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Gamescom, Europe's biggest video game event, officially kicks off with Opening Night Live (ONL), a 2-hour showcase filled with trailers and presentations from developers, studios and publishers.
Gamescom is a huge event that drew 320,000 people last year to the Koelnmesse convention center in Cologne, Germany, where the event is held from Aug. 20 to Aug. 24.
Games industry events ringleader Geoff Keighley, who founded Summer Game Fest in the US, is hosting ONL, and the event is expected to have plenty of trailers that gaming fans have been eagerly anticipating.
Keighley tweetedan early list of games confirmed to be shown at ONL that includes Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Monster Hunter Wilds, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and more. This likely means these games will get new trailers, though they could also include remote or on-stage developer chats, too.
And that's all, folks
By David Lumb
Right as two hours ticked down, Keighley called Opening Night Live over -- but Gamescom is just beginning. Stay tuned to CNET for coverage of all the games we're seeing and developers we're interviewing behind closed doors!
ONL's one more thing is... Mafia: The Old Country
By David Lumb
Geoff Keighley came on stage right before the two-hour mark and said the show was almost over. But he had one surprise left: an unlooked-for trailer for Mafia: The Old Country. The next game in the beloved series about organized crime seems like it will take place in, well, the Old Country of Italy, presumably exploring the culture and lives of the original Mafia. There's no release date for the game.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Out in December
By David Lumb
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle got another trailer, though it was mostly voice actor extraordinaire Troy Baker explaining how voicing the whip-cracking adventurer (and doing a fine impression of the iconic Harrison Ford) was a dream come true. But fans had another treat in store: The game is coming out Dec. 9 for Xbox Series X and S, Xbox Game Pass and PC, as well as for PS5 in spring.
The First Berserker: Khazan trailer
By David Lumb
I'll admit it, readers, we're almost done with Opening Night Live, and these blogging fingers are getting tired -- but The First Berserker: Khazan looks like a fun hack-and-slash with a splash of Souls-like brutality. The game comes out in early 2025.
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred DLC look
By David Lumb
Diablo 4's next DLC, Vessel of Hatred, got a new trailer showing off the new Spiritborn class, as well as details about the hirable mercenaries you can bring along so you won't have to adventure alone. Vessel of Hatred comes out on Oct. 8.
Peter Molyneux's newest game revealed
By David Lumb
Peter Molyneux, iconic creator of games like Dungeon Keeper, Black & White, the Fable games and more, showed up at Opening Night Live to personally introduce his new game: Masters of Albion. Like Black & White, players take on the role of a local god building up his village and inhabiting heroes to take on local monsters -- or zooming out to invoke some divine wrath if need be. There's no release date for Masters of Albion just yet.
Herdling
By David Lumb
Herdling, a cute adventure game by studio Okomotive (creator of Far: Lone Sails), featuresa character who, well, herds some cute furry livestock across the land. Herdling comes out in 2025.
Oh wait -- there is a Little Nightmares 3
By David Lumb
Whoops! Tarsier Studios fooled me -- it actually does have a Little Nightmares 3 coming out at some point. (No release date or window yet, though.)
Batman: Arkham Shadows in VR
By David Lumb
We got our first big trailer for Batman: Arkham Shadows, the VR game that's exclusive to the Meta Quest 3 headset. While gamers voiced their disappointment that a new game in the lauded Batman: Arkham series was only coming to VR, the trailer showed off some fun combat, lurking and gadget-using that looks like it fits in the game series. And the action doesn't look too bad in VR -- that is, slowed enough for players to throw punches and shoot grappling hooks.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 trailer
By David Lumb
The first trailer for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is here. The first game was known for its historical accuracy, and the second promises to be even bigger. The action RPG will have a preview on Aug. 21 -- tomorrow -- and come out on Feb. 11, 2025.
Secret Level, an anthology of official game-based animations, coming in December
By David Lumb
Maybe you heard of Secret Level, an anthology show from the creators of Love, Death and Robots. But did you know the show, which debuts on Amazon Prime Video on Dec. 10, adapts bona fide game characters? Tim Miller, director of Deadpool from animation studio Blur, came on stage to explain the project -- even tearing up as he voiced his passion, which the crowd loved. And then the trailer showed split seconds of Kratos, Warhammer 40K space marines, Mega Man, Armored Core mechs and more -- then the crowd lost it.
Why? While the Fallout series has been a big hit, gamers haven't been exposed to the best adaptations of their favorite games, like the Halo show and the recent Borderlands movie. Maybe, the crowd might be thinking, fans could finally see the games they love adapted faithfully and with respect. We'll see when the show airs its first season in December.
Playing for the Planet: Gaming sustainability
By David Lumb
Playing for the Planet, the industry association dedicated to promoting sustainability and greener gaming, came on stage to present the Gamescom Sustainability Award, which went to Tencent Games. That got a chuckle from the crowd -- presumably because the Chinese publisher has acquired and invested in many studios across the world. But a lot of its biggest titles are on mobile, and smartphones are far and away the most sustainable gaming platforms available to us. Read more in our feature on the video game industry and climate change.
Marvel Rivals coming Dec. 6
By Adam Benjamin
I've been a big fan of Marvel Rivals ever since I first loaded into it, and a new trailer gave me what I've been asking for: an official release date so I don't have to put the game down again. Marvel Rivals launches the first week of December, adding Captain America and the Winter Soldier to its roster. The trailer also announced that all heroes will be unlocked at launch and beyond, and will remain free to play, which is a massive win.
Sid Meier's Civilization 7
By David Lumb
One of the most hyped upcoming games for PC is Sid Meier's Civilization 7, the next in Firaxis Games' venerable 4X strategy series, and fans in the audience lapped up the first trailer after the minimal teaser seen at Summer Game Fest. Unfortunately for local fans and lucky for those at home, Firaxis Games' Twitch channel will host a reveal of the game's narrator and other info right after Opening Night Live.
Monument Valley 3... but only for Netflix subscribers
By David Lumb
The good news: Monument Valley 3, the next puzzle game in the sublime mobile series, is real and it's coming out soon, on Dec. 10. The bad news: It's exclusive to Netflix subscribers. But those who are signed up for the streaming service can play the original games soon -- Monument Valley 1 on Sept. 19 and Monument Valley 2 on Oct. 29.
Monster Hunter Wilds new trailer
By David Lumb
Another cool trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds, the next game in the monster-killing series, shows plenty of weapons and the beasties players will be taking down. Most importantly, I think they showed one of the cat palico friends firing some sort of gun from a pushcart? Maybe I'm imagining things. We're almost at one hour of Opening Night Live and Monster Hunter Wilds comes out in 2025.
Little Nightmares 3 is... Reanimal
By David Lumb
No, it's not necessarily a sequel to Tarsier Studios' popular Little Nightmares series, but Reanimal sure looks cute-and-spooky enough to fit in the series. This is our first look at the new game, which doesn't have a release date yet.
Dune Awakening coming early 2025
By David Lumb
We got a big look at Dune Awakening, the survival-focused MMO set in the world of Frank Herbert's Dune books, made most famous by Denis Villenueve's incredible two-part film series. Pledge your services to the big houses of the Landsraad and fight for the precious spice (which must flow) on the desert world of Arrakis. Dune Awakening is launching in early 2025.
Path of Exile 2
By David Lumb
The hack-and-slash sequel to arguably the most successful Diablo-like games, Path of Exile, now has a big trailer. Path of Exile 2 launches in Early Access on Nov. 15.
Sanity break: Remember the cosplay competition this weekend
By David Lumb
We're 40 minutes into Opening Night Live and over a dozen trailers have aired. Sjokz came onstage to remind attendees that the cosplay contest is this weekend. OK, back to the trailers.
No More Room in Hell 2
By David Lumb
Wait, two zombie games at Opening Night Live? What is this, 2008? The next game in the zombie-killing franchise is coming soon.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage trailer airs ag Gamescom
By Moe Long
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, a new narrative-driven adventure game from Don't Nod -- the studio behind Life is Strange -- aired at Gamescom. Appearing very much in the same vein as Life is Strange, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is slated for an early 2025 release date, and will be available on PC, PS5 as well as Xbox Series X/S.
Arc Raiders
By David Lumb
Arc Raiders is coming in 2025 -- the trailers sure are flying in and next year is filling up. Playtesting for the game will start in the fall.
Dying Light: The Beast World
By David Lumb
The next Dying Light game in the zombie franchise looks brutal! Wishlist it now, though it doesn't have a release date.
Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis DLC
By David Lumb
Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis, the upcoming DLC for the remade version of the classic game got a trailer, showing a new challenger... from Persona 5? Fan favorite Joker joins the DLC.
The horrifying hilarity of... Goat Simulator Remastered
By David Lumb
With a mystery trailer opening up at Cash Grab Penitentiary, anything is possible. Especially if you're not taking things too seriously. A tongue-in-cheek trailer poking fun at endless rereleases (including a noticeable Skyrim jab) revealed that Goat Simulator Remastered is coming. Big laughs among the crowd -- we love when a game knows the audience.
Keighley welcomes co-host Sjokz
By David Lumb
Keighley introduced his co-host for the night -- Eefje Depoortere, better known as Sjokz, esports host for the European League of Legends competitions.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 preview
By David Lumb
A new Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 trailer gave us a brief look at gameplay of the new title, which like others in the series, takes place in the past -- the early '90s, to be precise. The trailer showed a cinematic moment, presumably early in the campaign, where the player must break a source out of a government building (what looks like the Pentagon) using guns, tools like an explosive EMP knife, guns, a motorcycle escape and so many guns. Players will have access to two Zombies maps on Day 1, Keighley noted. An open beta is running from Sept. 6 to 9.
Borderlands 4 is real!
By David Lumb
The first trailer kicking off Opening Night Live didn't leak, Keighley crowed, and it's... Borderlands 4! Coming in 2025, if you can believe it -- especially since the trailer was really more of a teaser.
We Harvest Shadows is a farming horror allegory title
By Moe Long
A trailer for the previously unannounced game We Harvest Shadows dropped during the Gamescom 2024 preshow. The farming horror game, which seems plucked from the A24 film catalog, was described by We Harvest Shadows developer David Wehle during an interview that was broadcast during the preshow as "anti-cozy game" -- sort a subversion of comfort games like Animal Crossing. The game is listed as coming soon on Steam.
Geoff Keighley is in the house!
By David Lumb
Geoff Keighley himself kicks off Opening Night Live! Let's get the trailers rolling.
Dave the Diver gets some odd crossovers
By Lori Grunin
In the near future -- October, even --crossovers (DLC?) with Balatro, Potion Craft and Mxmtoon will be a thing.
This is where a preshow would be... if I had one!
By David Lumb
Behold, the Gamescom Opening Night Live stage. I'll just have to imagine the preshow being projected up here.
Seated for Opening Night Live... but not the preshow?
By David Lumb
Your intrepid reporter and videographer team from CNET is on the ground at Opening Night Live... but the preshow isn't. Wow! Looks like fans at home are seeing something exclusive that we aren't. Watch it now on The Game Awards' YouTube accountor Twitch account. We'll be back in 20 minutes when the show here in Cologne starts.
Inside Opening Night Live... with Gamescombot?
By David Lumb
Your hard-working CNET team is on the ground at Opening Night Live, and most importantly, we got a photo with the Gamescombot, who greeted us in German (we were flattered, whatever he said). CNET represent.
The gate to Gamescom
By David Lumb
We made it to Gamescom! Hello from Cologne, Germany, where CNET Video Producer Sean Booker and I have arrived ahead of Opening Night Live, the trailer showcase that kicks off Europe's biggest gaming event of the year. Those at home can stream it online -- check our how to watch Gamescom's Opening Night Live guide for details. See you on the inside!
