Gamescom's Opening Night Live just concluded and delivered a slew of new trailers and updates for some of the biggest and smallest games coming to PC and console in the following year.
Cologne in Germany is the city playing host to Gamescom, and we've got members of the Tom's Guide team on the ground in the city to get in amongst the action. Geoff Keighley hosted today's two-hour opening showcase, and he brought his usual energy to the stage, along with co-host Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere.
Some of the biggest reveals included new looks at The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past, Final Fantasy VII Revelation and Game of Thrones: War for Westeros. Gears of War fans were also treated to a new Gears of War: E-Day campaign trailer. A new entry in the post-apocalyptic Metro series also made a big splash.
The show might be over, but you can watch the video below to see what you've missed, along with reading our thoughts on the show as we watched it live.
How to watch Gamescom Opening Night Live
If you couldn't get tickets to Cologne yourself, don't worry. The show was livestreamed worldwide on the Gamescom YouTube and Twitch channels. You can watch it at the embedded link below!
LIVE: Latest Updates
Welcome to Gamescom 2026
Welcome to Tom's Guide's live coverage of Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026. We're expecting a massive showcase running through some of the most exciting upcoming video games.
The entire show is going to be a two-hour blitz of new announcements and extended looks. Our team is on the ground in Cologne right now, and we'll be keeping you updated throughout the day as we get closer to the event itself. Game on!
Confirmed games for tonight's showcase
Geoff Keighley has already confirmed that eight titles will make an appearance at today's showcase. There's going to be a lot more to see, of course, but these are the games we know we're getting a look at:
The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past
Final Fantasy VII Revelation
Gears of War: E-Day
Ananta
Tides of Annihilation
Metro 2039
Game of Thrones: War for Westeros
Warlock: Dragons & Dungeons
Toss a coin to your Witcher
The Witcher 3 is now over a decade old (it was released in May 2015) but CD Projekt Red is bringing another DLC to the table in the form of Songs of the Past. This is designed as a narrative bridge between the post-game state of The Witcher 3 and the upcoming Witcher 4.
Speaking of Witcher 4, CD Projekt Red CEO Michał Nowakowski has confirmed a 2028 release window for the upcoming game. That could mean a wait of up to two years for the game that's being built on Unreal Engine 5 — so probably a good job there's some DLC to keep us going.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation is going to be epic
Final Fantasy VII Revelation is the final chapter in Square Enix's reimagined trilogy and is currently slated to land sometime in 2027. Geoff Keighley has confirmed the game's director Naoki Hamaguchi will take to the stage at Gamescom to show off more of what's in store for Cloud and the gang.
Platforms have already been confirmed with Final Fantasy VII Revelation set to launch simultaneously across PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027.
We learned from Hamaguchi during Summer Game Fest that the concluding chapter in the trilogy will be about "resolve". Expect a lot of emotion as each party member confronts their destiny in what'll probably be an epic conclusion to a masterful remake.
The full Gamescom schedule
The Opening Night Live showcase is just the beginning of the various events at Gamescom this year. Because there can be a lot to keep track of, here's a handy schedule of all the different shows, including when they start, depending on your time zone.
Show |
Date |
ET |
PT |
BST |
Gamescom Opening Night Live |
August 25 |
2pm |
11am |
7pm |
REDStreams |
August 25 |
4am - 1pm |
1am - 10am |
9am - 6pm |
Xbox Live broadcast 1 |
August 26 |
10am |
7am |
3pm |
Future Games Show |
August 26 |
1pm |
10am |
6pm |
Xbox Live broadcast 2 |
August 27 |
10am |
7am |
3pm |
Gamescom Awesome Indies show |
August 27 |
2pm |
11am |
7pm |
FGS Best of Gamescom |
August 30 |
1pm |
10am |
6pm |
All the timezones for today's event
If you're planning to tune into the event later today and you're not based in either the U.S. or the U.K. then show host Geoff Keighley has handily posted all the airtimes for the main event. Here's the full list:
Germany - 8p CEST
London - 7p BST
New York - 2p EDT
Los Angeles - 11a PDT
Mexico City - 1p CDT
São Paulo - 3p BRT
Moscow - 9p MSK
Mumbai - 11:30p IST
Beijing - 2a CST
Tokyo/Seoul - 3a JST
Sydney - 4a AEST
Looking for The Witcher 4?
The Witcher 3 was one of the most fun RPGs released in recent memory, which has players chomping at the bit to get their hands on the next game in the series. And while new DLC for The Witcher 3 is exciting (as detailed a couple of posts down), we want to see a new game.
But unfortunately, we won't see it at Gamescom.
"So while we're not showing The Witcher 4 at the event, and we're not ready to share an exact date, I can tell you this: The Witcher 4 is targeting a 2028 release window.
"I know it's a bit of a wait and you'd love to play it sooner, but let the team cook. It will be worth the wait. Until then, there will be plenty more of The Witcher to come, including Songs of the Past when it launches in 2027. And you can be sure Gamescom is also in our plans for the coming years," explained Michał Nowakowski, Joint Chief Executive Officer, CD Projekt Red.
So while we won't get a taste of the game this year, at least we know that future Gamescom events could provide us with our first glimpse of The Witcher 4 in all of its glory. But those events do feel far away.
Will Hideo Kojima be there?
One thing I'd love to see at Gamescom is the latest from Hideo Kojima, whether that's OD or another game from the creator of Metal Gear and Death Stranding. With the longstanding friendship between Kojima and Gamescom Live host Geoff Keighley, it's quite possible that one of the generation's most beloved video game creators will make an appearance of some sort.
And hopefully that appearance comes with some kind of trailer for his latest game. Even just a small teaser and Kojima's presence on stage would be enough to make me happy.
Sold out show
There's a lot of hype around the Gamescom live show. In fact, the official Gamescom website is reporting that the event is completely sold out for in-person attendance.
"Missed your chance? Don't worry, we've got you covered: You can watch Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 on Tuesday, 25.08.2026 via livestream on our website. We start the evening with the pre-show at 7:30 p.m.; the main show starts at 8:00 p.m. (CEST)," reads the website.
Of course, we'll be there live. In fact, our own Jason England is already there in person, and he's ready to bring you all the good stuff as it happens.
Who are the Gamescom hosts?
Geoff Keighley hosts the live show and is one of the more recognizable figures in video games. With more than 3.8 million X followers, Keighley hosts some of the biggest events in gaming, including The Game Awards and Summer Game Fest. He comes from a traditional video game journalism background before switching to presenting and hosting big events.
He is slated to be joined by Eefje Depoortere, a prominent figure in the eSports world who often hosts major competitive events and has been a fixture since 2013. Before hosting events, she played competitive games like Unreal Tournament. She has a degree in history and journalism, which makes her uniquely suited to co-host the big gaming event.
Both Depoortere and Keighley will be familiar to anyone who watched the 2025 Gamescom event, as the pair hosted it then, as well.
Are you excited?
Are you looking forward to Gamescom this year? The big show is just a few hours away, and some highly anticipated games are slated to be shown off. Between the games that are just speculation and those confirmed to be there, it should be a pretty packed show.
My most anticipated Gamescom game
With the event just under 2 hours away, it's time to think about which games I'm most excited to see. Going off the list of confirmed games and expansions, I'd have to say Path of Exile 2 is the one I'm most looking forward to. I've already purchased the Early Access copy, jumped in a bit, and I'm optimistic about the game's long-term direction.
Hopefully, whatever Grinding Gear Games shows off at Gamescom really pushes it forward to where it needs to be to rival the first Path of Exile.
Humankind 2 leak
A new leak, first spotted by intrepid video game tipster Wario64, showed off a game called Humankind 2.
Presumably, this will be made official tonight at Gamescom Opening Night Live, but fans of 4X strategy games may want to keep an eye on it.
More Aliens?
Hey, it's Scott taking over for a minute until showtime.
One of my most anticipated games is Alien Isolation 2. We already caught a glimpse of it at Summer Game Fest back in June. It's been confirmed that a demo will be available at Gamescom, so why not a new trailer? I don't know if I could get more hyped.
A new Worms game leaks
Last week, cover art and a title for a rumored new Worms game were posted online by a regular game leaker.
The new game is allegedly titled "Worms [Galactic Tactics]." A gameplay video was leaked that showed something more akin to XCOM or Mario & Rabbids; however, that video has been taken down.
Anyway, I've been playing Worms for...too long...and I'm excited for a new take on the series, I love me some XCOM-style tactics.
It could show up at Gamescom is what we're saying.
One hour to showtime
The Geoff Keighley hosted opening night show kicks off in an hour.
The show has essentially replaced E3 as the biggest gaming convention of the year with all of the build-up that entails.
So, we're expecting some big announcements and reveals today.
Pre-show starts in 15 minutes!
Hey, all! Tony Polanco here to take over this liveblog for the pre-show and during the main event. Speaking of the pre-show, Geoff Keighley said there will indeed be a pre-Opening Night Live event 30 minutes beforehand. Hopefully, we'll see some good stuff! Also, ONL will be 2 hours long, so we're definitely in for an intense ride. Get. Ready!
The pre-show is live!
Okay, here is the appetizer! We already got hints that we'll see the new Final Fantasy and Witcher games. Let's go!
The first announcement is a new Worms game. There is also a more traditional Worms game in development.
Train Sim World 7 announced
The next announcement is for Train Sim World 7. I didn't know there were six other games! You learn something new every day!
Rollercoaster Tycoon: Wonderworks early access
If you like the Rollercoaster Tycoon games, there's a new one coming.
Animo announced
A very Pokémon-inspired game called Animo now takes the stage. I have no idea what's happening but it sure is colorful.
NeHa slashes its way to Gamescom
Neha looks like a pretty cool hack-and-slash game inspired by various titles. The genre certainly has been making a resurgence lately, and I'm here for it!
Perceptum is a new horror game
If you need some scares in your life, Perceptum could be that. Not much shown in the trailer, but the horror vibe was definitely thick!
Cozy and dark
Now, we have Acornia, which is a cute, cozy game with anthropomorphic animals. On the flip side, Valor Mortis is here as a dark action game. Always good to have variety!
Tank Rat
A trailer for a game called Tank Rat is shown. Not much, to be honest, but it seems intriguing since it has a robot. Robots are always fun in my eyes!
Murals announced
A new game called Murals is announced. I didn't know what was happening, but it seems to have some painting mechanics. I like the colors!
Humankind II
RTS fans, rejoice! Humankind II is a Civilization-style game featuring some impressive graphics. I also liked the intro featuring real life actors.
Elta is a new action game
A new third-person action game is announced. This one reminds me a lot of Darksiders. The difference here is that you get a little dragon companion. Nice!
Age Twisters is a twisted game
This isometric view game lets you switch between an old man and a kid. Freaky Friday in video game form? I think so.
Onimusha gets a spotlight
Onimusha is the biggest game we've seen during this pre-show, and a title I can't wait to play. You can now play an expanded demo, which is awesome!
Mariachi Legends announced
If you like Metroidvania games and cool Latin vibes, then you should have Mariachi Legends on your radar. The developer says this game was inspired by Mexican culture. Mui caliente!
Two minutes till showtime!
With the last of the pre-show trailers out of the way, it's now time for Opening Night Live proper! Hopefully, we'll get some truly memorable stuff to get us excited about what to expect next on consoles and PC.
Geoff Keighly takes the stage!
Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley takes the stage to officially kick off Opening Night Live 2026. Strap in!
Final Fantasy VII Revelation and more!
Keighley says we'll see more of Final Fantasy VII: Revelation and a brand-new expansion for The Witcher 3. This is going to be huge. Also, there will be a musical performance, because of course there will be.
Dragon-slaying Nodus Fall gets announced
A new HoyoVerse co-op game, Nodus Fall, gets a cinematic trailer. This seems inspired by a lot of the Souls-like titles released in recent years. I guess it's best to strike while the iron is hot. But, hey, at least we get cool dragons.
Rainbow Six: Tactics is revealed
Co-host "Sjokz" takes the stage to announce Rainbow Six: Tactics. As its name implies, this is an XCOM-like tactical game. If you're looking for that type of gameplay, this could satisfy that craving.
Gears of War: E-Day campaign trailer revealed
Gears of War: E-Day is up next with a brand-new campaign trailer focusing on the leader of the Locust horde. This trailer shows us some of what's happening underground, with some pretty hellish locales. If you're like me, this is one of your most anticipated games of the year.
Ananta is announced
We got a new trailer for Ananta, an anime-inspired game. Gameplay seems to mix action and open-world elements. The graphics range from hyper-stylized to super detailed, creating a unique aesthetic. This game drops on January 15.
New look at Silent Hill: Townfall
We get another look at Silent Hill: Townfall. I'm not very familiar with this franchise (I've always been a Resident Evil fan), but this new game seems appropriately spooky and disturbing.
Resonance: A Plague Tale
We get another look at Resonance: A Plague Tale. I've never played these games, but this one seems pretty action-packed.
Sea Remnants announced
This is a pirate game with some cool visuals and turn-based gameplay. Seems like a cool mix of two genres. I'm here for it.
Crimson Desert expansion coming soon
If Crimson Desert didn't have enough content for you, you'll be happy to know that it's getting an expansion. What? You only put 400 hours into it? Rookie numbers! This DLC will help you boost those stats!
Tides of Annihilation gets a new trailer
Arthurian-inspired game gets an action-packed new trailer. This is yet another hack-and-slash game featuring intense combat and flashy visuals. The trailer is short but sweet!
Quirky indie game, Lofsong is announced
Alessandro Durando takes the stage to announce Lofsong. Gotta love that Italian accent! The game itself seems like a dark homage to Journey. Very cool!
Mega Man: Override gets announced
Here we go! The Blue Bomber returns in Mega Man: Override! I actually got to play this game at an event in NYC, and let me tell you, it is brutally hard! Though it's not officially called this, this is indeed Mega Man 12. Also, Twinkle Girl, the new boss, is one tough cookie! And for good measure, Pragmata is getting a Mega Man skin!
Ray Man Legends Retold!
Now we get a look at Ray Man Legends Retold, which, as the name suggests, is a remake of Ray Man Legends. No, your ears aren't fooling you, as this new musical stage is playing Macarena. Caramba! The game drops on October 1!
New PUBG game
PUBG gets announced with some Ministry as the soundtrack. This isn't exactly my type of game, but I love Ministry, so that's certainly a plus!
Control: Resonant new look
Now we see a new trailer for Control Resonant. Even though it's been delayed to September 24, my excitement for Remedy's next game hasn't diminished. If this is like the original Control, it'll be an instant classic.
The Blood of Dawnwalker drops on September 3
The headline says it all! This game is looking more awesome by the minute. Give it to me.
New Game of Thrones RTS announced
If you're waiting for The Winds of Winter, you can tide yourself over with Game of Thrones: War for Westeros. Sure, it might not give you the next chapter, but it's at least something!
Dust: Origins
This gritty, isometric shooter drops you into a space prison where you must face all manner of fiendish horrors. The graphics are extremely impressive, and the action is intense.
A change of pace
We now have a commercial for Gamescom itself. If you're already at the show, you're already sold, but I guess it gives us a nice break from all the games. Anyway, here we go again!
Exodus has an octopus hero
We get a new look at Exodus, featuring a new character. The gameplay seems like standard third-person shooter fare, with some impressive graphics and inventive animations. There's also a talking octopus for some reason. This drops on April 7, 2027.
Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons
We get a new look at Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons. Unlike Baldur's Gate 3 (also D&D), this is a third-person action game. If you're into D&D, this seems worth keeping on your radar.
New game inspired by 1001 Arabian Nights
1001 Threads of Mizan game gets announced. This is a CG cinematic, but it still looks pretty interesting. Traveling the desert on a flying carpet should be pretty fun. The giant bosses also look pretty awesome.
Silver Palace mixes anime and detailed graphics
Anime game gets a shiny new trailer. The anime art and hyper-detailed backgrounds certainly make for interesting visuals.
New Metro game announced
Ukrainian Metro 2039 devs take the stage to discuss the hardships of creating a game during the middle of a real war. We definitely have to give this team respect for enduring such hardships while working on the next installment of this beloved franchise.
Snoop Dogg comes to Hitman
Snoop Dogg will make an appearance in Hitman: World of Assassination. Yes, that might sound crazy, but he isn't the first celebrity to appear in the stealth game series. Fo-shizzle!
Aion brings the action
Here is yet another action-packed hack-and-slash game featuring insane boss battles and gorgeous graphics.
Afterworld features a dark future
Afterworld is a post-apocalyptic game where you have to rebuild America from the ashes. No gameplay was shown, but it seems to have some Mad Max vibes.
Mewgenics live performance
It's time to unwind with a live musical number from the game, Mewgenics. Gotta say, the cat-inspired costumes of the performers are pretty pur-fect!
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 gets a new trailer
In a complete tonal shift, we go to a new Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 trailer. I haven't played the original, so I can't vouch for it. But if it has a sequel, people must have liked the first one. This game is available now and comes to Switch on September 29.
Become the cat
The new 1666: Amsterdam trailer shows some footage of you being able to transform into a cat, because why not? Another short but sweet trailer.
Showa: American Story revealed
A new Japanese game called Showa: American Story has been revealed. "Showa" and "American" aren't usually in the same sentence, so we'll have to see what this action game is all about. Color me intrigued!
Brand-new look at Stage Tour
The new trailer for Stage Tour starts off with Kickstart My Heart, so I'm already listening. I didn't know about this game or that it was trying to bring back the Guitar Hero genre. If you've been craving a game like this, rock on, dudes!
Crazy Taxi multiplayer reveal
Crazy Taxi is back and now features multiplayer! The single player is already insane, so I can only imagine the mayhem of the multiplayer mode. I love Crazy Taxi, so I'm super stoked for World Tour. Fuel me up!
Turok Origins brings the dinos
Turok Origins is yet another third-person action game. If you missed the old Turok game or the classic Valiant Comics, this is one to keep an eye on.
Gravhounds is a good boy
Gravhounds is a fur-ious co-op shooter featuring anthropomorphic dogs. I don't know what to say about this one, other than "woff!"
Sizzle reel time
We get a slew of short trailers for various games like Lego Skylines, a train simulator, and yet another third-person shooter called Exterminauts. In addition, there's also a trailer for the next Path of Exile game.
Heroes of Might and Magic III is reborn
Ubisoft is resurrecting the classic Heroes of Might and Magic III with brand-new graphics and enhanced gameplay. If you're a fan of the original, this looks like a worthy remake.
Games Done Quick takes the spotlight
Ashley Farkas from Games Done Quick takes the stage to announce that Games Done Quick is coming to Europe. The organization raises money for causes it believes in, and it's now growing bigger by taking the global stage.
No Law gets impressive new trailer
Get your cyberpunk on with a new look at No Law. Everything is captured in-engine and looks absolutely phenomenal. You can certainly see the Cyberpunk 2077 inspiration, which is fine since we likely won't get a new game from CDPR for a while. With graphics like these, who can say no? Jack me in!
Cinder City looks spooky
Frightening sci-fi game Cinder City gets announced. I don't know what's happening here, but I'm digging the creepy aesthetics, even if we're not seeing any direct gameplay.
Ontos is also scary
There must be something in the air, as Ontos is yet another horror-sci-fi game. The first-person perspective does a great job of pulling you into this disturbing world, and I'm also digging the overall mood.
Zoopunk embraces its animal nature
Zookpunk is yet another title featuring anthropomorphic animals. The third-person action gameplay seems pretty awesome, and the graphics are impressive, too. China is really showing what it can do in the gaming space, and I'm here for it.
There are no Ghosts at the Grand gets a new look
I'm not sure what to make of this musical, story-based renovation game (their description, not mine), but I'm sure it will have an audience.
Another sizzle reel
We get another slew of games, featuring war games, isometric shooters, first-person shooters, and more. Many of these appear to be games from Chinese developers, which shows that the country is serious about game development.
It's Final Fantasy time!
Here we go! Naoki Hamaguchi takes the stage to give us more details about Final Fantasy VII Revelation!
The new Final Fantasy VII: Revelations trailer is epic!
The new Final Fantasy VII: Revelations trailer focuses on the massive Weapons, ancient guardians of the planet, and insanely difficult bosses from the original game. If these beasts are as tough as before, I predict many gamers will smash their controllers in frustration. It drops next spring!
The Witcher III DLC gets a new trailer
The Witcher III: Wild Hunt is being updated yet again with new graphics and enhanced gameplay. And if that weren't enough, it's also getting another expansion. All of this should make the wait for The Witcher 4 a bit easier. The upgrades are free, but the DLC will surely cost money... which I'm sure folks will be more than happy to part with for one last chance to play as Geralt.
More details on the Witcher III expansion
Songs of the Past (the new Witcher III expansion) was apparently an idea the team had but couldn't find time for, until now. The game is Geralt's last adventure before Ciri takes over. There is an extended demo at Gamescom, which makes me very jealous. This expansion will have an all-new region, with new enemies and activities. Naturally, there is a dark secret that Geralt must solve.
That's a wrap for ONL!
And that's it! Overall, it was a decent enough showing for some under-the-radar games you can look forward to.
The highlights
I think it's safe to say that Final Fantasy VII: Revelation and The Witcher III: Songs of the Past stole the show. Not that there weren't other great trailers, but these two closed out Opening Night Live for a reason.
