Gamescom 2025 opens with big reveals

A preview of Gamescom 2025 focusing on key showcases, schedules, and how to watch.

Gamescom 2025 Sets Stage for Xbox and Call of Duty Debut

Gamescom 2025 runs from August 20 to 24, with Opening Night Live on August 19. The show includes Xbox broadcasts on two days, the Future Games Show, and three days of Bethesda streams, giving fans a packed schedule across multiple platforms. Opening Night Live will feature the worldwide reveal of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, along with other trailers and announcements, plus a musical performance to cap the event.

In addition to the big reveals, Microsoft plans to show off its hardware push with the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X. Leaks point to a October 16 European release for both devices, priced at €599 for the base model and €899 for the higher-end version, with official details expected during the August 20 stream. The event will also be streamed in multiple languages and audio formats to reach a broad audience, extending the reach beyond traditional English-language broadcasts.

Gamescom 2025 appears designed to balance blockbuster reveals with hardware announcements and cross-platform accessibility. The emphasis on live streams from Xbox and Bethesda signals a shift toward ongoing, platform-wide storytelling rather than a single, showpiece moment. That approach could help sustain engagement through the holiday season, but it also raises questions about pricing and availability, especially for new handhelds that carry premium price tags in a crowded market. Hollow Knight Silksong remains a potential wildcard in ONL, with the event easing expectations that a firm date might finally land this year. In short, the week tests how publishers rate spectacle against substance and pricing against accessibility.

Highlights

The pace of announcements will set the tone for Gamescom 2025 and the wider fall hype cycle.