looks to be a take on Lewis Carroll's famous novel like we've never seen. It's sort of a mashup of puzzle game and storybook, with the player controlling actions of the two protagonists as they navigate the magical world.

Being able to swap between first- and third-person perspective is something we don't often see in VR, and there looks to be a ton of potential here when it comes to environment and animation. If you're a fan of solving puzzles in VR, this should be a hit.

Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son

Although it wasn't announced at Gamescom, Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son now has an expected release date: September 17, 2019. This game, created for Rift and Vive, is a spinoff of the 1993 Bill Murray movie where you play as Phil's son. You're stuck in good ol' Punxsutawney, living the day before Groundhog Day over and over and over.

It's up to you to solve puzzles, make meaningful connections with family and townies, and ultimately attempt to get out of the neverending loop. Check it out at Steam, though there's not yet a price or preorder option.

Battlewake

Like the Groundhog Day VR sequel, Gamescom wasn't the first time we saw Battlewake, another VR title from developer Survios. However, we now have an expected release date: September 10, 2019, for Vive and Rift.

Just like the name implies, Battlewake sets you on the creaking planks of a pirate ship where you ultimately kick serious naval ass as one of four Pirate Lords, each with their own abilities. This is classed as a "vehicular combat" game, so you can only imagine where your ship will take you. Alongside cannons and galleons, you'll be able to wield magic from the tips of your fingers, and you can be sure there will be a Kraken or two making an appearance. Check out Battlewake at Steam (Vive and Rift support are listed), though there's not yet a set price or preorder option.

What games are you most excited for?

There were plenty more games announced at Gamescom 2019, though they'll be played on a standard 2D monitor. What were your favorites? Have you had a chance to try out any of the VR games above? Let us know in the comments.

What you need to know

• The Samsung Space Gaming Monitor was revealed at Gamescom 2019.
• This new monitor aims to keep your desk space clean by allowing you to push it out of the way when you don't need it.
• The flexible hinge clamps to your desk, allowing you to pull the monitor forward or push it back against a wall.

Alongside a new curved 240Hz gaming monitor announced at Gamescom 2019, Samsung also took the wraps off of the Space Gaming Monitor. This new display carries forward the idea of saving desk real estate the Samsung first tried out with its standard Space Monitor, and it adds a little bit of extra gaming flair.

The key to the Samsung Space Gaming Monitor is that it foregoes a traditional monitor stand. Instead, you use a built-in clamp to secur the monitor to the back of your desk. Its flexible hinge can then be used to keep the display out of your way when you're not using it, or pulled toward you when you're ready to jump into some games.

As far as specs are concerned, you'll find several gaming-focused improvements here. The screen size is 32 inches and it packs a refresh rate of 144Hz and QHD resolution. There's also FreeSync support, so you can synchronize the frames coming out of your graphics card with the display's refresh rate to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering.

There's no release date or pricing information available for the Samsung Space Gaming Monitor just yet. However, if the concept has you intrigued, you can grab the original Space Monitor starting at $323.

What you need to know

• Samsung launched the CRG5, a 27-inch curved gaming monitor, at Gamescom 2019.
• The CRG5 is build for speed and smooth frames with a 240Hz panel and NVIDIA G-Sync.
• You can buy the Samsung CRG5 now for $400.

Gaming monitors are typically all about achieving as high of a refresh rate as you can get, and Samsung's latest does just that. The new Samsung CRG5 was launched at Gamescom 2019, and it's a curved display that packs in a blazing 240Hz refresh rate. But it also has a few other tricks up its sleeve.

Besides the high refresh rate, the 27-inch monitor features 1500R curvature throughout. When you're sitting close to a monitor, the curve is intended to help immerse you in your games by filling your field of vision.

The Samsung CRG5 also includes support for NVIDIA G-Sync. When paired with a modern GeForce graphics card, G-Sync works to synchronize the frames coming from your graphics card with the display's refresh rate, ultimately eliminating screen tearin and choppiness.

There's no HDR support here, which is a bummer. But the CRG5 packs a 3000:1 contrast ratio and a number of built-in gaming modes to suit whatever you happen to be playing.

The Samsung CRG5 is available now for $400.

What you need to know

• Elgato introduced the 4K60 Pro MK.2 capture card at Gamescom 2019.
• The card has a couple of key upgrades, adding HDR capture and support for multiple cards in one PC.
• The new card is also cheaper than its predecessor, and is available to order for $250.

Elgato introduced the 4K60 Pro in 2017 as its premier capture card, but now it's time for an upgrade. At Gamescom 2019, the company launched the new $250 4K60 Pro MK.2, which cuts the price down from the original's $400 and introduces support for capturing HDR footage.

The card remains capped at 60 frames per second when capturing 4K footage. However, it supports a ton of other frame and resolution combos, including 1080p footage at 240Hz. Add in the new HDR capture and your game footage should look pretty impressive.

The 4K60 Pro MK.2 also allows you to work with more than one card in a PC setup. If you want to give the new card a try, you can grab the Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 now for $250.

With near half a million expected to hit Gamescom 2019 this week, the Cologne-hosted show comfortably falls as the world's largest video game trade fair. Microsoft has left its mark with a sizeable booth of Xbox One and PC experiences, from Gears 5, Halo on PC, among other upcoming blockbusters. The platform holder has also debuted a custom line of Xbox-swathed sneakers, displayed to attendees over the days ahead.

The craftmanship of FRE Customs and Footlocker backs this Xbox collaboration, with seven one-of-a-kind designs adapting iconic silhouettes from Nike, Adidas, Vans, and Puma. The collection lies on display all week, with giveaways planned among guests each day.

Two Vans Sk8-Hi sneakers lead the collection, reworking the lightweight shoe in Gears 5 and Minecraft-themed designs. The upcoming brutal shooter puts a deep red tone on the canvas upper, with Gears 5 stamped on the midsole, and a "bound by blood" tagline on the heel. Minecraft's dungeon crawler spinoff accompanies in a vibrant twist, with an ankle-embossed profile of the new "Redstone Monstrosity" mob.

Forza Horizon 4 finds perfect pairing with the Pirelli-branded Replicat-X, building upon the 2019 Puma collaboration with the tire tycoon. The motorsport-inspired look first used tread patterns from Formula 1 tires, now branded with Microsoft's hit racer, stripes, and a checkered PUMA formstrip. The Puma Thunder X Mercedes AMG Petronas undergoes a pink and green transformation too, mirroring Battletoads' eccentric beat 'em up tone.

The collaboration also drops two flavors of the Nike Air Max 720 representing Halo: The Master Chief Collection's upcoming PC debut and Cyberpunk 2077. Microsoft's genre-defining shooter revises the curved design with olive and gold highlights, emulating its armored hero. The Air Max 720 Saturn injects themes from CD Projekt Red's neon-lined dystopia, complementing its futuristic setup of zips, straps, and a transparent Air sole unit.

Wrapping up the set is Bleeding Edge's take on the Adidas Continental 80. Reflecting Maeve of the multiplayer shooter's hero roster, the sneaker receives a rough spray-painted purple and cyan finish.

The full collection is on display at Hall 8 of the Koelnmesse, through August 24, 2019. In the meantime, don't miss our roundup of Gamescom's first action-packed showcase.

Xbox

Main

• What is Xbox Game Pass?
• Best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and S
• Must-buy Xbox One Headsets
• Our Favorite Xbox One Wireless Headsets
• Best Upcoming Xbox Games for 2021
• Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series S

What you need to know

• The Alienware Aurora R9 is now available.
• The gaming desktop has been redesigned with Alienware's new "Legend" design language.
• You can grab the new Aurora R9 now at Dell starting at $970.

Following its launch at Gamescom this week, the new Alienware Aurora R9 is now available starting at $970. Far more than a simple refresh, the Aurora R9 has undergone a complete redesign that follows Alienware's "Legend" design language introduced earlier in 2019 with its laptops.

The new design features a rounded look that looks a bit like a mix between a gaming PC and a Dyson fan — but, somehow, it works. Running up the middle of the front is an LED-lit strip that includes all of the front USB ports and a prominent glowing Alienware logo. That rounded aesthetic carries on to the rest of the case as well, with venting grates on the left side and Alienware branding on the right.

Inside the Aurora R9, you'll be able to pick from a wide variety of configurations. Processor options extend across Intel's 9th Gen range, on up to a Core i9-9900K. There's also up to 64GB of RAM, up to 4TB of storage, and graphics options ranging up to dual NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 cards. Here's a full breakdown of the specs:

If the Aurora R9 piques your fancy, you can grab it now starting at $970. If you want to deck it out with top-of-the-line specs, however, you're looking at spending around $3,000.

What you need to know

• Corsair has unveiled its latest gaming keyboard at Gamescom.
• The K57 RGB Wireless connects over Corsair's 2.4GHz Slipstream tech or Bluetooth 4.2.
• The keyboard has a 35-hour battery life with RGB LEDs enabled, and 175 hours without.
• You get rubber dome switches with 8-key roll-over, and the keyboard is now available for $100.

Corsair has debuted its latest gaming keyboard at Gamescom. The K57 RGB Wireless leverages the company's Slipstream tech to deliver sub-1ms wireless connectivity over 2.4GHz, and you also have the option of pairing the keyboard via standard Bluetooth 4.2.

The K57 RGB eschews mechanical switches for a membrane layout, but the keys are mounted above the chassis. You also get six macro keys on the left that can be customized via Corsair's iCUE software. They have decent tactile feedback all things considered — my main keyboard is a K95 RGB Platinum, and while the K57 doesn't have the same feedback as the Cherry MX Brown switches, they are quiet.

The keyboard itself is light thanks to the plastic chassis, and you get multimedia keys along with volume controls above the numpad. There's also a power toggle, a detachable wrist rest, and a Micro-USB port for when you need to charge the keyboard or use it in wired mode. The dongle for the 2.4GHz Slipstream mode is tucked away on the right.

Another highlight of the keyboard is the CAPELLIX LEDs, which provide 60% brighter illumination while drawing less power. As such, Corsair says the keyboard will last up to 35 hours even with the LEDs on, and 175 hours without backlit illumination. You also get individual key illumination and the ability to set custom lighting zones and different lighting effects via iCUE.

I'll have a detailed review out early next week, but if you're interested, the K57 RGB Wireless is available right now for $100.

Gamescom 2019 is now officially underway, and that means a load of game announcements and hardware reveals have already taken place. On day one of the event, we got a look at a ton of trailers from the Inside Xbox and Gamescom Opening Night Live streams, along with some refreshing new PC hardware from Alienware.

While there was certainly a lot to pay attention to throughout Gamescom's first day, we've picked out some of the biggest reveals you should be paying attention to.

Halo co-creator unveils new game called 'Disintegration'

Nothing quite catches your attention like learning that one of the co-creators of Halo has a new game. It's even better when you get a peek at the action.

That's what we got today, as Marcus Lehto, who founded independent studio V1 Interactive in 2014 after leaving Bungie, unveiled "Disintegration." The game is a sci-fi first-person shooter that put players in the command of mechs and robots.

Throw in a single-player campaign and "frenetic PvP multiplayer" involving other pilots and crews, and you have a recipe for what could be a solid title.

Disintegration is expected to launch in 2020.

Everspace 2 takes off in 2021

Everspace is already a beloved game among a fans of space shooters, and there's now a sequel on the way in 2021.

Everspace 2 switches things up by expanding to an open world, where players can traverse vast distances with some role-playing elements mixed in. Don't worry if you like the rogue-like gameplay of the original, however; Rockfish Games cofounder Michael Shade says that the studio is aiing to "remain true to our DNA and offer exactly what out fans love."

Everspace 2 is expected to hit Kickstarter on September 9 with a €450,000 funding goal. The game is expected to hit Xbox One, PlayStation 4 in 2021 and is slated to hit Steam Early Access for PCs in 2020.

In the meantime, you can check out the original Everspace as part of Xbox Game Pass.

Borderlands 3 offers peek at new endgame mode

Borderlands 3 is up there with the most anticipated games of the year, and Gamescom gave us a look at a new game mode coming for endgame content: Proving Grounds.

The challenges seem like they'll operate a lot like horde modes in other games. You'll have to take on missions to find ancient Eridian writings that will give your coordinates to proving grounds. Once there, you fend off waves of enemies. The longer you last, the better loot you'll be rewarded with.

Borderlands 3 is set to release on September 13, and there will be six proving grounds at launch. You can preorder the game now for $60 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

Metro Exodus "THe Two Colonels" expansion launch

Metro Exodus hit consoles and PCs earlier this year, but there's still plenty of story left to explore.

"The Two Colonels," a new expansion for the game, was revealed to be launching on August 20 at Gamescom. The story of the DLC tells the story of what happened to Novosibirsk, an irradiated city that was a bit of a mystery in the game until now.

Metro Exodus is part of Xbox Game Pass, but you'll have to pick up the Two Colonels DLC separately. You can also check out the game on its own for $29.

New Xbox Game Pass games

Xbox Game Pass is getting new games all of the time, but Microsoft had some heavy hitters to announce today.

Some of the new games being added to the subscription service in August include Devil May Cry 5, Age of Empires: Definitive Edition, Blair Witch, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance. We even got a preview of what's coming in September with Dead Cells.

Xbox Game Pass is growing all of the time, and you can now play games in its catalogue across both Xbox and PC. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate adds Xbox Live Gold into the mix for $15 per month.

New Xbox controllers are looking sharp

Microsoft isn't shy about its affinity for new Xbox controller designs, and it had a fresh pair to show off at Gamescom today.

The two new controllers come in Night Ops Camo or Sport Blue. The former takes on a dark, urban military camo pattern, while the letter is similar to previous sport controllers we've seen, but with a contrast between dark blue on the front and light blue on the rear.

Both controllers look pretty slick and are available for preorder now for $70 a pop. The Night Ops Camo controller is expected to launch on October 8, while the Sport Blue controller is expected to launch on September 17.

Alienware stuns with Aurora design overhaul

Alienware is trying to make a splash with its new "Legend" design language that has been rolling out across its laptop lineup this year, and now it's bringing it to its desktop PCs.

The new Alienware Aurora R9 made its debut at Gamescom, and it's a stunner. The case has been completely revamped with a rounded aesthetic that stands out from the rest of the pre-built PC crowd. Oh, and there's a hint of RGB lighting to go around.

Aside from the redesign, the new Aurora R9 packs plenty of potential power with up to an Intel Core i9-9900K processor, dual NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 graphics, and up to 64GB of RAM.

The Alienware Aurora R9 is set to go on sale starting August 20 starting at $970.

Alienware's latest monitor is a 55-inch OLED behemoth

A 55-inch gaming monitor might just sound like a TV by another name, but Alienware's new monster packs in plenty of features that set it apart.

For starters, it's equipped with an OLED panel, which means scenes are going to be crisp and colorful with an almost infinite contrast. The monitor also packs in AMD FreeSync, a 4K resolution, and a 120Hz refresh rate.

The only downside? It's going to cost you a pretty penny. The Alienware 55 OLED gaming monitor is expected to launch on September 30 in North America for $4,000. Ouch.

Gears Pop! launches this week on Android and iOS

Gears 5 is still a few weeks away, but you can whittle away the time with the franchise's first mobile foray, 'Gears Pop!', starting this week.

The game, which is a bit like a Gears of War take on the Plants vs Zombies formula, is set to launch on August 22. It's full of real-time multiplayer matches that look fairly fun. The game also includes cute little versions of more than 30 characters from across the Gears series.

Gears Pop! will be free to play when it launches on August 22.

Trailers galore and more

Aside from what we've highlighted so far, Gamescom 2019's first day was filled to the brim with new gameplay trailers and reveals.

There was our first look at gameplay footage from Need for Speed Heat, the reveal of Little Nightmares 2, Kerbal Space Program 2, and many others.

We also got an in-depth look at the companion system for GreedFall, an extended trailer for The Surge 2, and we learned that PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is getting cross-play between consoles in October.

What were your favorites?

Those were just some of our top picks, but what were your favorite picks from day one of Gamescom 2019? Let us know what you liked in the comments, or what you're hoping to see from the rest of the show.