The global video game industry extends beyond the borders of the United States and Japan. Each year, Gamescom, a prominent gaming showcase in Germany, attracts thousands of attendees eager to glimpse the future of gaming. Typically held in August, Gamescom highlights updates on titles initially unveiled during summer events such as IGN Live and Summer Game Fest. At Gamescom 2024, various game publishers provided new insights into anticipated releases, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Civilization VII, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. However, the event also holds the potential for significant surprises. Here are some of the most notable trailers revealed during Gamescom Opening Night Live.
Borderlands 4
Fans can finally move on from the Tiny Tina spin-off and the poorly received Borderlands movie. Gearbox has announced that the chaotic looter-shooter series will make a return with a full-fledged sequel, Borderlands 4, expected to launch in 2025. Although the teaser trailer offers limited information, dedicated fans may recognize some familiar visuals.
Dying Light: The Beast
Dying Light, the open-world zombie RPG created by the developers of Dead Island, is back with its third installment titled Dying Light: The Beast. This new entry will reintroduce characters from previous games and promises an immersive survival experience as players navigate treacherous landscapes while combating the undead, though no release date has been disclosed yet.
Mafia: The Old Country
Mafia 4 is effectively titled Mafia: Origins, as it shifts the action from 20th-century America to Sicily in the 1900s, the birthplace of many notorious Italian gangsters. It will be intriguing to see how this fresh setting influences the gameplay mechanics of the open-world crime saga, which is anticipated for a 2025 release.
Masters of Albion
Peter Molyneux returns to the stage with a new game titled Masters of Albion. This project, while reminiscent of Molyneux’s Fable series in its name, appears more aligned with the concept of a god game akin to a spiritual successor to Black and White. Players will have the opportunity to cultivate a prosperous environment for their communities by providing resources, shaping culture, and defending against adversaries. The timeline for this game remains uncertain, as Molyneux’s release schedules are notoriously flexible.
Monument Valley 3
Celebrated for its innovative puzzles and stunning graphics, Monument Valley has become a symbol of mobile gaming. The series is set to return with Monument Valley 3, launching on December 10 as a Netflix gaming exclusive.
Secret Level
One of the most unexpected reveals during the event was for a new animated show rather than a video game. Tim Miller, known for directing the first Deadpool and producing the Sonic the Hedgehog film, has collaborated on Secret Level, an anthology series that promises animated shorts inspired by classic video games like God of War, Mega Man, and Unreal Tournament. Secret Level is slated to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on December 10.