Gamescom 2025: The Biggest Announcements and Surprises
Gamescom 2025 in Cologne, Germany is one of the biggest in the show’s history. With more than 1,500 exhibitors from over 70 countries, a record-breaking exhibition floor, and thousands of fans in attendance, the annual celebration of gaming delivered plenty of big announcements, new trailers, and first hands-on demos.
Here’s a breakdown of the highlights.
Opening Night Live
Hosted once again by Geoff Keighley, Opening Night Live kicked off Gamescom on August 19 with a two-hour showcase packed with world premieres and updates.
The biggest reveals included:
- Hollow Knight: Silksong — After years of anticipation, the indie phenomenon finally got a major showing, with a playable demo and a new gameplay trailer.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 — Treyarch is taking the long-running series in a bold direction with a sci-fi twist and a co-op campaign. Hollywood actors Milo Ventimiglia and Kiernan Shipka are headlining the cast.
- Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight — The Lego games are heading in a darker direction, blending Arkham-style combat with classic Lego humor. Scheduled for 2026.
- Sekiro: No Death — An anime adaptation of FromSoftware’s hit samurai adventure, expanding the franchise beyond games.
- Monster Hunter Wilds x Final Fantasy XIV crossover — A surprise collaboration bringing bosses, mounts, and cosmetics from one fantasy universe into the other.
- World of Warcraft: Midnight — Blizzard pulled back the curtain on its next expansion with a new cinematic, hands-on demo, and details about player housing.
Other notable reveals included Ghost of Yōtei, Resident Evil: Requiem, Black Myth: Zhong Kui, and Lords of the Fallen 2. Plus more from Silent Hill f.
The Future Games Show
Alongside the big-budget blockbusters, the Future Games Show spotlighted upcoming indie and mid-sized projects. A few standouts:
- Hell Let Loose: Vietnam — The tactical WWII shooter heads to the jungles of Southeast Asia in a new standalone expansion.
- Deer & Boy — A hand-painted adventure that caught a lot of attention for its striking art style.
- Discounty — A quirky pixel-art game about running a supermarket, blending humor with life-sim elements.
- Tormented Souls 2 — Gothic survival horror that looks like a throwback to classic Resident Evil.
- Plus fresh looks at Little Nightmares III, Bounty Star, and Witchspire.
The Show Floor
Beyond the livestreams, Gamescom’s massive show floor was buzzing with demos and announcements. Fans lined up for hours to try Silksong for the first time, while World of Warcraft: Midnight had a sprawling booth filled with cosplayers and interactive experiences.
There were massive queues for Sonic Racing: Crossworlds as the multiplayer booth saw the latest characters and skins unveiled including PAC-Man
Indie developers once again benefited from the Indie Arena Booth, which gave dozens of smaller studios a chance to showcase their projects directly to fans.
Final Thoughts
Gamescom 2025 reinforced its status as the world’s largest gaming event. From AAA blockbusters to inventive indies, this year’s lineup had something for everyone. The mix of surprising crossovers, long-awaited reveals, and bold new IPs set the stage for a packed 2025 and 2026 release calendar.
If this year is any indication, the next generation of gaming is about more than power—it’s about creativity, collaboration, and community. That’s something we’re totally onboard with as we extend our portfolio of gaming art prints into 2025 and beyond.
Moor-Art
Sources
The Guardian – Gamescom 2025 roundup
