The past two years have been a strange time for the video game industry, with many delays and disruptions due to the pandemic. Thankfully, though, there are still plenty of upcoming releases and announcements that are worth getting excited for. Gamescom returns later this month and here's everything we know so far, and what to get excited for when it comes to Gamescom's 13th annual show.
Last year's Gamescom had to be switched to a virtual event last minute due to the pandemic outbreak, but this year organizers have more time to plan around COVID-19 related limitations. The plan was to make this a hybrid event, with some events online and some in person. However, the ongoing pandemic has meant this year's Gamescom will be fully digital. On a whole, conventions having to become fully virtual has been met with mixed reviews, but it is an unavoidable reality right now; the good news, though, is that there will be plenty of new trailers and gaming news regardless.
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Microsoft fans can expect a number of announcements and teasers for games coming to the Xbox Series X. Some of the Xbox showcase is expected to update previous announcements, following the company's attendance at E3 this year. This could mean updates or new footage of Halo Infinite or Forza Horizon 5, and hopefully some Bethesda news such as an update on Starfield.
Ubisoft has a hefty calendar of releases coming up over the next couple of months and beyond, so its showcase should be chock full of game footage. In particular, it's highly expected Ubisoft will hype up Far Cry 6 which releases soon, and potentially some news on games like Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction, and Just Dance 2022. It's possible there'll be some new game announcements as well, though Ubisoft already has enough games coming soon to make for an exciting showcase.
Somewhat of a surprise is that Konami will be attending Gamescom this year. Konami has largely receded from the gaming industry over the past few years, following the departure of Hideo Kojima and the cancellation of Silent Hills. The company has been focusing most of its energy on Pachinko machines, and so their appearance at Gamescom is curious. Konami's own announcement of attendance promises news on eFootball and a Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game, and it would be worth a watch to see if they have anything else up their sleeves.
Similar to Ubisoft, EA already has some big game releases lined up, so there's plenty that the publisher could show. A lot of fans will be very eager for news on the next installments in the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series, as well as the upcoming Dead Space remake. As is customary, EA may have also some sports games new, like an update on the soon-to-be-released FIFA 22. Battlefield 2042 can also be expected.
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As news of the harassment scandal at Blizzard develops, the current release lineup for Activision is very unclear. Obviously, Activision has some really big properties, like Call of Duty, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Overwatch, and more, so news on any of those franchises is possible. However, it will certainly be of note to see how Activision conducts itself following the scandal and the implications that the lawsuit will have for the gaming world more broadly.
With excitement for the upcoming collaboration between George R. R. Martin and Hidetaka Miyazaki reaching new highs, Bandai Namco may be another showcase well worth watching. Again though, Bandai Namco has a number of different properties, so there could always be unexpected news. However, fans will almost certainly get the chance to see something new for Elden Ring.
Those hoping for some updates on God of War: Ragnorok or the next Zelda game will be disappointed to hear there has been no announcement of either a Sony or a Nintendo showcase. All is not lost though, as both companies may do their own announcements ahead of the Fall season, with there hopefully being a State of Play and Nintendo Direct sometime soon. It's also very possible for non-exclusive releases to be incorporated in the opening for Gamescom, which is hosted by Geoff Keighley.
The special edition of the Future Games show, created and hosted by staff at GamesRadar, promises to feature more than 40 games from a variety of publishers. It's the first time this show will be at Gamescom, and it will be presented by the voice of Lady Dimitrescu from Resident Evil: Village, Maggie Robertson. The voice of the Duke from the same game, Aaron LaPlante, will also appear. This showcase event previously debuted at E3 2020, and will definitely be an essential watch for those who want to see a variety of different publishers, genres, and game styles.
The full lineup of all confirmed appearances at Gamescom 2021 is as follows:
- 505 Games
- Activision
- Aerosoft
- Assemble Entertainment
- Astragon Entertainment
- BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment
- Bethesda Softworks
- Electronic Arts
- GAMEVIL COM2US Europe
- Headup
- Indie Arena Booth
- Koch Media
- NExT Studios (Tencent Games)
- SEGA Europe
- Team17
- Thunderful Games
- Ubisoft
- Wargaming
- Xbox
Overall, Gamescom 2021 promises to have something for everyone, regardless of what console they have or their specific genre interests. With a real slowdown on gaming news due to pandemic-related delays, this will be a great opportunity to get excited about the future of gaming. Paired with the rapidly approaching QuakeCon, the next few months are set to paint a picture of what 2022 will look like for the gaming industry. Although everyone is still suffering from the restrictions of the past two years, not to mention some industry scandals over labor practices, it looks like 2022 could be a great year for gaming. There are a bunch of great releases coming in the latter half of this year to be excited for, too. Ultimately, what may be the most reassuring piece of news from all of this is that new and exciting games are on the way.
Gamescom will take place August 25 – August 27.
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