Gamescom returns tonight, both as an in-person event and by way of its Opening Night Live showcase. Just like last year, Opening Night Live 2022 looks set to be Summer Game Fest-style marathon of brand new game reveals and unseen trailers, hosted by Geoff “Among Us DLC” Keighley. This year, we’re also liveblogging the whole thing here on RPS.
You can follow along using the embedded stream below, or watch on YouTube or Twitch; the show begins at 7pm BST / 8pm CEST / 2pm EDT / 11pm PDT. Joining me for the liveblog (also below) will be Liam and Hayden, who’s staying up past his bedtime just for this. Indeed, it's a biggun: lasting two hours and covering over 30 games, according to Geoff himself. So, with no time to waste, let's blog - live.
Watch on YouTubeFor more Gamescom coverage, be sure to check out our Gamescom 2022 hub for all the latest news, impressions from the show floor and more.
Our live coverage of this event has finished.
Guten Tag, or Abend, depending on when you're reading this. We'll be here for our Gamescom Opening Night Live liveblog shortly before it kicks off at 7pm BST. Danke.
– James Archer
Good evening everyone! I have a bowl of cookies and I'm excited to see some video games.
– Liam Richardson
Hello! Show's live in two minutes. We're blogging it. Hope that helps.
– James Archer
Hello everyone! I have a box of Heroes - all the CHOCOLATE!
– Hayden Hefford
Ed's already on his way to Germany to cover Gamescom in person, btw. I'm flying out there tomorrow but since that's not *today* I've been Shanghai'd into managing these two.
– James Archer
Heroes in August. I didn't even think it was possible to buy them outside of December.
– Liam Richardson
Heeeeeeeeeere's Geoff...
– James Archer
This is the first time I've ever got a box of Heroes for myself, it's a real treat.
– Hayden Hefford
I like his trainers a lot. Cool jacket, too. Bad boy Geoff. Like an unlockable skin.
– Liam Richardson
Here's the first game. Dunno what is is yet but they're showing some fantastical concept art and..what I'm fairly sure was a silhouette of Captain Tom???
– James Archer
The game is Everywhere. It's an open world...something? Racing, platforming, shooting etc.
– James Archer
This sounds kinda metaversey.
– James Archer
Lots of talk about "players making their own experiences" and the like but nothing about what the game *is*. Out in 2023, though, and there's a website: https://everywhere.game/
– James Archer
Next up, a game by Level Infinite, Funcom and Legendary.
Is this... is this DUNE?
– Liam Richardson
Everywhere might have just had the vaguest reveal for a game I've seen in my career. And it's only the first one in this show!
– James Archer
Sand planet? Suit that recycles your wee? GIANT SANDWORM?
This is definitely DUNE.
– Liam Richardson
Yup. Dune Awakening. A Dune open world survival MMO. Intriguing.
– Liam Richardson
It's time to D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-Dune.
– James Archer
PlayStation talk now, so we'll see how relevant this is for us. So far, that is indeed a pretty controller.
– Hayden Hefford
Oh, that's it. A very pretty controller.
– Hayden Hefford
The Callisto Protocol next - gonna see some in-game footage of the Dead Space sequel that isn't a Dead Space sequel.
– James Archer
(Very nearly typo'd that as The Calico Protocol. Which I'd also play)
– James Archer
That was the Dualsense Edge controller, a high performance, customisable controller. Nothing on the PlayStation blog yet, but Geoff said you can learn more there soon.
– Hayden Hefford
Okay, so there's a stealth element that Dead Space didn't have - our man uses his sci-fi telekinesis powers to quietly snuff out a few monsters before he's clocked and attacked.
– James Archer
Now he's stuck in the flow of a giant sewer(?). Looks quite fun sliding down with the tide until he slams into a giant fan blade, with gory results. And that's a wrap!
– James Archer
Apparently we've been waiting for this upcoming fantasy game for a while. Curious. We're seeing lots of folks in big armour fighting some nasty looking monsters.
– Liam Richardson
That's two big game events now where The Callisto Protocol's protagonist ends his showing by dying horribly. I'd stay away from Geoff if I were him.
– James Archer
Two knights are having a scrap in front of a three headed dragon while a 70s rock track (apologies, I can't Google the name in time) plays in the background. One of the knights has been stabbed, but he has a magic lamp that seems to have brought him back to life?
– Liam Richardson
Lords of the Fallen is coming to PC. I'm assuming it's a sequel / reboot of the 2014 souls-like that shares the same name?
– Liam Richardson
Hogwarts Legacy. Okay moving on...
– James Archer
Now we're looking at a sequel to Moving Out - something that I'll probably never do in the current economy! Moving Out 2 is coming in 2023 with more co-op shenanigans for you and your pals.
– Hayden Hefford
New Tales From the Borderlands, as expected. Randy Pitchford is onstage.
– James Archer
This is being developed by Gearbox Quebec, and is out October 21st.
– James Archer
Obviously not a Telltale production, but apparently involves some of the original Tales' narrative team, and looks much closer in tone to Tales than the mainline Borderlands games. Also: whole new cast!
– James Archer
I think New Tales From the Borderlands is the full name, by the by.
– James Archer
Dying Light 2 DLC now (as we also expected). Hayden has reliably informed me it's called Bloody Ties.
– Liam Richardson
It looks like the pack will pit you against zombie and human enemies alike in various arenas. It's out October 13th.
– Liam Richardson
Marauders, space fighting looting game, on screen for all of ten seconds.
– James Archer
Ads are coming thick and fast. We just saw Tortuga: A Pirate's Tale - it's a pirate game!
– Hayden Hefford
Something sci-fi now. It looks like... Halo? Destiny? Three armoured space folks (wizards?) are shooting some alien nasties.
Oh it is Destiny 2! Lightfall, which is the next big expansion pack, is coming February 28th 2023.
– Liam Richardson
Metal: Hellsinger, the upcoming rhythm action FPS, just won a Most Wanted PC Game award. Man, that was revealed what, two years ago?
– James Archer
On to Sonic Frontiers now, and the new trailer will have a release date! Any second now...
– Hayden Hefford
I can't stop thinking about Lightfall. I love Destiny. I hate Destiny. I am destined to keep going back to it until Bungie physically stops my endless cycle of joy and despair.
– Liam Richardson
The trailer showed lots of Sonic running very fast, with some moody music in the background. Sonic's probably way out of his depth here, if I'm honest. And was that evil Amy at the end? We'll find out when Sonic Frontiers launches on November 8th 2022.
– Hayden Hefford
It's time for goats.
– Liam Richardson
I also love/hate Destiny 2 for what it's worth, Liam - I play it and have no idea what is happening, but the shooting is so much fun.
– Hayden Hefford
Ooh, Under The Waves looks interesting. Third person underwater exploration in what looks like a flooded Earth.
– James Archer
Appreciate I basically just said "Wow apocalyptic climate change looks fun".
– James Archer
We're seeing some gameplay footage of Goat Simulator 3 now. The game will feature all the usual activities you'd expect (headbutting folks, goat yoga, explosions, skateboarding sharks) as well as customisable goats. It looks as daft as the original and it's out November 17th.
– Liam Richardson
I've never played a Goat Simulator game, but the trailers just make me so happy. Goats are just silly. Watching goats do silly things is the best.
– Hayden Hefford
Return to Monkey Island now, which is coming on September 19th! That's soon! The trailer was mostly a few good jokes and a look through a bunch of different locations.
– Hayden Hefford
Next, a new game from Subnautica devs Unknown Worlds. Something turn-based and sci-fi, according to Geoff.
– James Archer
It's called Moonbreaker, and it's a board game-style turn battler fought with animated miniatures.
– James Archer
Maybe not so much board game as Warhammer, actually. You collect and digitally paint your miniature collection before sending them into battle. Early access on September 29th.
– James Archer
That's a verrrrry detailed painting system, yo.
– James Archer
Finally, a way of building and painting minatures without the risk of supergluing your fingers together.
– Liam Richardson
There'll also be a couple of open weekends before that early access launch.
– James Archer
I just broke a mini last night, so digital minis sounds like a blessing right now. Still mourning the loss of my Royal Warden.
– Hayden Hefford
Not that I've ever done that. It happened to a uhhh. A friend. Multiple times. And then his Dad banned him from building Warhammer.
– Liam Richardson
Next up is a lovely animated trailer for Friends Vs Friends. A bunch of anthropromphic animals slaughtering each other with guns and swords. It's a first person shooter with card mechanics and it looks extremely rad.
– Liam Richardson
We just saw a trailer for Lies of P, a Pinocchio-inspired soulslike. That's an... odd combo! It's a steampunk world, so expect lots of guns and automatons mixed in with the souls combat.
– Hayden Hefford
After a brief interlude, here's Stranded: Alien Dawn. Looks like a farming/survival sim where you'll be sustaining yourself after crash landing your spaceship. 3D RimWorld?
– James Archer
Coming to early access on Steam in October.
– James Archer
A trailer for the new game by The Surge developers Deck 13, now. We're seeing two warriors fighting armoured sand creatures among some sand coated ruins. It's called Atlas Fallen, it's out in 2023 and it lets you do some sick zoomies across the desert.
– Liam Richardson
That was Homeworld 3, a sequel to the 90s strategy series that apparently nobody in the Gamescom crowd tried (there was a hilarious deafening silence when Geoff asked if anyone had played). It's coming in the first half of 2023.
– Hayden Hefford
Genshin Impact 3.0 up next. A look at new catboy character Tighnari in action, plus a glimpse at the new region, Sumeru.
– James Archer
We're getting a sneak peek at Honkai: Star Rail, next. It's a strategy title about... anime characters on a train that flies through space? Colour me intrigued.
– Liam Richardson
High On Life is up next, which recently got delayed into December.
– Hayden Hefford
This looks like a boss battle, but obviously that gun that sounds like Morty is talking a lot between shots. Oh, and a very violent knife. They did say the Opening Night Live stream would be 18+...
– Hayden Hefford
A little disappointed that the Morty gun is seemingly just a regular peashooter, but there's grappling, I suppose. Grappling hooks are nice.
– Hayden Hefford
Gonna take this ad break to say High on Life's shooting looked properly dire.
– James Archer
Hardspace: Shipbreaker, an RPS Bestsest Best, is coming to consoles in September.
– James Archer
Good for them. Good for them!
– James Archer
Here's a reel of the many games on or coming to PC Game Pass. (It's a lot.)
– James Archer
Here's a trailer for The Expanse: A Telltale Series. We're seeing some light action as well as some exploration. It appears that the main character is from the original TV show, with the actor reprising their role for the game. It's out next year.
– Liam Richardson
Killer Klowns From Outer Space is getting a game! It's called... Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game. Incredibly creative, that.
– Hayden Hefford
Now for a new game. Yes! It's sci-fi again!
– James Archer
It's Scars Above, an action-adventure set on what looks like a bunch of half-wrecked alien worlds. Some shooting, a touch of horror, light mystery.
– James Archer
Next, a first look at a brand game created by Something Wicked Games. Lots of veterans working on this one, based on the title card.
– Liam Richardson
Wyrdsong. Wrdsong? Wrdsong. Not sure what it's about, but we saw a knight (what is it with knights tonight?) and a monster that turned towards the camera before doing a cheeky little "shh" gesture.
– Liam Richardson
News on new civs for Age of Empires 4, now. Two new civs are coming: the Malians, and the Ottomans. Both have lots of tiny people fighting on a very grand scale. They're seemingly coming in a free anniversary update on October 25th.
– Hayden Hefford
Gotham Knights time. Rogue's gallery seems to include Harley Quinn, Clayface, Mister Freeze, along with previously revealed baddies the Court of Owls.
– James Archer
Gotham Knights time. Rogues gallery seems to include Harley Quinn, Clayface, Mister Freeze, along with previously revealed baddies the Court of Owls.
– James Archer
Also an earlier than expected release date: October 21st. Will see Freezey in a giant mech suit, apparently.
– James Archer
Up next we have Where Winds Meet. It's a brand new open world action game that looks a lot like Ghost of Tsushima with supernatural elements. It's very pretty and the fighting looks properly slick.
– Liam Richardson
Hideo Kojima is doing another podcast, called Brain Structure. It's coming to Spotify from September 8th, and there'll be an English translation, unlike his other 'cast, Hideo Kojima's Radioverse. Will still be chatting about games, mind.
– James Archer
After a video from Geoff's very good pal Hideo Kojima, we're whizzing onto the next game. It's a theme park management game from Bandai Namco called Park Beyond. It's coming in 2023, and lets you build a theme park! I feel like I've been preparing for that my entire life (with lots of other theme park games).
– Hayden Hefford
Mini has made a Pokémon car with "gaming features". I think this means that the car has RGB lighting as well as a screen that displays a Pokéball.
– Liam Richardson
Imagine driving 80mph on the motorway and Pikachu starts doing an electric shock attack animation on the 27" screen in front of you that makes all the RGB in your car flash repeatedly. Hell.
– Liam Richardson
Darktide! This is the spiritual successor to the excellent Vermintide that's set in the Warhammer 40K universe. It looks grim, gory and great. I can't wait. It's out on November 30th.
– Liam Richardson
Another game reveal: Blacktail, a first-person witch-'em-up with added archery. There'll be moral choices that determine the evilness of your evil witch.
– James Archer
A new update for Crossfire X titled Babylon is on its way. Some additional shooty bangs for your shooty bucks.
– Liam Richardson
We just got a very short look at Phantom Hellcat, which featured someone slashing around a lot with a purple sword before changing perspective for a bit of sidescrolling.
– Hayden Hefford
Dorfromantik, which might have been Katharine's favourite game of last year, is coming to the Switch.
– James Archer
A look at The Outlast Trials now! It's Outlast, but multiplayer (which includes lots of chopping off limbs, as usual). Feels like I've been waiting for this one for a while. I really enjoyed the first Outlast game, but got stuck when I ran out of batteries and had to fumble around in the dark for hours. A friend to guide me through that pain sounds lovely, actually. Doesn't sound as scary, though.
– Hayden Hefford
The Outlast Trials will get a closed beta over Halloween weekend, running from October 28th-November 1st. You can volunteer for the beta now.
– Hayden Hefford
A tease for the first game by Embark, a team comprised of Battlefield devs. It's called the Finals and a full reveal is coming next month. It has... guns? And coins? That trailer didn't really give much away, really.
– Liam Richardson
Last game of the night coming up and it is... Dead Island 2, by the looks of things.
– James Archer
Just a CGI trailer, starring a clearly hungover man casually smashing zombs. Nothing high-concept like the original, infamous Dead Island teaser, but also more of a self-aware, lighter tone perhaps?
– James Archer
And it's set in Los Angeles. That isn't an island!
– James Archer
Six playable characters, including the moody man in the trailer. LA is a "modern paradise gone to hell".
– James Archer
Ah, here's some in-game footage too.
– James Archer
Hayden has just told us he was 13 when Dead Island 2 was first revealed. I will never recover from this.
– Liam Richardson
I loved the first Dead Island... back when I was 10 years old. That was a while ago, huh?
– Hayden Hefford
I'm getting a 'Dying Light with jokes' vibe. Still got an emphasis on melee combat with improvised, and customisable, bludgeoning/stabbing/slashing instruments.
– James Archer
And that's the show. Thoughts, chaps?
– James Archer
That's a wrap for opening night live! The highlight for me was probably Friends Vs Friends? That looked pretty rad. It was nice to see New Tales From The Borderlands as well, especially considering it's launching so soon. I adore the first game, so I remain cautiously optimistic about this in-house developed sequel.
– Liam Richardson
I've been more overwhelmed, to be honest. Under The Waves looked interesting and I like the witch fantasy behind Blacktail, but nothing there I'm gnashing my teeth to play.
– James Archer
"Brand new worlds" felt like a bit of a slogan for this, which meant there were a lot of trailers that didn't show much actual gameplay. If anything, Gamescom ONL reaffirmed that I'm really quite excited for The Callisto Protocol. That waterslide looked like so much fun, even if it did end with the goriest of deaths.
– Hayden Hefford
OH! Moonbreaker! I liked Moonbreaker! I can't believe I forgot about Moonbreaker!
– Liam Richardson
OH, Moonbreaker did look cool! I do love painting minis, and being able to paint without the stress of breaking little arms off and crying will be lovely.
– Hayden Hefford
Right, that's all from team liveblog. Cheers to everyone who followed along!
