Gamescom 2024 Highlights: New Releases from Gearbox, Hangar 13, Pearl Abyss, and More

Gamescom 2024 in Cologne, Germany, brought together gamers and developers from around the world to showcase the next big titles in gaming. From surprise reveals to hands-on demos, the event was filled with excitement and anticipation. Whether you’re a fan of looter shooters, RPGs, or strategy games, this year’s lineup promises to have something for everyone.

Below you’ll find a rundown of the most talked about upcoming games and other interesting projects revealed during the event.

Borderlands 4

Release Date: TBA

In a surprise reveal, Gearbox Software dropped a teaser trailer for the next installment in the Border areas franchise. The details are cryptic and show a dramatic collision of planets, one of which resembles Pandora, the world where Border areas is set. In the aftermath, a robotic hand reaches out to pick up the signature raider mask. It’s been years since the last Border areas game, making this return to the looter-shooter universe highly anticipated.

Mafia: The Old Country

Release Date: TBA

A new mafia game is on its way. Titled The old countryit channels strong Godfather 2 vibes with its setting in a vineyard in an old Italian town. Developer Hangar 13 president Nick Baynes took to the stage to announce the return of the franchise, which aims to explore the origins of the mafia. No release date has been set, but Baynes hinted at more details during this year’s The Game Awards.

Crimson desert

Release Date: TBA

We got to work ourselves Crimson desertan upcoming action RPG from Korean developers Pearl Abyss. The game combines elements of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla immediately Game of Thrones-like atmosphere and features flashy battles reminiscent of The Dogma of the Dragon meets SoulsBorn. The demo featured a thrilling battle against a large grizzly snow monster, where you had to jump on its back and slash away as it tried to throw you off. There is no release date yet, Crimson desert is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Phantom Blade Zero

Release Date: TBA

Among the best games showcased at the event, Phantom Blade Zero stands out. The game is currently a tech and gameplay demo and is being shaped by active feedback. It combines the fast, aggressive combat of Sekiro with flashy acrobatics, providing a visually stunning and intense experience. S-Game has created an incredible experience, making Phantom Blade Zero a striking title.

Masters of Albion

Release Date: TBA

Veteran game developer Peter Molyneux returned to the stage with Masters of Albiona game that harks back to his Populated And Dungeon keeper roots. This tower defense and city-building game lets you manage a city and its inhabitants by day, and prepare for monster attacks at night. It’s the only game where you can craft a bread sword. Molyneux’s return to his classic style will excite fans of the genre.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Release date: November 12, 2024

Although we haven’t had any hands-on time with Assassin’s Creed Shadowswe have seen new footage behind closed doors, and it was very impressive. This latest entry in the Assassin’s Creed series is set in Japan, allowing players to step into the shoes of an agile shinobi assassin, Naoe, and the historical figure Yasuke. We hope to see more hands-on opportunities in the coming months, so stay tuned.

Unknown 9: Awakening

Release Date: October 18th

With Anya Chalotra, known for her role as Yennefer in the Netflix series The Witcher series, Unknown 9: Awakening focuses on Haroona, a Quaestor who is able to traverse alternate dimensions. This third-person action adventure offers challenging yet fluid combat as Haroona manipulates dimensions to defeat enemies. As a new IP from Reflector Entertainment and Namco Bandai, Awakening is one of the most intriguing games to follow, and its release is just around the corner.

The police station

Release date: late 2024

One of the most intriguing demos at Gamescom was The police station by Kwalee. Classic of the photo Big Theft Auto from the perspective of the police. You play as a rookie assigned to a precinct, patrolling and completing missions to maintain order. The game is played from a top-down perspective, with car chases, shootouts, and arrests, all while adhering to the law. The game has a 20-hour campaign with an endless series of procedurally generated missions, making it a game to keep an eye on when it releases in Fall 2024.

Civilization VII

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Civilization VII is now in the capable hands of Firaxis Games. We saw a reveal trailer and a closed demo, which showed off some fresh twists on the classic formula. The demo hinted at the addition of the Maurya Empire with Ashoka as its leader. The graphics engine is vibrant and historical figures look fantastic. The familiar voice of Gwendoline Christie, who played Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thronesgives weight to the story.

Indiana Jones

Release Date: December 4, 2024

Indiana Jones is making a comeback to the gaming world, and during Gamescom Opening Night it was revealed that legendary voice actor Troy Baker, known for his roles in The last of us And Dead Strandingwill voice Indiana Jones. With a release date of December 9th of this year, anticipation is high for this new adventure.

Metaphor: Refantazio

Release Date: October 11, 2024

From the makers of the Persona series comes a new IP, Metaphor: Refantazio. The game follows a cursed prince and his friends on a journey through a quasi-steampunk world. The demo felt distinctly Persona-esque, especially with the Archetype powers. What stood out most was the game’s stunning visual style, with its cel-shaded, metallic, hand-painted look, giving it a unique personality.

Dune: Awakening

Release date: early 2025

Billed as a survival MMO, Dune: Awakening lets you forge your own path in the harsh world of Arrakis. The success of the films has clearly influenced the game, as evidenced by the long lines for the demo at Gamescom. The game combines survival action with spice harvesting and making deals with the big houses. Expect plenty of multiplayer doubles. Just remember to keep your shield up.

Secret Level

Not a game, but definitely about games, Secret Level qualifies for our list. Directed by Tim Miller and created by the team behind Love, death and robotsThis Amazon Prime anthology features beloved video game characters like Megaman and PAC-MAN in reimagined adventures. We even got a glimpse of Keanu Reeves, who may be reprising his role as Cyberpunk’s Johnny Silverhand, though his involvement has not been confirmed. This is one to watch out for.

Gaming hardware:

Atari 7800+

At the Atari stand we met some of the best gamers and got hands-on with the new Atari 7800+ console. With its bold black lines and prominent rainbow bar, the console is a nostalgic throwback. Atari is bringing the cartridge back with new HDMI outputs, so you can play classics like Food fight or Crystal quest on your 4K TV. Also shown were the sturdy new controllers and gamepads for the 7800+.

ROG Liquid Metal Gaming Series

We went to check out the new Ally X first, but stayed for the new lineup of ROG motherboards. With a new Liquid Metal look, the graphics seem to flow across the boards as you move. The new architecture makes it easier to add and remove graphics cards, replacing the usual fiddling around with a simple pull-release mechanism. If you’re into PC building, the new ROG lineup is worth checking out.