Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021 has officially begun, promising to deliver trailers for some of the hottest new titles such as the next Saints Row game, Death Stranding Director's Cut, and more!
King of Fighters 15 Release Date Set, Team Battles Return
The King of Fighters 15 release date has finally been locked in after months of waiting. The 3 vs. 3 team battle system will be making a return in this game following a lengthy absence from the franchise.
The story of the game will be picking up from the previous entry's Story Mode. There will be 39 playable characters in total
When is the King of Fighters 15 Release Date?
The King of Fighters release date is February 17, 2021. You can learn more about the game on its official website.
Lara Croft Creator Toby Gard Reveals Dream Cycle
Closing out the preshow was a new revelation from Lara Croft creator Toby Gard. Dream Cycle is an all-new game from him and promises an intriguing experience that mixes melee, magic, and guns.
Put yourself in the shoes of Morgan Carter, a magical apprentice in the modern day. The Dreamlands are cursed and you've been charged with cleansing them, whether you use deadly swords, powerful magic, or a bunch of cool guns.
This cool new game is listed as "Coming Soon," so we'll probably be waiting a bit to play it. For now, you can add Dream Cycle to your wishlist on Steam.
Saints Row Returns February 2022
Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021 opened up with something a lot of people (myself included) have been waiting for: a new Saints Row game.
The trailer opened with a bunch of unknown people appearing to get ready for some kind of mission. A muscley man apparently representing the Panteros gang soon finds that his car has been hijacked by the Third Street Saints in their characteristically flashy style. A gunfight and chase ensue before a woman puts a stop to the fight with a rocket launcher.
That woman is The Boss, voiced by actress Bryce Charles — and one of the many new faces for the next generation of Saints Row. It looks and sounds like an absolute boatload of fun, and there's even better news: you won't have to wait too long to play it. Saints Row will release on February 25 of next year.
Marvel's Midnight Suns Brings Together Iconic Heroes Next Year
Next up for Gamescom ONL 2021 is Marvel's Midnight Suns, a new game from Firaxis and 2K featuring an impressive cast of characters.
We got treated to a pretty cool cinematic trailer featuring some of these heroes. Wolverine, Iron Man, Ghost Rider, Captain America, and more will be making an appearance in this game. This game is categorized as a "tactical RPG", and slots nicely into the rumors of a 'Marvel XCOM' by Firaxis that had been going around for a while. Unfortunately, we don't yet know what kind of gameplay we'll get to experience just yet.
When is the Marvel's Midnight Suns Release Date?
Marvel's Midnight Suns release date is sometime in March 2022; a more specific release date has not yet been announced. You'll be able to watch the world gameplay debut on September 1, 2021, at 2:30 PM Eastern. You can learn more about this game on its official website and add Marvel's Midnight Suns to your wishlist on Steam.
The World Premiere of the Call of Duty: Vanguard Campaign Gameplay Trailer
The Call of Duty franchise is returning to World War 2 and Geoff Keighley was joined on stage by Sledgehammer's Dave Swenson and voice actress Laura Bailey. The trio had a quick chat about the game and then we got right into the action.
This new Call of Duty: Vanguard trailer opens with Polina trapped underneath some rubble in a bombed-out house. A German soldier orders her to move into another room. This appears to be pretty early in the campaign as several tutorial tooltips (such as how to crouch) pop up on the screen.
Our heroine quickly equips herself with a knife and dispatches a distracted German soldier, stealing his gun for herself. She then opens fire on more soldiers within the building, breaking through a damaged wall and clambering along a ledge outside while soldiers scramble in the streets below.
We then move to the interior of an apartment building. A firing squad has some civilians against a wall below and the objective changes to "Kill the Invaders." The player fires off a sniper rifle at the soldiers and then turns towards the door to deal with more approaching soldiers, working their way through the building as more enemies come at them.
Tanks roll in and we switch back to stealth gameplay to avoid them. After another stealth kill or two, the story flashes back to one hour earlier when the local army is preparing to defend against an incoming attack from the Germans. Bombing from the Luftwaffe quickly decimates the defending forces. The heroine Polina works her way through several buildings, climbing up a wall and jumping through fiery debris. Finally, she falls into an apartment below, bringing us right back to the beginning of the trailer.
When is the Call of Duty: Vanguard Release Date?
The Call of Duty: Vanguard release date is November 5, 2021, as shown at the conclusion of today's trailer.
The company creating the game, Activision Blizzard, continues to face fire for its allegedly toxic workplace and harassment, with new filings claiming HR shredded important documents.
Halo Infinite Release Date Announcement And Cinematic Trailer of First Multiplayer Season
Keighley continued the Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021 presentation with another banger — a video all about Halo Infinite multiplayer.
Covenant ships and soldiers were gradually moving through a human city while a woman in orange did her best to quietly evade them. The camera followed her as she ran indoors. The scene then shifted to a group of soldiers who appeared to be prospective Spartans.
The scene shifted back to the woman in orange who had broken into a run to get away from the Covenant. At the very last moment, a Spartan drop pod landed and she was protected by these iconic super soldiers. We then learn that she became a Spartan herself and is the woman who is training the new group of Spartans.
"So, that [trailer] was the introduction to Halo Infinite Multiplayer's first free-to-play season where you'll meet Commander Agryna — the leader of a whole new generation of Spartans," Halo Infinite's Head of Creative Joseph Staten explained. "And Agryna [is] a key character as you begin your own personal Spartan journey that will continue from season to season."
When is the Halo Infinite Release Date?
It looks like the leaks were right — the Halo Infinite release date is December 8, 2021. The campaign and multiplayer experience will both launch on that date — just in time for the 20th anniversary of the franchise. At launch, as previously announced, it will not have Forge or Campaign Co-Op.
Halo Infinite Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Revealed
The launch date wasn't the only reveal today: 343 Industries and Microsoft had yet another surprise in store for players. A Halo Infinite Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is available for pre-order right now on xbox.com.
Halo Infinite Xbox Series X Limited Edition Console Celebrates 20 Years of Halo
A custom controller is pretty cool, but 343 and Microsoft took things one step further: you'll soon be able to buy a Halo Infinite Xbox Series X Limited Edition console. Naturally, this console also includes a custom controller and a copy of the game.
You'll have to wait until December 8 to play Halo Infinite, but you'll be able to get your hands on this console — the Halo Infinite Xbox Series X Limited Edition Console release date is November 15, 2021.
Cult of the Lamb is an Adorably Terrifying Game from Massive Monster and Devolver Digital
Next up for Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021 is Cult of the Lamb, a new game coming from Massive Monster and Devolver Digital.
Cult of the Lamb shoes a sheep getting executed. Unfortunately for the bad guys, something goes awry and a dark god saves him, imbuing him with dark powers. And then... our hero decides to start a cult.
The gameplay is about this cult, too. You'll be able to travel through the world with some fast-paced action RPG gameplay, but that's only half of the formula — you'll also have to tend to the cult, building up a base and apparently collecting souls to further augment your power.
When is the Cult of the Lamb Release Date?
The Cult of the Lamb release date will be sometime in 2022. You can learn more about this game on its official website and you can add Cult of the Lamb to your wishlist on Steam.
Midnight Fight Express is a Banging New 3D Brawler
Our next reveal is from Humble Games: Midnight Fight Express, a new 3D brawler developed by Jacob Dzwinel.
A short trailer made its debut, showing player characters in various outfits walking through the streets. We then got to see some truly tremendous fisticuffs and gunplay that wouldn't be out of place in a John Wick movie. Also, there was a priest with a rocket launcher for some reason. Check out the game's official website and add Midnight Fight Express to your wishlist on Steam!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge Makes April O'Neil Playable
Dotemu had a surprising reveal for the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge brawler: April O'Neil is going to be a playable character in the game.
April doesn't quite have the same training as our Heroes in a Half Shell, but she's a strong enough fighter in her own right. April kicks butt in hand-to-hand combat against the Foot Clan and other enemies. The trailer also revealed that players can use pizza to revive downed allies.
Persona 5's Morgana Comes to Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania
Keighley hyped us up for a cool new Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania reveal and it didn't fail to impress: Morgana from Persona 5 will be playable in the game.
A short trailer played to show off 12 party games that players could enjoy including tennis, a home run derby, races, and more.
When is the Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania Release Date?
The Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania release date is October 5, 2021.
SplitGate Reveals New Map and 'Infection Mode'
1047 Games was next up at Gamescom to show off a new Splitgate map "Carmon Station 3" and some new gameplay with the introduction of "Infection Mode." We then got treated to a short trailer showing off some intense gameplay.
Getting some new content is always great, but it gets even better — you can play Splitgate Season 0 right now, including the new map and new Infection game mode that was announced today at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021 as part of the open beta that will continue indefinitely after its release was delayed.
Riders Republic Beta launches on PC and Consoles Right Now
The Riders Republic Beta has been invite-only ever since it was announced, giving a lucky few players the chance to play some 50-player races using skateboards, skis, bikes, and more.
That's all changing today: the Riders Republic Beta is open to everyone on PC and consoles starting right now. The beta will be open until August 28, 2021.
Ubisoft is currently facing a lawsuit from a union over the treatment of employees, and the employees also accuse management of avoiding the issues over the past year.
Century: Age of Ashes Release Date Revealed
If you're a fan of dragons, you're gonna love this: Century: Age of Ashes has revealed its release date along with a thrilling new trailer showing high-speed dragon battles.
When is the Century: Age of Ashes Release Date?
The Century: Age of Ashes release date is November 18, 2021. The team at Playwing is also making Founder's Packs available for a limited time. You can pre-purchase Century: Age of Ashes on Steam starting at $19.99 or your regional equivalent.
FIFA 21 Gets Some Competition With UFL, a Free-to-Play Soccer League
There are all sorts of sports games out there, but most of these games tend to be developed by a handful of companies. Now, Strikerz Inc. is stepping up to give them a little competition with UFL, a free-to-play soccer league that's coming to all major gaming consoles.
It sounds like an ambitious plan, that's for sure. Unfortunately, Strikerz CEO Eugene Nashilov didn't have much more in the way of details to share just yet; you can sign up at joinufl.com to learn more.
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Gets a New Trailer and Release Window
We've been waiting a while to play Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga and TT games have made things a little clearer, narrowing down the release window for the game, barring further delays after previous delays.
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga collects all nine parts of the Star Wars ennealogy into one great game. We got to see a bit of everything from these classic sci-fi films in the trailer which will surely be a treat for old and new fans alike.
When is the Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Release Date?
The Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga release date will be sometime in the Spring of 2022. That means we'll likely have to wait a few months into the year before we get to play it.
Next Studios' Synced: Off-Planet Promises a New Style of Shooter
Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021 continued with Synced: Off-Planet, a fast-paced first-person shooter where you fight off deadly robotic enemies.
We then got treated to a short cinematic trailer establishing the world. Unfortunately, we didn't get much in the way of gameplay, but we won't have to wait too long to learn more — watch the Gamescom stream on August 26, 2021, at 2:00 PM Eastern to find out more about this upcoming game. You can also head on over to its official website, although it isn't yet live at the time of writing.
The Outlast Trials is Delayed Out of 2021
Red Barrels has shared more about their next Outlast game: The Outlast Trials, first announced back in 2019. The Outlast Trials will challenge you and your friends to survive in a world of horror — check out the newest trailer!
The game appears to be set in some kind of twisted sanitarium. You and up to three of your friend can take on challenges. The scope of these challenges isn't yet specified, but I'm sure that the previous Outlast games will give us a clue for what to expect.
When is The Outlast Trials Release Date?
The Outlast Trials release date will be sometime in 2022. You can learn more about the game on its official website and add The Outlast Trials to your wishlist on Steam.
DokeV Gets a Cool New Gameplay Trailer
Korean creature-collecting game DokeV got a cool new trailer showing off a bunch of gameplay, highlighting the colorful world created by Pearl Abyss. This game is still in development and it will probably be some time before we get to play it; you can learn more over at its official website.
Jurassic World Evolution 2 Release Date Announced Alongside first Gameplay
A new Jurassic World Evolution 2 gameplay trailer dropped, giving us our first look at some of the gameplay we can expect from this sequel. We've also learned when we can expect this game to launch — and it's not too far away.
When is the Jurassic World Evolution 2 Release Date?
The Jurassic World Evolution 2 release date is November 9, 2021.
Far Cry 6 Story Trailer Reveals More Plot Details
A new Far Cry 6 story trailer premiered at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021, giving us more details about this next big Ubisoft game.
Antón Castillo is a powerful dictator (and the game's main bad guy), but it wasn't quite clear where he got his power. Now we know: a cancer treatment drug known as Viviro, alleged to be produced using slave labor.
Understandably, the locals aren't too happy with this situation and are fighting back against it. That's pretty much the setup for Far Cry 6; it's looking more and more interesting by the day.
Ubisoft is currently facing a lawsuit from a union over the treatment of employees, and the employees also accuse management of avoiding the issues over the past year.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt Reveals Gameplay and Release Date
Sharkmob's upcoming Battle Royale Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt showed off some new high-flying gameplay. The somewhat unfriendly creatures of the night stalked the streets and flew into the air, running from rooftop to rooftop and getting into gun battles with one another.
When is the Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt Release Date?
The Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt release date is September 7, 2021; the game will be available on Steam Early Access. You can learn more about it on its official website and add Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt to your wishlist on Steam.
Park Beyond is a New Theme Park Simulator From Limbic and Bandai Namco
Limbic Entertainment and Bandai Namco had a surprising new reveal during Gamescom: Park Beyond, a brand-new theme park simulator coming to PCs and next-gen consoles.
When is the Park Beyond Release Date?
The Park Beyond release date will be sometime in 2022; you can learn more about the game on its official website.
Jett: The Far Shore Shows Epic Scenery in New Gameplay Trailer
The next reveal for Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021 was a brand new Jett: The Far Shore gameplay trailer. This trailer showed ships flying through alien worlds while also flashing some mysterious images of what appears to be the antagonists towards the end.
When is the Jett: The Far Shore Release Date?
The Jett: The Far Shore release date is October 5, 2021. The game will be coming to PC and PlayStation.
Horizon: Forbidden West Delays Launch to 2022
Horizon: Forbidden West Game Director Mathijs de Jonge made an appearance via video with somewhat disappointing news: the Horizon: Zero Dawn sequel has been delayed until next year. Thankfully, we won't have to wait too much longer to play it.
When is the Horizon: Forbidden West Release Date?
The Horizon: Forbidden West release date will now be February 18, 2022. You'll be able to play this hotly-anticipated game on PlayStation consoles.
New World Open Beta Arrives Next Month
Amazon Games had a happy announcement for gamers in search of a new MMORPG — a New World Open Beta will be kicking off next month. A trailer also debuted at the show to give curious viewers a peek into the world of Aeternum.
Additionally, New World Game Director Scot Lane had a short interview talking with Geoff Keighley talking about the closed beta. Lane also eased concerns about the future, promising to deliver some new content to players shortly after the game's launch.
When is the New World Open Beta Start Date?
The New World Open Beta start date is September 9, 2021. The beta will be available to everyone until September 12, 2021.
Mobile Action RPG Marvel Future Revolution Available Now
Netmarble had a pretty cool surprise in store for Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021 — Marvel Future Revolution was announced as a brand-new action RPG for Android and iOS.
What was even more surprising was the game's release date — you can play Marvel Future Revolution on mobile devices right now! Pop on over to the game's official website to grab it for yourself.
Tales of Luminaria is Coming Soon to Android and iOS
The Tales franchise is celebrating its 25th anniversary and there's no better way to celebrate this moment than with a new Tales game! This was accompanied by a reminder of the Tales of Arise demo available right now on PlayStation.
When is the Tales of Luminaria Release Date?
Tales of Luminaria is currently in development over at Bandai Namco Entertainment and will be making its way to Android and iOS. Unfortunately, we don't have a specific release date just yet — this game is simply listed as "Coming Soon" for now.
Jumanji: The Curse Returns Challenges You With Turn-Based Battles
Next up at Gamescom was Jumanji: The Curse Returns, a new turn-based battle game using a cartoony style where you have to survive the deadliest board game in the world.
A short trailer showed us some of the battle system. A subsequent press release explained that it will feature a family of four playing the iconic board game and dealing with the challenges that arise.
When is the Jumanji: The Curse Returns Release Date?
The Jumanji: The Curse Returns release date will be September 1, 2021, on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch.
You'll be able to buy this upcoming game for $12.99 / £12.99 / €12.99 or your regional equivalent; for now, you can add Jumanji: The Curse Returns to your wishlist on Steam or check out its official website.
Lost Judgment Premieres Trailer at IGN's Post-Show
Sega's upcoming Yakuza spinoff Lost Judgment has premiered a new story trailer at IGN's Gamescom post-show. The Lost Judgment Story Trailer sets up a murder mystery and explores how Takayuki Yagami will investigate the crime when the game launches on September 24, 2021.
New deadmau5 Game Oberhasli is Coming to Core Game Development Suite
Core is a pretty cool game development engine that makes it easier than ever for people to create their own video games. There's tons of user-created content, but a somewhat bigger production is on the way, too: Oberhail, a new game
Oberhasli — stylized as 0b3rhasl1 — was inspired by the virtual concerts we've seen in games such as Fortnite. deadmau5 says that one of the flaws with these events is that they don't have much in the way of longevity as they're typically one-off events. That will be changing with this Core release — deadmau5 promises that it will continually evolve, effectively serving as a neverending party for his fans (and anyone else looking to have fun).
Fall Guys Jungle Book Crossover Launches Next Month
It wouldn't be a good gaming event without some kind of Fall Guys announcement and Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021 is no different — a Fall Guys Jungle Book Crossover is coming next month with four new costumes.
Players will be able to buy a Mowgli Costume, Shere Khan Costume, and Baloo Costume in the first couple of weeks of September. That's not all — a King Louie Costume will also be available during a special Limited Time Event. Here are the dates according to a new blog post.
Fall Guys Jungle Book Costume Dates
- Mowgli Costume – September 3–6, 2021
- Shere Khan Costume – September 7–9, 2021
- Baloo Costume – September 10–12, 2021
- King Louie Costume – September 3–12, 2021 (as part of the LTE)
Replaced Gets Another Teaser from Sad Cat Studios
Sad Cat Studios' upcoming action platformer Replaced made a splash at E3 2021. They're not gonna let Gamescom go by without sharing more, though, and they had a new trailer to show off how the game's development is coming along.
That's not all, though — the song used in a previous trailer attracted a fair amount of attention online. That song is called "Void," and you can listen to it right now on your favorite streaming websites.
When is the Replaced Release Date?
The Replaced release date will be sometime in 2022; unfortunately, a specific release date was not part of today's Gamescom trailer.
Age of Empires 4 Campaign Trailer Shows Off Stunning Cities
A new Age of Empires 4 campaign trailer showed off a ton of gameplay footage, featuring a mix of cinematics and in-game footage.
The trailer opened by showing a bit about Moscow and how it evolved from a simple fort into one of the most prominent cities in the world. We then got to see a fair variety of battles and other gameplay. You'll be able to get this game for PC and Xbox on October 28. 2021.
Valheim Hearth and Home Update Release Date and Animated Trailer Arrives
After months of waiting, the Valheim Hearth and Home Update release date was finally revealed by Iron Gate. This developer had another surprise for Gamescom viewers, too — a beautifully animated trailer showing off the game and some of the cool new things coming in the next update, which will include the stamina, and shield changes previously announced. Additionally, a Steam Community news post had images of some new items.
When is the Valheim Hearth and Home Update Release Date?
The Valheim Hearth and Home Update release date is September 16, 2021.
Martial Arts Brawler Sifu Gets a Release Date
The martial arts brawler Sifu made a splash when it was revealed not too long ago. The devs had a pretty cool gameplay trailer to show off and something even more welcome: the game's release date has finally been revealed.
When is the Sifu Release Date?
The Sifu release date is February 22, 2022. You'll be able to get the game on PC and PlayStation and you can pre-order it right now.
New Death Stranding Director's Cut Gameplay and Features Revealed
A lengthy Death Stranding Director's Cut gameplay trailer showed off some of the new goodies that are coming to this updated version of Kojima Productions' newest game.
The first new item that was detailed was the "Evolved Stabilizers." This device features thrusters that allow you to safely land from even greater heights. We also got to see the Cargo Catapult in action. You can load up a shell with your cargo, fire it, and deploy a parachute to safely drop it near your target. The Buddy Bot's capabilities were also shown off. Buddy Bot can carry cargo or even yourself, saving you from having to do all of that troublesome walking.
There are more than new items coming to the game, though — Sam Porter Bridges will be able to train his skills in the Firing Range. You'll be able to train in various challenges and even compete for a high score against other players on a leaderboard. New missions and weapons will be unlocked as you progress in the game, the first of which is the Maser Gun.
Players will also be able to revisit past Boss Battles via the Private Room. As with the Firing Range, you will be ranked on these battles and can compete with players around the world.
Eight new tracks have been added to Death Stranding Director's Cut. These can be listened to in your Private Room, just like the rest of the game's music.
All of these new items and additions are great, but there's more substantial content coming on the way. New delivery missions have been added to Death Stranding Director's Cut. A "mysterious facility" is hiding something and it's up to Sam to uncover what's going on.
Of course, Kojima couldn't help adding in a few silly things to the game, too. Jump Ramps will allow you to sail over large gaps at high speeds; you can even do tricks while you're in the air because why not. Those of you with a need for speed will also be able to participate in racetracks.
Sadly, a Death Stranding Director's Cut PC release date has still not been revealed. You can get the Death Stranding Director's Cut on PlayStation 5 on September 23, 2021. This was the final presentation for Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021.
