Why this year’s Gamescom showcase is less about megaton surprises and more about strategic reveals, release dates, and the games we’ve been waiting for.
With the arrival of Gamescom comes the customary whirlwind of anticipation, conjecture, and the unavoidable reality check. This is not The Game Awards, let’s get that clear. You won’t leave with ten brand-new world premieres. Gamescom is mostly an update show.
This is where game companies set release dates, show trailers, and tell everyone what’s coming out this fall and early next year. It’s not a drag just because of that. There’s a lot to talk about, from big games like Call of Duty and Resident Evil to highly expected mysteries like Phantom Blade Zero and the elusive Hollow Knight: Silksong.
First, the fall teams will get the most attention. From September to November, there are 25 to 30 fresh titles ready to make their mark. Borderlands, Cronos: The New Dawn, and Call of Duty are likely to take center stage. Geoff Keighley has already hinted at these games. The focus will be on new trailers, marketing campaigns, and maybe even a few shocks from IPs that are coming back.
And it looks like Resident Evil is going to happen—a clip is probably going to show up—whether Leon is in it or not. Another game that is almost certainly going to be on the plan is Silent Hill f. Phantom Blade Zero looks like it’s ready to take the spotlight, and a release date in the spring of 2025 is likely to be the goal.
Games that are overdue for dates, like Dispatch and Mixtape, have a good chance of being featured. Also, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, which has four unannounced roster places, could easily pair a character reveal with a release date.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is definitely next in line. Team Cherry knows how to play the crowd, but if they finally announce the release date for Silksong at Gamescom, it will be all over the news. On the other hand, some highly anticipated games probably won’t come out.
The gameplay for Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, which was meant to come out later this year, has still not been shown. Fans would love to see it, but it probably won’t happen. Wolverine is still just a rumor and might not be at Gamescom, and Wolf Among Us 2 doesn’t look like it will be there at all. Square Enix doesn’t seem to be doing anything, which makes games like Final Fantasy VII Part 3 and Kingdom Hearts IV unlikely.
There are also games that are in the “maybe” group. More gameplay was promised by The 007 Project for this summer, and it might still show up. Hellraiser, which was teased for later this year, might also show up. It’s more possible that PlayStation’s Sorrow is being set up for the State of Play, but it shouldn’t be ruled out completely.
The new LEGO game from Traveller’s Tale is a very interesting contender. Some people think this title could be the big news, with a Lego Batman reveal being the most likely possibility. Ubisoft could also make a statement with a new Prince of Persia and a possible remake of Black Flag, taking back some of the attention in the process.
There is no need for ten megaton shocks at Gamescom. If the event gets a date for Hollow Knight: Silksong, a big Lego reveal, a Resident Evil trailer, Ubisoft’s comeback with the Black Flag remake, and two or three key release dates for long-teased indie games like Dispatch and Mixtape, that will already be a great show.
As it turns out, Gamescom 2025 will likely be known less for its brand-new announcements and more for its plans for what comes next. People who are waiting for Gamescom should be ready for updates, a few new reveals, and maybe one real surprise. A well-timed release date is sometimes the biggest story of the year. This year, strategic planning could make or break the show.
