Most Highly Anticipated AAA Games are Likely to Get Release Dates at Gamescom

From The Witcher DLC to The Wolf Among Us Remastered, these six games could finally receive long-awaited release dates at Gamescom

Gamescom is just around the corner, and with Opening Night Live promising a fresh wave of gaming announcements, minds are on the games that might finally get solid release dates. Of the many games expected to show up, six are particularly good bets, chiefly since they are already confirmed for the event and are due for release in the next few months.

The six titles include Exodus, The Expanse, The Wolf Among Us Remastered, Metro 2039, The Witcher DLC and Cronos: The New Dawn's Lazarus DLC. There are plenty of other hotly awaited games that could show up, but these seem to be the ones most likely, thanks to a mix of confirmed Gamescom appearances, playable demos and very close release dates.

Notable exclusions are Final Fantasy and Kara: Scars of Kosmora.

They might both show there, but their chances of getting dates seem a little less clear. Final Fantasy might be in a better position to make a big announcement at The Game Awards, but Kara has gone quite quiet considering that it’s one of the most anticipated future titles.

With several of the games on the list expected to be playable during Gamescom, announcing a release date makes special sense. Cronos is still apparently aiming for a fall launch, and its developers have repeatedly defended that time frame instead of delaying the game. Gamescom is therefore an ideal spot to announce the specific launch date.

The Witcher DLC could get an even greater presentation. The outlook is for a possible launch in the first part of next year, maybe in April or May. Rather than a quick teaser, the project may get an extended display with several minutes of footage, and possibly gameplay. Its appearance on the show floor only fuels suspicion that the project is close to launch.

Another strong contender is Metro 2039. The February release window has already been announced; the date is still TBD because the game is scheduled to be showcased during Opening Night Live, though Gamescom seems like one of the most natural opportunities to finally confirm when players can get their hands on it.

The Wolf Among Us Remastered is probably the closest thing to a release date contender we've got right now.

The game was originally scheduled for release in October, and if that window still holds, Gamescom would be the ideal place to confirm. The title is also expected to be playable; however, years of delays and sparse updates have naturally made fans wary of buying into any release window until the game is out.

The final two games, Exodus and The Expanse, are set for early 2027 and could also obtain dates during the festival. Both are set in the same general sci-fi environment and seem to be scheduled for release sometime between January and March. Other games expected, such as Iron Man, Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, Star Wars Eclipse and Kara: Scars of Kosmora, can still surprise. But these six are the safer bets, as they already have a more established Gamescom presence and release timeframes.

Since most of these games are scheduled to arrive in the next six to eight months, it would be strange for Gamescom to go by without release dates. As such, Opening Nite Live could be one of the year's most critical displays for fans waiting on concrete launch info.