Gamers were thrilled on Tuesday as Gamescom, the massive trade show in Cologne, kicked off with a tantalizing lineup: a twisted futuristic take on “Call of Duty,” a Lego-themed Batman, and the creepy monsters from the “Resident Evil” series.
The two-hour preview of upcoming games, including “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” scheduled for release on November 14, highlighted an industry navigating a challenging time marked by significant job cuts.
This first-person shooter features American actor Milo Ventimiglia, known for “Heroes” and “This Is Us,” as the lead in a near-future conflict with psychedelic visuals reminiscent of “Inception.”
Over 5,300 attendees filled one of the giant halls at Cologne’s convention center on Tuesday, marking a record opening night according to the event organizers.
The showcase included footage from titles like “Requiem,” the latest installment in the “Resident Evil” horror series, and the energetic space adventure “The Outer Worlds 2.”
Scheduled for a 2026 release, a new “Lego Batman” game will revisit “iconic moments and deep-cut references from decades of Batman TV shows, comics, and games” in a humorous Lego format, as described by director Jonathan Smith.
Additionally, “Black Myth: Zhong Kui” was unveiled as a follow-up to the 2024 Chinese hit “Wukong.”
The broader cultural influence of gaming was evident, with stars from the popular game-to-TV adaptation “Fallout” introducing the second season of the Amazon Prime series, set to debut on December 17.
Gamers engage with World Warcraft Midnight at the Gamescom video games trade fair in Cologne, Germany, on the event’s first day, Wednesday.
Hands-on Testing
After attracting 335,000 visitors last year, organizers aim for a return to pre-Covid attendance levels of around 370,000 from Wednesday to Sunday.
The event gathers industry professionals and gaming enthusiasts, with about 1,500 exhibitors offering expansive booths, many featuring the latest or yet-to-be-released games for hands-on testing.
Nintendo returns following its absence last year, buoyed by the successful launch of its Switch 2 console in June.
Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Xbox division will unveil its own portable console, expected to launch towards the year’s end.
However, Sony, the Japanese PlayStation maker, opted out of this year’s event.
Horror games sparked significant interest on opening night, as “Resident Evil” vies for the horror genre crown against a new “Silent Hill” episode.
Organizers also highlighted “Hollow Knight: Silksong,” the eagerly awaited sequel to a beloved indie platformer, arriving after eight years.
With budgets far smaller than massive franchises like “Call of Duty,” such games “demonstrate a crucial point: small teams with big ideas can transform the industry,” said Geoff Keighley, the event’s master of ceremonies and Canadian TV presenter, on Tuesday.
The impact of indie games was evident, with fans dressed as characters from the French indie hit “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.”
“It’s a bit of a community, so when you see each other, you say hi, and everyone smiles,” said Cologne-based fan Vera Sperber, 36, to AFP.
The hall’s bright lights, lasers, and noise paused briefly as Lorien Testard performed live with singer Alice Duport-Percier, presenting the captivating music of “Expedition 33.”
Attendees walk past a “Borderlands 4” character image during Gamescom 2025.
‘Not Pretty’
Exhibitors are less exuberant than fans this year as the industry faces ongoing challenges.
“The sector has faced difficulties over the past two years, with consolidation, job cuts, some studio closures, and early project terminations,” Felix Falk, managing director of Germany’s GAME industry association, which co-organizes Gamescom, told AFP.
“Such dynamics are not uncommon in the gaming industry, but it’s still unfortunate when it occurs,” he added.
Tracking website Game Industry Layoffs reported nearly 30,000 job cuts since early 2023, with over 4,000 this year alone.
Yet, global games market revenue is expected to remain steady at just under $190 billion this year, according to Newzoo.
