IGN is on the ground at gamescom 2023 where we're checking out all the latest and greatest in games in Cologne, Germany. In the wake of Opening Night Live, where we got to see updates for Mortal Kombat 1, Modern Warfare 3, and lots more, we had a chance to sit down with a ton of developers over the course of our multi-day live show.
This article will highlight the biggest and best moments from each day of gamescom. You can find more info on what to expect as gamescom 2023 continues into the weekend, including the awards show and lots more with our gamescom 2023 schedule and how to watch.
gamescom Day 4: The Biggest Announcements
It may be hard to believe, but we are already on day 4 of gamescom. IGN had a ton of games on our liveshow, and we wanted to share them with you so you can see the latest from some of the most exciting upcoming games.
Alongside a new look at Black Myth: Wukong, we also got to see new gameplay and speak to the teams behind other such games as Lies of P, Off the Grid, Sky: Children of the Light and its animated series spin-off, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Homeworld 3, and much more.
Check Out Our Hands-On Impressions of Black Myth: Wukong and Watch 19 Minutes of Boss Battles and Gameplay
Black Myth: Wukong has been making a big splash at gamescom 2023 and we had the chance to not only get our hands on the much anticipated Unreal Engine 5 soulslike, but also share with you 19 minutes of glorious and intense gameplay.
In our Black Myth: Wukong hands-on demo, we said, "It’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting action RPGs of the soulslike era, one with its own fresh approach to challenge, pace, and abilities.
"What remains to be seen is how developer Game Science has approached wider RPG systems, such as character development and leveling up. Should that, plus the level design of further chapters, match up to the quality bar of the bosses we’ve seen, then Black Myth: Wukong will be the success everyone is hoping for."
Lies of P Gets Another Stellar Showing at gamescom 2023
Lies of P, the upcoming soulslike that is based on Pinocchio and is set for release on September 16, got another great demo at gamescom 2023. We came away very impressed and believe this could end up being an A-class soulslike that could hopefully stand toe-to-toe with FromSoftware's finest work.
In our demo, we got a chance to check out the King of Puppets boss and some new weapons that will hopefully keep you from a horrifying death.
Off the Grid Is a Satirical Cyberpunk Game Within a Game from Director Neill Blomkamp
District 9 director Neill Blomkamp stopped by gamescom to discuss Off the Grid, a game he is directing that is being billed as a dystopian battle royale. While it promises battles with up to 150 people in its battle royale mode, Off the Grid will also have a 60-hour narrative campaign that will help build out the world.
Off the Grid also got a gameplay trailer at Opening Night Live and it showed the battle royale in action, traversal via trucks, cars, grappling hooks, and jetpacks, and much more.
Sky: The Two Embers Teaser Shows Off the Animated Series Based on Sky: Children of the Light
Journey developer thatgamecompany has revealed a new look and title for Sky: The Two Embers, its upcoming animated series arriving in 2024 that's based on the world and lore of Sky: Children of the Light.
thatgamecompany CEO and creative director Jenova Chen also stopped by our gamescom studio to talk about Children of the Light, its animated series spin-off, setting a Guinness World Record, and much more.
New Details and Gameplay Revealed for Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a spin-off game starring Kazuma Kiryu that looks to connect Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
At our gamescom studio, Like a Dragon series chief producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto joined us to share new details about the game's combat, fighting styles, customization, and how its Colossseum battle arena will work. He also reveals why Kazuma Kiryu, who is no working under the codename Joryu, is a lot like Superman.
For more, be sure to check out our preview of Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.
Homeworld 3 - New War Games Mode Adds Co-Op Roguelike Missions
Homeworld is returning for the first time in 20 years with Homeworld 3, and game director Lance Mueller and lead writer Martin Cirulis stopped by our studio at gamescom to share more about what makes this game so special.
One of the biggest revealed was the new War Games mode that adds co-op roguelike missions, and that should make for an even more exciting game when it is released in February 2024.
For more, check out the Homeworld 3 story trailer from gamescom Opening Night Live.
Payday 3 Will Receive Major Content Updates for 18 Months Post-Launch
Payday 3 lead producer Andreas Häll Penninger and global brand director and head of community Almir Listo were on-hand to not only answer all our questions about the upcoming heist game, but also share some brand-new gameplay.
Come listen to them talk about developing in Unreal Ending, working with Ice-T and new mechanics, how they plan on supporting the game with major updated for at least 18 months post-launch, and more.
Project Mugen Offers Spider-Man-Inspired Anime Action
Project Mugen was one of the bigger surprises at gamescom 2023. This free-to-play urban open-world RPG not only looks to be a fusion of Cyberpunk 2077 and Genshin Impact, but it also looks to have players traversing the world in a way that would be right at home in Spider-Man's universe.
Project Mugen senior marketing director Riten Huang came to IGN's gamescom studio to talk about the game's anime art style, its many characters, and share some new combat gameplay.
Tomorrow will be the last day of gamescom and we'll be hosting gamescom's Cosplay Contest! Be sure to stop by to find out the best costume, best dress, best built, and fan favorite. We will also be showcasing even more trailers troughout the show.
gamescom Day 3: The biggest announcements
gamescom Day 3 has arrived and we kicked it off by hosting the gamescom 2023 Awards! We also revealed a ton of new trailers, got a closer look at Path of Exile 2, and lots more. Keep reading for a full rundown of everything shown in Day 3 of gamescom 2023!
We hosted the gamescom 2023's Awards, and Little Nightmares came out on top!
The gamescom awards took place today, and Little Nightmares 3 was selected as Best in Show! Here's a full list of all the winners.
We also revealed a ton of new trailers
Awards were not the only thing announced at the gamescom awards — lots of new games appeared, too. Here's all the trailers shown at the 2023 gamescom awards.
We got an exclusive look at new gameplay and images from Path of Exile 2
Path of Exile 2 appeared at this year’s gamescom. And IGN can exclusively reveal that we saw some new images and gameplay for the upcoming RPG.
The first bit focused on the Druid, which included a narration from Jonathan Rogers, the co-creator of the game. The second piece of gameplay focused on seven minutes the Warrior and the Huntress, which again includes Rogers providing a voiceover describing what is going on in the demonstration.
Grinding Gear Games also shared a ton of new screenshots for Path of Exile 2, which focused on bosses, in-game environments, and spell effects.
We got our first look at Neill Blomkamp's Off the Grid
We got to see the first gameplay trailer for Off The Grid, a new battle royale third-person shooter directed by Neill Blomkamp (District 9). Off The Grid throws players into a covert corporate war between three companies on the tropical, dystopian Teardrop Island. Blending PvE and PvP, you’ll experience hectic 150-player battle royales as a cyberlimbed Zero, fighting to survive while simultaneously taking on a 60-hour narrative campaign. Extract high-value loot and upgrade your body with cybernetic limbs to give yourself the edge to reach the top.
AMD announced two new Radeon RX 7000 GPUs
One of a handful of tech announcements coming out of the gaming-focused trade show, AMD took the stage on Friday to unveil two new desktop GPUs it's adding to the Radeon RX 7000 series: the RX 7800 XT and 7700 XT. According to AMD, both GPUs are designed for PC gamers who prefer high-FPS 1440p gaming.
Additionally, AMD shared some details on FSR 3.0, which it revealed will introduce a new native anti-aliasing mode. No release date yet for FSR 3, but AMD says the third generation of its supersampling tech is “coming soon.”
We talked to Sam Lake about Alan Wake 2
We sat down with Sam Lake at gamescom 2023 to talk about Alan Wake's horror inspirations, its need for a little bit of comedy, and not wanting to go neck and neck with Spider-Man 2. Read the full interview here!
We got a closer look at Forza Motorsport
IGN’s Destin Legarie had a chance to check out a demo of the next major installment of Forza Motorsport at gamescom. My colleague described a bit of a new game mode called the Builder’s Cup, describing how it's a mode where you can obtain XP by racing “as cleanly as possible,” and noted that the demo showed Audis, Mercedes, and BMWs racing each other.
Legarie also notes how the XP is key in Turn 10’s “Level, Build, Dominate” philosophy it has implemented in Forza MOtyorsport. Explaining that the new game mode and its mechanics should help him (and maybe others) learn the ins and outs of a vehicle.
We checked out Deathground, a new survival horror game where you fight dinosaurs
If you are looking for a survival horror game where you’re fending off dinosaurs instead of something like zombies or the paranormal, Deathground might be what you are seeking.
Developed by Jaw Drop Games, Deathground has you playing solo or with a friend as you survive a world that is infested with lethal AI dinosaurs. There’s no word yet on when the game is coming out, but the developer says it’s “coming soon.”
gamescom Day 2: The biggest announcements
The second day of gamescom 2023 kept the momentum going. Some games that made an appearance on day two include STALKER 2, Marvel Snap, and The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria. The full list is below.
We revealed exclusive gameplay for The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
IGN can exclusively reveal the 13 minutes of gameplay for Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria. Yesterday we exclusively revealed the next game in the popular fantasy series inspired by the books by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria will be released on October 24, 2023, on PS5 and PC as an exclusive on the Epic Games Store, while an Xbox Series X/S version is targeting an early 2024 release.
We got a new look at S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
Despite the game being pushed back to early 2024, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl developer GSC Game World appeared at gamescom to share a slew of new gameplay for its upcoming first-person shooter.
Additionally, the CEO of GSC Game World sat down with us to answer all questions we had about the development team and its project. We also shared our first impressions of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's gameplay, which you can watch right here.
CD Projekt Red talked about how Phantom Liberty is the last big update before Cyberpunk 2
My colleague Stella Chung had a chance to sit down with game director Gabriel Amatangelo to discuss the new content coming to the next expansion of Cyberpunk 2077, including a quick look at a new zone called Dogtown.
More interestingly, Amatangelo revealed that Phantom Liberty is the last big expansion fans will see before a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 launches. Check out the full interview here!
We learned that Kazuma Kiryu was always meant to be the dual protagonist in Like a Dragon Gaiden
We sat down with Like a Dragon series producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto at gamescom 2023 to get some answers to our questions on Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, including new details about the game's setting, fighting styles, battle arena, Kiryu's fashion sense, and more.
Since the reveal of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, many veteran fans of the series have been perplexed by the decision to bring back long-time series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu as a dual protagonist. However, Like a Dragon series producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto claims that Kiryu's return has been in the cards for a long, long time.
Second Dinner’s Ben Brode talked about Marvel Snap leaving Steam Early Access
Ben Brode, the Chief Development Officer at Second Dinner sat down with us to discuss Marvel Snap’s PC launch and his favorite deck in the game.
At Opening Night Live earlier this week, Second Dinner announced that Marvel Snap was finally out of Early Access. Last October, the game was released on PC (via Steam), in addition to macOS and mobile devices, but only the Steam version was left in Early Access.
Wayfinder revealed as a new MMO that looks like a fusion between Destiny and WoW
If you’re a Destiny and/or World of Warcraft fan, Wayfinder might be up your alley. This upcoming MMO. IGN sat down with AJ LaSaracina, the director of marketing and engagement for the game. He explained the game’s journey so far and what fans can expect when it finally releases sometime next year.
Project Mugen is a new open world RPG where Cyberpunk meets Genshin Impact
After teasing the game a few days prior, NetEase Games and Naked Rain announced Project Mugen, a free-to-play urban open-world RPG that resembles a fusion of Cyberpunk and Genshin Impact.
Despite no release date, we do know Project Mugen is coming to PlayStation, PC, and mobile devices. Pre-registrations are open now for those interested in giving the game a try.
gamescom Day 1: The biggest announcements
The first full day of the trade show started off strong with new information on Starfield, Alan Wake 2, and RoboCop: Rogue City. Of course, we also saw some great surprises, including a brand-new teaser for the Fallout TV series.
Bethesda showed off the first teaser for the Fallout TV series
During a presentation for Bethesda’s upcoming open-world RPG Starfield, Todd Howard surprised those who attended with a sneak peek at the forthcoming Fallout TV series.
The TV adaption based on the popular post-apocalyptic franchise was announced in 2020 and is a collaboration between Bethesda Softworks and Prime Video. However, there's been comparatively little news on the series. Howard mentioned in the presentation that there will be bigger tease, and Prime Video confirmed the series would premiere sometime next year.
We got to see Starfield's first mission
We also got to see the first mission for Starfield at gamescom 2023. The first 15 minutes of Starfield follows its showing at Opening Night Live, which include a live-action trailer among other highlights.
The first mission of the game has players on the Argos Extractors Mining Outpost on the Moon of Vectera, mining for ores before wandering in a tunnel alone, where we discover and interact with a weird blue deposit, which leaves us unconscious with a transition into you waking up and commencing the start of your character creation.
We had a chat with Xbox Boss Phil Spencer
Phil Spencer sat down to chat with us about a variety of things: from sharing his opinions on Baldur's Gate 3, to teasing more Final Fantasy games coming to Xbox consoles, and reiterating that there is no plans to offer a mid-generation upgrade to the Xbox Series X/S consoles.
Circling back to the Final Fantasy comments, we asked him if Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 16, two games that have been big heavy hitters on PlayStation consoles, would ever make its way onto Xbox. While we did not get an outright confirmation, Spencer noting that Square's previous commitment to Xbox sounds hopeful for RPG fans in the Xbox ecosystem.
Zack Snyder talks Rebel Moon and his ideal game to adapt for the big screen
At Opening Night Live yesterday, we got new details on Zack Snyder's upcoming sci-fi films Rebel Moon. Part 1, subtitled A Child of Fire, which we already knew will hit Netflix on December 22, but Part 2: The Scargiver, will arrive on April 19, 2024.
At day one of gamescom, Snyder revealed the approixmate runtimes for both films in an interview with us, with both films lasting roughly four hours. But if you are craving for longer run times for both, Snyder did reveal that there are director's cuts of the films also in the works, too.
More interestingly, Zack Snyder told us that he would love to adapt Gears of War for the big screen, while also mentioning that he is interested in the Halo franchise. While Halo is already being adapted for the small screen with a second season on the way at Paramout+, a Gears ofWar movie and adult animated series were announced last year.
Remedy was on hand to show off 40 minutes of Alan Wake 2
With Alan Wake 2 released in October month, Remedy Entertainment showed off a full chapter comprising some 40 minutes of its horror sequel. The chapter is set in an ominous replica of New York City called The Dark Place. Remedy previously noted that Alan Wake 2 was going to be its first survival horror game.
The Dark Place offers a stark contrast to what Alan Wake fans have previously seen; its roads are populated with oil-spill-like pools od darkness and newspapers litter the streets. Outside of its NYC-infleunced design The Dark Place is filled to the brim with Easter Eggs, including a cameo from creative director Sam Lake, who is already confirmed not to be reprising his role as Max Payne and instead playing another character in Alan Wake 2.
Mortal Kombat 1 devs talk Lore and invasions while addressing the animation criticism
We had a few interviews on day one of gamescom from Netherealm Studios, and they were all about its upcoming fighting game Mortal Kombat 1.
IGN sat down with Netherrealm's story and voiceover director to discuss the lore and how it has changed in Mortal Kombat 1 as the next main installment serves as a reboot for the series. A separate interview had us talking to Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon, where he addressed the criticisms made about certain attack animations featured in Mortal Kmbat 1.
My colleague Mitchell Saltzman published his final preview for Mortal Kombat 1, discussing the new Invasions mode, which he described as an "RPG mixed with a board game." You can watch the video version of that preview above.
The first 16 minutes of RoboCop: Rogue included a ton of ED-209s
In 2021, a RoboCop first-person shooter was announced. And today, IGN can exclusively reveal the first 16 minutes of RoboCop: Rogue City. The 16 minutes is filled with elements fans of the films can expect, including a gaggle of ED-209s.
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria received a PS5 and PC release date
IGN can exclusively reveal that The Lord of the Rings: Return of Moria is coming to PC and PS5 on October 24. An Xbox Series X/S version was previously announced as well, but Indie developer Free Range Games and publisher North Beach Games said that version will arrive early next year.
Star Wars: Dark Forces remaster announced
Nightdive Studios, the developer who previously gave the remaster treatment to System Shock and Quake 2 announced its next project: Star Wars: Dark Forces remaster. It's in development for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
Turok 3 is also on the way
Alongside a remaster for Star Wars: Dark Forces, Nightdive Studios also announced at this year's gamescom that Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion is also on the way. It's slated to release sometime between October and December of this year and will launch on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.
Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story received a new trailer
Another exclusive IGN revealed outta this year's gamescom is Son of Nunu: A League of Legends Story. The latest trailer featruures gameplay, a look at the fictional region of Freljord and an appearance from Braum, a champion from League of Legends.
Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story does not have a release date (yet) but we do know it will release sometime this fall.
We learned lots more about Hellboy: Web of Wyrd
IGN's Max Scoville sat down with Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and Art Director Patrick Martin to talk about Hellboy's new game, Hellboy: Web of Wyrd.
Patrick and Mike talk to Max about multiple elements of the new game. They discuss the game's heavy emphasis on melee combat that still includes shooting. More than that, they also dug deep into the game's rogue-like elements, like Hellboy's different upgradable abilities and what players could expect to customize from run to run.
We learned how Assassin’s Creed: Codename Jade made the leap to mobile
Assassin's Creed Jade is the first full game in the franchise to be made exclusively for mobile devices. Playable at gamescom 2023, we took to the level Infinite booth to get some quality time with Assassin's Creed Jade to see just what the developers were able to achieve on the mobile platform.
What to expect from gamescom Day 4
That's about it for our recap of Day 2 of gamescom! Keep an eye on this space for lots more interviews, trailers, and announcements as we roll on to Day 3 of gamescom. Tomorrow are the gamescom 2023 awards! Here's a list of what to expect.
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Lies of P
- Where Winds Meet
- Tekken 8
- Payday 3
- Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
- Sky Children of the Light
- The Plucky Squire
- Black Myth: Wukong
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
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