The best of Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026

Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 delivered more than two hours of trailers, announcements and surprises yesterday, giving players plenty to talk about as Gamescom officially gets underway in Cologne. Hosted by Geoff Keighley, the showcase brought several major franchises back into the spotlight while also introducing some unexpected new projects.

A show packed with announcements

Among the biggest announcements were the return of The Witcher 3, a new Heroes of Might and Magic III remake, the long-awaited 1.0 launch of Path of Exile 2, and fresh looks at Gears of War: E-Day and METRO 2039. Here is our selection with the most important announcements of the show.

The Witcher 3 gets a new expansion and a free remaster

CD Projekt RED arguably stole the show with two major announcements surrounding The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. First came The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past, a brand-new expansion that will continue Geralt's adventures more than a decade after the original game launched.The expansion will introduce a new region, new quests and monsters, while giving Geralt access to a new chain weapon that opens up additional combat possibilities. CD Projekt RED has described it as another major story for Geralt, with the project involving several veterans who worked on the original game. Songs of the Past is scheduled to arrive in 2027, although a precise release date has not yet been announced.

But CD Projekt RED wasn't finished. The studio also revealed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered, a substantially overhauled version of the acclaimed RPG that will launch on September 29, 2026.

The remaster will feature improved visuals, new textures and rendering technology, smoother combat, a redesigned ability system, new finishing moves, improved movement and an expanded photo mode. It will also include Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, meaning players will receive the complete The Witcher III: Wild Hunt experience in one package. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the price: existing owners will receive the remastered version as a free upgrade. The release is planned for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2.

Heroes of Might and Magic III is getting a full remake

Nostalgia was another major ingredient in Opening Night Live, with Ubisoft announcing Heroes of Might and Magic III Remake. The beloved turn-based strategy classic is being rebuilt in full 3D and 4K, giving its iconic fantasy world a considerable visual makeover. The remake will include the original game alongside its two expansions, while introducing improved visuals, refined animations and modern audio. Ubisoft has yet to announce a release date, but the game is already available to wishlist on Steam. It is planned for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch.

For strategy fans who spent countless hours moving heroes around the original game's maps, this could be one of the most exciting announcement in years, even though Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era tried to revitalize the franchise recently.

Warlock: a brand-new Dungeons & Dragons experience

Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons also received its first gameplay reveal during the showcase. Developed as a single-player third-person action adventure, the game is set in an open world inspired by the Dungeons & Dragons universe.

In the game, players take control of Kaatri, a powerful spellcaster who can combine different magical abilities to overcome environmental challenges and enemies. The game emphasizes experimentation, with spells and rituals capable of interacting with one another to create different solutions. Combat isn't limited to traditional spellcasting either. Kaatri can summon supernatural melee weapons, giving players additional options when dealing with the creatures lurking throughout the game's world. The game offers a new approach at the iconic franchise.

Path of Exile 2 is finally leaving Early Access

Grinding Gear Games finally put an end date on Path of Exile 2's Early Access period. The action RPG will officially launch version 1.0 on December 11, 2026, nearly two years after entering Early Access.

The full release will introduce new content, including the return of the Duelist class and swords, while Path of Exile 2 will transition into a free-to-play model. The developer plans to reveal additional information during ExileCon in November. After such a long stay in Early Access, the December launch represents a major milestone for one of the most anticipated action RPGs in recent years.

LEGO Skylines makes city building considerably cozier

City builders received their own dose of charm with the announcement of LEGO Skylines, a new collaboration between Paradox Interactive, Iceflake Studios and the LEGO Group. The game is designed as a customizable city-building experience in which players can construct and manage their own LEGO metropolis. Rather than simply recreating Cities: Skylines with plastic bricks, the project promises a playful take on the genre, with a world that evolves as players develop their cities.

LEGO Skylines is coming to Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2.

Turok: Origins returns with dinosaurs, aliens and a delay

The iconic Turok franchise also made an appearance with a new story trailer for Turok: Origins. Saber Interactive's reboot will take players to the Lost Lands, where the legendary Turok warriors must battle ferocious dinosaurs and an alien threat determined to wipe out humanity. The game combines third-person and first-person combat, while players can use weapons and abilities and harvest DNA from fallen enemies to upgrade their arsenal. Solo play and online cooperative gameplay are also planned.

There is one catch: Turok: Origins will no longer launch in 2026. Saber Interactive has pushed the game back to spring 2027, and it will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2.

METRO 2039 goes deeper into the post-apocalyptic world

The METRO franchise returned with another look at METRO 2039, the next chapter in the post-apocalyptic series. The new gameplay trailer, titled "Renegade," provided a closer look at protagonist The Stranger, as well as the game's weapons, combat and environments both above and below ground.

Deep Silver has promised a larger scope while retaining the oppressive atmosphere and storytelling that have defined the series. The game will also be playable by Gamescom attendees for the first time, giving players a chance to experience its survival mechanics firsthand. For a series that has always understood the importance of making a dark tunnel feel even darker, METRO 2039 certainly seems to be staying on brand.

Gears of War: E-Day gets a brutal story trailer

Gears of War: E-Day closed out the Xbox side of the showcase with a new story trailer, giving fans another look at the origins of the war between humanity and the Locust Horde. Set 14 years before the original Gears of War, the game follows a young Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago during Emergence Day, when the Locust first erupt from underground. The campaign will combine the series' trademark cover-based shooting with more modern movement and traversal mechanics.

The Coalition is also using Unreal Engine 5 to deliver significantly upgraded visuals, while the game will feature cooperative campaign play, Horde Siege and competitive multiplayer. Gears of War: E-Day is scheduled to launch on October 6, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S and PC, with day-one availability through Game Pass.

A strong opening for Gamescom 2026

Opening Night Live may not have delivered one gigantic surprise capable of dominating the entire gaming industry, but it offered something arguably more useful: a remarkably varied selection of games. You can watch the full livestream right below if you don't want to miss out anything, and also follow our news section for more detailed information about all the novelties.

With Gamescom 2026 now officially underway, these announcements are only the beginning. The show floor and the remaining presentations are expected to bring plenty more gameplay, release dates and surprises over the coming days. As usual, we highly recommend you to keep track of the best deals for your favourite games with our comparator, so you can get them at the best price.