(Credit: Warner Bros. Games)
Don't miss out on our latest stories. Add PCMag as a preferred source on Google.
"E3 isn't dead, it just moved to Germany."
That’s how Geoff Keighley began Gamescom's Opening Night Live, and he has a point. This annual European gaming event, open to the press and public, delivers huge gaming news that recalls E3's glory days. Other game shows have picked up the E3 slack, including IGN Live and Summer Game Fest, but Gamecom feels like the true successor. The show offered numerous reveals that have me hyped for the video game releases this holiday season and beyond. These are my favorite trailers revealed at Gamescom Opening Night Live.
Ghost of Yotei: Legends
PlayStation's big 2025 release is Ghost of Yotei, a sequel to its sensational samurai saga Ghost of Tsushima. Sony already revealed that it would be another open-world adventure set in ancient Japan. However, the Gamescom trailer confirmed Ghost of Yotei: Legends, a free multiplayer mode coming soon after launch. That's very, very intriguing.
Black Myth: Zhong Kui
Wukong wasn't a one-off affair. The next epic, Chinese action game from Game Science is Black Myth: Zhong Kui. This new game lets you control a new god, the ghost-busting deity, Zhong Kui. It currently has no release date.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
The first Call of Duty: Black Ops was the seventh Call of Duty game, and now publisher Activision is set to release Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. So, how does this entry stand out in the crowd shooter pack? The story-driven campaign features a paranoid, techno-thriller conspiracy that you can co-op with friends. An open beta drops in early October.
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga greatly expanded the scope of what a Lego game could be. That growth continues with Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. This open-world adventure adapts iconic Batman moments from across multiple films, all with familiar Lego charm. It's set for release sometime in 2026.
Fallout Season Two
Who knows when there will be another Fallout game, but the second season of Amazon Prime Video’s Fallout show drops in just a few months. This new teaser promises more survival, backstory, lore, and creatures pulled from the games, like the fearsome Deathclaw.
Death by Scrolling
Ron Gilbert is known for classics like Maniac Mansion and Monkey Island, hilarious adventure games that are not exactly fast-paced. But in his new game, Death by Scrolling, you die if you stop moving. The journey through purgatory blends roguelike mechanics, vertical shmup gameplay, and a terminally online attitude. It currently lacks a release date.
La Divina Commedia
The time has come for yet another gritty action game inspired by the centuries-old biblical poem. La Divina Commedia comes from Jyamma Games, the Italian team behind Enotria: The Last Song. We'll see if playing it is Hell or Paradise when it drops at an announced future time.
Time Takers
Time Takers may not cost you any money, but it will cost you your time. In this free-to-play, multiplayer shooter, time is the resource. Spend time to make yourself stronger or save it to survive. Even your teammates come from different points in time and space. No, this isn't a new TimeSplitters, but Time Takers has its own unique energy, and we're curious to see more. However, it lacks a release date.
For in-depth video game talk, visit PCMag's Pop-Off YouTube channel. Eager to see the new titles on the horizon? Check out The Best Video Games Coming Out in 2025.