Following in the footsteps of E3, Gamescom 2021 will be exclusively digital, free to attend and run from August 25-27. As with last year, the typically in-person convention is being held virtually due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Luckily, it will be more accessible than ever and undoubtedly be chock-full of new reveals, fresh gameplay and hype announcements.
Multiple companies, including Xbox and Gamesradar, have already announced they will be hosting showcases during Gamescom 2021. These will present fans with new announcements, world premieres and more during the final weekend of August. Here is the current lineup of showcases and what gamers need to know to be ready.
Xbox has announced they are holding their live stream on August 24 at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET. The stream will serve as a considerable appetizer before opening night on August 25. Xbox is promising to feature their largest collection of exclusive games to date, as well as updates to Xbox Game Pass and more. Fans can access the stream via YouTube, Twitter, Twitch and Facebook.
Xbox also announced that they would be hosting a special edition of Xbox FanFest at Gamescom, which they will share more details about at a later date. Bethesda Germany will also be live streaming over several days starting on August 26 via Bethesda's MainStream on Twitch.
Gamescom 2021's opening night is August 25, where Geoff Keighley will once again be hosting Gamescom: Opening Night Live starting at 11 AM PT/2 PM ET. Last year, the event featured new announcements and world premieres, including new gameplay for Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and the premiere of Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War. To attend Opening Night Live, tune in to the live stream via YouTube, Facebook Gaming, Twitch or Twitter. Co-streaming is not only allowed but encouraged. Those interested in co-streaming can find a form on Keighly’s Twitter to sign-up as an official co-streamer so they can be whitelisted. Kyle Bosman will be hosting an Opening Night Live preshow starting 30 minutes before the main show that includes an interview with Geoff Keighley.
Recently, Geoff Keighley confirmed a lot of Gamescom Opening Night Live details on the official Game Awards Twitch channel. The two-hour show will have a smattering of new video game news, including 30+ world premieres of game updates and a “half a dozen” new game announcements. There will also be Twitch drops for a new upcoming game during the show on Wednesday, so tune in on Twitch to take part in new digital goodies. ONL will announce the nature of the Twitch drop in the days leading up to the show.
Among the confirmed games to be at the show, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga will be making a reappearance, marking the anniversary of its announcement at last year’s ONL. Saints Row is getting a new game announcement, but the details are sparse. Splitgate, a free-to-play fps described as “Halo meets Portal,” will have new reveals as well. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge will reportedly have a presence as well.
Call of Duty: Vanguard will have a 10-minute gameplay showcase during the show and will feature Laura Bailey, who lends her voice talents to the newest entry in the Call of Duty series. Lindsay Sterling, known for her violinist work on the Tales series, will be a musical guest.
The Future Games Show at Gamescom Powered by AMD will premiere on August 26 at 1 PM PT/4 PM ET. Hosted by Resident Evil Village stars Maggie Robertson (Lady Dimitrescu) and Aaron LaPlante (The Duke), the event will show off over 40 games and include developer walkthroughs, exclusive gameplay and world premieres.
The Future Games Show (FGS) premiered for the first time in June 2020 at E3, hosted by the stars of the Uncharted series Nolan North (Nathan Drake) and Emily Rose (Elena Fisher). Like that event, their Gamescom showcase will feature the return of the Virtual Show Floor, with game demos being playable on Steam following the show's conclusion, as well as the 'Future Hits' montage of upcoming indie games. The event will be available to stream via GameRadar's YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, Twitter and gamesradar.com.
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