gamescom's Opening Night Live (ONL) is scheduled to kick off on August 25, 2026, at 11am PT/2pm ET/8pm CEST, promising a showcase of upcoming video game titles. While much of the event remains under wraps, official announcements and developer teases offer a glimpse into what attendees can anticipate.
Confirmed Showcases
The event will feature significant updates for established franchises. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past, the third expansion to the acclaimed RPG, will receive its first official look. Co-developed by CD Projekt Red and Fool's Theory, this expansion is described as a prologue to the forthcoming The Witcher 4 and is expected to shed light on Geralt's new sword and the expansion's placement within the game's timeline.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the concluding chapter of Square Enix's remake trilogy, will also be presented. Director Naoki Hamaguchi is slated to attend, offering insights into the continued adventures of Cloud and his companions. Following its appearance at June's Summer Game Fest, which highlighted features such as skydiving from the Highwind airship and the combat mechanics of new party members Vincent Valentine and Cid, the ONL presentation may delve deeper into these characters or provide a more story-centric preview.
New Trailers and Gameplay
A new trailer for Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel exploring the origins of the conflict, is confirmed for ONL. The trailer is expected to showcase Marcus Fenix engaging with the Locust horde. Additionally, Game of Thrones: War for Westeros, a real-time strategy game where players command major factions like the Starks or the Night King's forces to alter Westerosi history, will reveal its gameplay for the first time.
NetEase's ambitious free-to-play open-world game, Ananta, set in a futuristic urban environment with diverse action elements, is also slated for an appearance, with hopes for a release date announcement. Ontos, a new sci-fi horror title from Frictional Games, the studio behind Soma and Amnesia, will be featured. The game stars Stellan Skarsgård as an inhabitant of a mysterious lunar hotel named Samsara.
Further confirmed titles include the action RPG Showa American Story, which places players in the role of a stuntwoman navigating a post-apocalyptic United States, and Stage Tour, a rhythm game aiming to emulate the success of titles like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Mewgenics, a cat-themed tactical game, is also set to have a musical performance during the show, potentially hinting at new content or a console release.
Anticipated Reveals and Hopes
Beyond the confirmed presentations, speculation points to potential reveals for games launching in the coming months. Titles like Marvel's Wolverine, Control Resonant, Silent Hill: Townfall, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, The Blood of Dawnwalker, and Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave could all receive new trailers.
For October releases, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, currently in beta, might be showcased, following gamescom's tradition of featuring the franchise. Phantom Blade Zero, which recently received a detailed preview, could also make an appearance to highlight its combat system.
Looking further ahead, Playground Games' reboot of Fable, expected in 2027, is a candidate for more gameplay footage, particularly focusing on its combat mechanics. Metro 2039, slated for early next year, may also present its gameplay, offering a look at what is described as the shooter series' darkest installment yet.
Other potential, though more speculative, appearances include God of War Laufey, Exodus, Persona 6, and a remake of Ocarina of Time. Grand Theft Auto 6 is not expected, as its reveal is scheduled for a separate Netflix event two days later.