It’s that point of yr when it is enjoyable to simply wildly speculate (and make some educated deductions) about what we’d see from Geoff Keighley’s Opening Evening Dwell, direct from gamescom 2026. Little is thought forward of time this yr – just a few video games and studios have been teased, however for essentially the most half the present is an entire thriller, and so this offers me loads of room to dream about what surprises the present could have in retailer.
Happening on August 25 at 11am PT/2pm ET/8pm CEST, right here’s how to watch the stream. Let’s not waste any extra time, although, and get straight into what to anticipate from it.
What We Know
It’s going to be a giant evening for a few the preferred RPGs to ever exist. We’re formally getting our first take a look at The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Previous, the third growth to Geralt’s landmark journey, coming an entire 12 years after the bottom sport’s launch. Co-developed by CD Projekt Crimson and Idiot’s Principle, it’s being described as a prologue of kinds to the upcoming The Witcher 4. Quickly, the thriller behind the brand new, third sword Geralt is holding within the art work could also be revealed, in addition to lots extra followers are desperate to be taught all about, together with the growth’s location and when in The Witcher timeline Songs of the Previous is ready.
Talking of outdated video games being revisited, we’ll be getting one other take a look at Ultimate Fantasy 7 Revelation, the final a part of Sq. Enix’s remake trilogy. The undertaking’s director, Naoki Hamaguchi, can be in attendance to point out us what’s subsequent for Cloud and the gang, however what precisely may we see? June’s SGF gave us a wholesome dose of Highwind motion, exhibiting off how we’ll be capable of skydive from the long-lasting airship right down to any a part of the open world we select, in addition to glimpses into how new social gathering members Vincent Valentine and Cid will management in fight. So, what’s subsequent? Maybe a deeper dive into one or each of these characters, or possibly a extra story-focused sneak peek?
We do know that story is strictly what we’ll be seeing extra of from Gears of Battle: E-Day, although. A model new trailer for the prequel can be proven at ONL, which can, presumably, embrace Marcus Fenix slicing up some Locusts. Sport of Thrones: Battle for Westeros could have its gameplay reveal trailer proven off, too. The true-time technique sport places you accountable for one of many fantasy sequence’ main forces, from the Starks to the Evening King’s White Walkers, as you try and rewrite Westeros historical past.
Different video games confirmed for the present embrace Ananta, an upcoming free-to-play open-world sport from NetEase that appears to be incorporating all kinds of motion into its futuristic metropolis setting. It definitely seems to be very formidable, and we’re eager to see extra, together with, hopefully, a reveal of its launch date. Then there’s Ontos, a brand new sci-fi horror sport from Soma and Amnesia studio, Frictional Video games. Starring Stellan Skarsgård as one of many occupants of its creepy lunar resort known as Samsara, we’re intrigued to search out out extra. Motion RPG Showa American Story can be set to point out up, with a brand new take a look at the sport that locations you within the footwear of a stuntwoman exploring a post-apocalyptic United States. Will probably be joined by Stage Tour, the rhythm sport aiming to choose up the place Guitar Hero and Rock Band left off. Then there’s Mewgenics, for which a musical efficiency is deliberate on stage. May some kind of announcement be made for the cat-based techniques sport? DLC or a console launch, possibly?
Hopes and Desires
Now for the enjoyable half. What reveals and surprises could await us at ONL? Effectively, there are an entire host of video games coming in September that may presumably love to face out within the crowd. A giant stage like that is the right alternative. These embrace Marvel’s Wolverine, Management Resonant, Silent Hill: Townfall, Onimusha: Approach of the Sword, The Blood of Dawnwalker, and Hearth Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, to call however just a few. New trailers for all of those are distinct potentialities.
Transferring into October, Name of Obligation has considerably of a convention of turning up at gamescom to point out off a slice of motion. Fashionable Warfare 4 is that this yr’s providing from Infinity Ward, and is presently accessible to play in beta. Additionally due in October is Phantom Blade Zero. We did simply get a chunky take a look at it on the latest State of Play, however we wouldn’t be shocked to see much more of its flashy sword fight right here.
Wanting past this yr, Fable is ready to be certainly one of 2027’s greatest video games, and we’d love one other take a look at Playground Video games’ reboot. Much more gameplay could be a deal with, particularly an perception into the RPG’s fight. We’ve seen a whole lot of the world and the folks dwelling it; now, let’s see how we are able to kill them. I think about there’ll even be a good variety of folks dying in Metro 2039, in what seems to be just like the shooter sequence’ darkest chapter but. With it supposedly coming early subsequent yr, a superb take a look at gameplay could be welcomed.
What different video games would you prefer to see pop up? Maybe God of Battle Laufey? Exodus? When you’re feeling significantly formidable, maybe Persona 6 or the Ocarina of Time remake? And no, there received’t be any GTA 6. That’s two days afterward Netflix.
Tell us within the feedback about what you’re most enthusiastic about at gamescom’s Opening Evening Dwell present, going down on August 25, 2026 at 11am PT/2pm ET/8pm CEST.
Simon Cardy is a Senior Editor at IGN who can primarily be discovered skulking round open world video games, indulging in Korean cinema, or despairing on the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Comply with him on Bluesky at @cardy.bsky.social.
