Major Announcements and Trailers from gamescom 2026 Opening Night Live

Last night, the world's largest video game expo kicked off in Cologne, Germany — gamescom 2026. For the 18th time, representatives of major game studios, publishers, gaming journalists, and ordinary players gathered at Koelnmesse for the expo's grand opening ceremony, Opening Night Live. Over the course of two hours, several thousand people in the hall and millions of viewers around the world followed new game announcements, learned more about updates for already released titles, listened to developer interviews, and mentally added more than a few of the showcased games to their must-play lists.

The opening ceremony is over, and we are ready to break down everything that happened: what was shown, which projects were announced, which rumors were confirmed or debunked, and which games we will all be looking forward to in the near future.

As usual, half an hour before the main show began, the organizers held a warm-up segment — the pre-show — giving smaller studios a chance to present trailers for their upcoming projects.

A new music-driven trailer was shown for the free-to-play action RPG Aniimo, which critics often compare to the Pokémon and The Legend of Zelda franchises. Players take on the role of Pathfinders exploring the wilderness and studying mysterious local creatures known as Aniimo. Players can do more than simply summon Aniimo — they can also merge with them and take full control. Alongside story-driven exploration, the developers are promising a competitive mode for teams of three. The game will launch on PC and consoles on September 16, 2026, followed by mobile devices on September 23, 2026.

The creators of the hardcore third-person action game Genigods: Nezha brought the project back into the spotlight with its second gameplay trailer. The game is inspired by ancient Chinese mythology. The world has fallen into chaos: the sky has shattered, ten suns scorch the earth, and monsters have risen from the abyss. Playing as the divine Spirit Pearl, you will have to cleanse the world of corruption. The trailer promises fast-paced gameplay combining melee combat with lightning-fast aerial attacks. The wait will be a long one, however: the game is tentatively scheduled for release in 2028.

Valor Mortis is already familiar to fans of soulslikes and dark action RPGs. Shortly before the expo, the game officially went gold, with release scheduled for October 13, 2026. The new trailer introduced the story setup and several characters, including Shrike, the charismatic leader of the resistance forces in occupied Eastern Europe. Viewers also got their first chance to hear and judge Vincent Cassel's performance as Napoleon Bonaparte.

Post-apocalyptic action game TankRat received a new cinematic trailer in which the developers officially announced its exact release date — January 15, 2027. In the game's story, the world has been almost completely destroyed by a war that reduced its greatest cities to ash. The protagonist is a Sleepwalker, a digitized human consciousness housed inside a drone called Needle. Players can switch on the fly between the agile drone and powerful combat vehicles that they build themselves. The new trailer stood out for its atmosphere, with a voice-over reciting lines from a poem by William Blake.

The isometric action-adventure Murals offers a darkly humorous take on classic Brothers Grimm fairy tales and other children's stories. Rapunzel, The Little Mermaid, and Sleeping Beauty all make appearances. In gameplay terms, the project is a fast-paced action game with a combat system reminiscent of Hades. The game is scheduled for 2027, with no more specific release window announced yet.

Amplitude Studios officially announced the global turn-based 4X strategy game Humankind 2. The sequel builds on the foundations of the first game while significantly reworking its core systems based on five years of community feedback. The biggest gameplay addition is a dynamically changing climate that alters biomes and affects resource availability. Most of the debut trailer is an atmospheric cinematic showing the birth of humanity and its journey through different eras. Humankind 2 is scheduled for release in 2027.

KRAFTON presented a new gameplay trailer for the cooperative adventure Age Twisters. The game was immediately nominated for a gamescom Awards 2026 prize in the “Most Wholesome” category. Like It Takes Two, it is designed for two players, with a grandfather and his granddaughter serving as the protagonists. Together, they embark on an emotional journey to uncover clues about the girl's missing mother and reveal family secrets. Players can change the age of their characters in real time. A Friend's Pass system has also been confirmed, allowing one player to buy the game while the second joins for free. Release is expected in 2027.

Capcom presented the final pre-release trailer for samurai action game Onimusha: Way of the Sword and also released a major update for the free demo. The trailer focused on bosses from the Genma ranks: viewers were shown a furious battle against siblings Ifu and Burai for the first time, along with the monster Rasho-gan and the warrior Shuten Doji. The game is almost here — release is scheduled for September 4, 2026. We shared our impressions of the demo in our Onimusha: Way of the Sword Preview.

For the eighth year in a row, the trailer showcase and developer interviews were hosted by well-known gaming journalist and executive producer Geoff Keighley. Esports journalist Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere once again joined him as co-host.

The main show featured more than 50 trailers. Below, we cover the most significant ones.

Any show needs a strong and memorable opening. The organizers of Opening Night Live clearly know that, so they kicked things off by announcing a major new project from Chinese studio HoYoverse, the creators of Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero. The debut trailer for Nodus Fall abandoned the bright anime aesthetic normally associated with the developer in favor of epic dark fantasy reminiscent of Elden Ring. Players take on the role of Weavers — which was also the project's original working title — who wield an ancient divine power to challenge monsters. The game is a large-scale cooperative action RPG supporting up to four players, with an emphasis on close cooperation between party members. No release date was announced, with HoYoverse choosing to preserve some mystery, but the trailer worked perfectly as the show's opening act.

Ubisoft had not officially teased an announcement of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Tactics at gamescom, but fans hoped it would happen. Their expectations were rewarded: the new Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six installment is scheduled for release in 2027. As the title suggests, it will be a single-player turn-based tactics game with an isometric perspective in the vein of XCOM. This is an unusual direction for the franchise, which has not had a story-focused single-player game since 2008. Players will take on the role of Paul Bishop, who no longer participates in operations personally but instead coordinates operatives remotely from headquarters. At launch, the game will feature 15 unique operatives taken directly from Rainbow Siege, destructible maps, and base upgrades.

Microsoft showed a new trailer for one of its flagship titles, the sci-fi shooter Gears of War: E-Day. As previously announced, this is a large-scale prequel to the very first game in the series. The story follows younger versions of Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago during the first three days of the Locust invasion. Alongside a story campaign playable in co-op with up to 4 players, the game will include five multiplayer modes, including the PvE mode Horde Siege. The game has already gone gold and will launch on October 6, 2026. It will also be available through Xbox Game Pass on day one.

NetEase Games presented a substantial three-minute trailer for the urban action game Ananta, previously known as Project Mugen. It is a free-to-play open-world action RPG with a vibrant anime aesthetic, combining elements of Genshin Impact and the Grand Theft Auto series. Players take on the role of the Captain, a leading paranormal investigator tasked with studying anomalies while also searching for their missing father. The trailer highlights one of the game's signature features: Spider-Man-style traversal, with parkour and swinging between skyscrapers on cables. The developers confirmed that there will be no gacha mechanics and announced a release date of January 15, 2027.

As promised, Konami treated fans to a new trailer for psychological horror game Silent Hill: Townfall, revealing several key cast members and their characters. In particular, Richard is played by Terry O'Quinn, best known as John Locke from Lost. The game is set in Scotland, while the protagonist carries a portable pocket TV that can detect the presence of monsters. Development is now in its final stages, with release scheduled for September 24, 2026.

The opening ceremony featured the first gameplay footage from free-to-play nautical RPG Sea of Remnants. In the spirit of Sea of Thieves, players take on the role of a puppet sailor roaming the seas with an eccentric crew. On the water, it plays like a captain simulator with fast-paced real-time naval battles, while encounters on land switch to turn-based tactics built around party synergy and the timing of companion abilities. The game is officially scheduled for release in 2027.

Chinese studio Eclipse Glow Games presented a new story trailer and gameplay demonstration for action RPG Tides of Annihilation. The story footage revealed a meeting between protagonist Gwendolyn and Guinevere, wife of King Arthur, who gives her a sword and agrees to teach her how to control the mist. The biggest surprise was a complete change of both the heroine's voice actress and appearance: Gwendolyn is now voiced by Angela Sant'Albano, known for playing Grace in Resident Evil Requiem, replacing previously announced Jennifer English. As part of gamescom 2026, the developers also demonstrated gameplay featuring exploration of the ruined halls of a vast museum, puzzle-solving, and platforming.

To celebrate the Rayman anniversary, Ubisoft showed new gameplay from Rayman Legends Retold set to the infectious rhythm of Macarena. The remake will feature 4 new musical stages, updated graphics, a dynamic camera, fully voiced characters, and a sixth secret world. Rayman Legends Retold will launch on October 1, 2026.

Finnish studio Remedy Entertainment presented a new high-energy trailer for Control Resonant, set to The Prodigy's iconic track “Omen.” The game marks a major departure from the formula of the original. Instead of a third-person shooter set in confined environments, players can expect a fast-paced action RPG with slasher-style combat in a semi-open world. The trailer showed attacks with dual daggers and a heavy crushing hammer. The game has officially gone gold and is on track to launch without delay on September 24, 2026.

The creators of RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker also brought a new trailer, officially described as the game's final one before release. The developers showed gameplay footage featuring battles with vampires, the protagonist's transformations, and the main antagonist, the vampire Brencis. The game is now fully complete, while visitors to the publisher's booth will be able to try a pre-release demo for themselves. The Blood of Dawnwalker launches on September 3, 2026.

A new cinematic trailer for sci-fi action RPG EXODUS premiered during the opening ceremony. The entire video is dedicated to introducing an unusual companion of protagonist Jun Aslan. She belongs to the Awakened faction — sentient octopuses — and works as a mercenary and bounty hunter. As a reminder, one of the game's key roles is played by Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey. During the presentation, the developers also officially revealed the exact release date: April 7, 2027.

gamescom 2026 also brought the first full gameplay trailer for Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, an action RPG based on the famous universe. Unlike Baldur's Gate 3, there are no tactical grids or dice rolls here, and combat takes place entirely in real time. The protagonist is a war veteran named Kaatri who is searching for a missing loved one. Kaatri becomes a warlock and gains the ability to see hidden currents of magic. Release is scheduled for 2027.

Deep Silver presented a new action-packed gameplay trailer for post-apocalyptic shooter Metro 2039. Unlike the wide-open environments of Metro Exodus, the developers are taking the franchise back into tighter, darker, more claustrophobic tunnels, with a stronger emphasis on stealth and horror atmosphere. The trailer showed both the radiation-scorched surface of Moscow and the independent Sevastopolskaya station, which is on the verge of being seized by an enemy force. The game is scheduled for release in February 2027.

A new gameplay video for arcade racing game Crazy Taxi: World Tour offered the first look at its multiplayer mode. The footage showed four taxis racing around the map at the same time, causing chaos in the streets and stealing the most lucrative passengers from one another. The game will also feature a full World Tour Campaign story mode. Crazy Taxi: World Tour is scheduled for release in 2027. Read more about our expectations for the game in our material: What Awaits Us in SEGA's Crazy Taxi: World Tour. Is the Legendary Series Making a Comeback?.

Saber Interactive presented a new story trailer for Unreal Engine 5 sci-fi co-op shooter Turok: Origins. It is a full-scale modern reboot of the cult dinosaur-hunting franchise from the developers of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. Players will be able to battle dinosaurs either alone or in co-op for up to three to four players. The release has been delayed from this fall to spring 2027.

Ubisoft officially announced a full 3D remake of the cult turn-based strategy game — Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Remake. The project is a major reimagining of the 1999 original, rebuilt from scratch on the modern Snowdrop engine. The classic campaigns have now been combined into a single continuous story. All 9 original factions will be available at launch. Players can also expect full online multiplayer for up to 8 people, the classic Hotseat mode on a single PC, and a built-in map editor. The game is officially scheduled for release in 2027.

Swedish studio Neon Giant, the creators of The Ascent, teamed up with publisher KRAFTON to present a new gameplay trailer for its next project, No Law. It is a single-player open-world first-person RPG shooter with an emphasis on immersive gameplay, drawing frequent comparisons from journalists and players to Cyberpunk 2077 and Deus Ex. The new trailer demonstrated the game's flexibility: players can rely on brute force or take a stealthier approach. Release is planned for 2027.

Frictional Games describes sci-fi horror game ONTOS as a spiritual successor to the acclaimed psychological thriller SOMA. The gameplay footage showed an experiment in which scientists successfully digitized human minds and transferred them to a server — but the system uses the bodies of dozens of rats as both its processors and living biological foundation. The developers were forced to announce that the game has been delayed from late 2026 to 2027.

As expected, Square Enix game director Naoki Hamaguchi appeared during the opening ceremony to present a new gameplay trailer for Final Fantasy VII Revelation. The game is the concluding chapter of the remake trilogy based on the iconic JRPG Final Fantasy VII. The trailer showed actual gameplay, exploration of a seamless open world, and cinematic cutscenes. Pilot Cid Highwind and the mysterious Vincent Valentine have joined the party, with the latter able to transform into a beast-like combat form. The release is timed to coincide with the original game's 30th anniversary and is scheduled for spring 2027.

The following games shown during the broadcast are also worth highlighting:

Traditionally, the organizers save the biggest announcement for the very end of the show. In 2024, that honor went to Mafia: The Old Country from Hangar 13, while in 2025 it was Black Myth: Zhong Kui — the sequel to Black Myth: Wukong. So what is this year's gamescom headliner?

When the first reports of a third expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt surfaced in May 2026, they came as something of a surprise — the base game is already well into its second decade. CD Projekt RED had been releasing details about the project only in small doses, saving the full reveal of The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past for Opening Night Live. And now it has finally happened: the developers showed the first official trailer and also announced an upcoming remaster of The Witcher 3 that will substantially update the base game's gameplay.

In Songs of the Past, Geralt of Rivia will travel to an entirely new and expansive region called Letten. It is a picturesque agricultural land steeped in rural traditions that appears idyllic on the surface but hides dark and sinister secrets. In terms of content, the developers compare the expansion to the acclaimed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Blood and Wine. The bestiary will be expanded with previously unseen monsters. To fight them, Geralt will gain new abilities and a unique weapon type — a combat chain. Songs of the Past is scheduled for release in 2027.

While the expansion is still in development, the developers will release a major update for the base version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on September 29, 2026, under the title Remastered. It will be free for all current owners of the game. The update promises a major graphical overhaul, reworked melee combat, new Sign effects, and improved enemy animations. From the same day, all previous expansions will also become free for owners of the standard edition.

CD Projekt RED is clearly aiming to give Geralt's story a memorable send-off before The Witcher 4 launches in 2028.

Starting August 26, the expo opens its doors to journalists, business representatives, and, of course, regular gamers. Follow all the major developments from gamescom in our coverage and in our report, VGTimes at gamescom 2026: Highlights from the gaming expo in Germany.