August 27, 2021, 5:49 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
The Gamescom trade fair will be held entirely digitally again in 2021. However, there is no shortage of game announcements. The “Opening Night Live” features some news on major titles–and a few surprises.
Gamescom 2021 kicked off with a two-hour show full of announcements and trailers. Host Geoff Keighley started the “Opening Night Live” (ONL) with news on highly anticipated titles such as “Halo Infinite,” “Horizon Forbidden West,” and some yet-to-be-announced games.
Overview
Major System Sellers Get Release Dates
One of the main criticisms when the new console generation launched in 2020 was the lack of exclusive games for the Xbox Series S and X and the PlayStation 5. Two of these major “system sellers” have now received their release dates at Gamescom 2021.
The first-person shooter “Halo Infinite” for Xbox is set to release on December 8, according to the announcement. The game will once again focus heavily on multiplayer across various modes. A trailer for a new character in the Halo universe was also shown at the trade fair. Commander Agryna trains fighters known as “Spartans” at the academy, and the trailer briefly tells her story. The creators also announced an exclusive controller and a limited edition Series X in Halo design at Gamescom 2021.
Developers originally planned to release “Horizon Forbidden West” on PlayStation 4 and 5 in 2021. However, the release has been slightly delayed. The sequel featuring the red-haired protagonist Aloy in a post-apocalyptic world full of mechanical animals is now set for February 18, 2022.
Gamers who already own a PS5 can now play the predecessor “Horizon Zero Dawn” at a higher frame rate of 60 frames per second (fps).
Premieres with Marvel and “Saints Row”
The ONL began with two completely new announcements. The “Saints Row” series, once considered a “GTA” competitor, is getting a reboot with the same name. Set in the southwestern U.S., the trailer focused on a group of young petty criminals who relieve other criminals of recently acquired rocket launchers. This brings the series back down to earth, after players in the predecessor “Saints Row IV” could control the entire galaxy with superpowers.
For those who can’t do without superheroes, “Marvel’s Midnight Suns” is worth a look. The new game from “Xcom” developer Firaxis is a tactical role-playing game. However, it is said to have “no similarities” in gameplay with Xcom, as reported by the site “Polygon.”
Players can create their own avatar with superpowers. The trailer shown at Gamescom 2021 featured superheroes such as Wolverine, Iron Man, Blade, and Ghost Rider. More details on the game will be revealed in another stream on September 1.
Strategy Updates with Dinos and Theme Parks
Strategy games are traditionally very popular in Germany. It’s no surprise, then, that there are some updates for fans of strategy and management games at Gamescom.
One of the most eagerly anticipated games in this category is “Age of Empires IV.” A new campaign for the real-time strategy game was shown at Gamescom 2021. It is set to release on October 28 for PC.
“Park Beyond” brings futuristic and fantastical rides to the theme park simulation genre. The game, announced for 2022, features roller coaster cars launched through the air by a cannon and a gigantic, sprawling Ferris wheel.
Dino fans can look forward to “Jurassic World Evolution 2.” The game will focus more on the management aspects of a dinosaur park and address some disliked elements from the first installment. Naturally, there are also more dinosaurs, including flying and aquatic species. The game is set to release on November 9.
“DokeV”: The Prettier “Pokémon”?
One of the standout games at Gamescom 2021 so far is “DokeV.” According to the developers’ website, players befriend Dokebi, inspired by the Korean nature spirits Dokkaebi. The game features characters like a pink anteater, a white dog with a cape, and a black-and-white bear with red boxing gloves.
The game world appears colorful and detailed in the trailer. This might interest “Pokémon” fans who were recently disappointed by the lifeless-looking game world in the upcoming “Pokémon Legends: Arceus” trailers. However, no release date information for “DokeV” was available at the start of Gamescom.
The Cult Sheep from Devolver
Perhaps the most peculiar part of the ONL came from publisher Devolver Digital with the game “Cult of the Lamb.” In it, a lamb is saved from execution by a mysterious stranger–only to be possessed by a demon. The sheep builds a cult among cute forest animals with big eyes while also battling fierce-looking monsters. The game is announced for 2022.
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Diversity Without Announcement
What also stood out during the show, without much emphasis, was that many studios are focusing on diversity in their characters. A large number of the main characters in the trailers are female, often with non-white skin tones.
One example: In the video shown for “Call of Duty: Vanguard,” the Russian Polina Petrova plays the lead role. She fights in Stalingrad against German soldiers during World War II and learns her role as a sniper. Players can also control Polina as a specialist in multiplayer.
What’s Next for Gamescom 2021
Another highlight at Gamescom 2021 is the Indie Arena Booth: Here, interested parties can sign up, create a small avatar, and stroll through a digital fair in their browser. Many independent and small development studios can be found, often featuring not just trailers but also links to demos of the showcased games.
Gamescom 2021 is accompanied by various other content, such as the “Gamevasion.” The streaming program is organized by Rocket Beans, Freaks 4U Gaming, and Instinct3. It features diverse gaming content with several influencers.