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Opening Night Live Gamescom 2021 - live report

It's beginning to feel a lot like Geoff. Live from 7pm BST.

Happy late summer days, and happy video game showcase o'clock as we prime ourselves for another Geoff Keighley special. Expect news, reveals and a side order of cringe live from 7pm BST (there's also a 30 minute pre-show starting at 6.30pm BST but let's not encourage such nonsense, ok?)

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Our live coverage of this event has finished.

Hi hello and how do you do?

Martin Robinson

You're not watching already are you? I do not approve of this pre-show stuff.

Martin Robinson

But I've just started watching and they're showing off The King of Fighters 15 which was one of the games I was looking forward to most tonight.

Martin Robinson

Out next Feb, everyone's in it, it's looking great.

Martin Robinson

We are currently having a few technical difficulties which we're sorting out, so please bear with us (also hello lovely to see you again!)

Martin Robinson

Anyway one of those internet people that is very popular is doing some jokes.

Martin Robinson

EMLvHeerebeek: very popular and making jokes generally means bad jokes that are trying too hard

tbh you've described most of these live reports.

Martin Robinson

Apart from the popular part, anyway.

Martin Robinson

Miyamotosan: Always seems like a different set of regs that turn up for these things to those who post on the articles...

It's only the really cool kids here. And me!

Martin Robinson

With just under ten minutes to go, you now have my undivided attention Opening Night Live.

Martin Robinson

Am I excited? Honestly it's hard to tell anymore.

Martin Robinson

But I think I am!

Martin Robinson

We know some of what's due up - the new Saints Row, the Halo bit that was mysteriously cut from yesterday's Xbox show (there was a reason there was no live report for that), an extended look at Death Stranding Director's Cut (Geoff likes Hideo, apparently?).

Martin Robinson

It's the unknown unknowns that really excite, though - including something Geoff teased about an all-new football game? (I think he meant soccer too!)

Martin Robinson

Just googled Lindsey Stirling so you don't have to - that's the kind of service we're always happy to provide at Eurogamer - and she's a famous violinist apparently.

Martin Robinson

In the pre-show chat Geoff's just lowered the expectations a little - this won't be wall-to-wall reveals and will instead be mostly updates on games we already know of.

Martin Robinson

I'm so out of touch... My taste in music is still stuck in 1974 somewhere.

Martin Robinson

We were hoping for a Libero Grande revival here.

Martin Robinson

I do sort of miss our jaunts to Cologne - it's a beautiful city, and while the show itself can get a bit *busy* it's always had a character of its own that helps distinguish it from E3.

Martin Robinson

Plus I bloody love sausages.

Martin Robinson

A quick drinks check all round - I'm on water until it gets to a more reasonable hour when I *might* have a bottle of Ghost Ship (they were three for a fiver in the local shop!)

Martin Robinson

One last trailer before the big show - and it's a new thing from Galleon creator Toby Gard.

Martin Robinson

Kami: I have actual real freshly-ground COFFEE tonight!

Coffee after 4pm is bold! Unless it's decaf, of course.

Martin Robinson

And here we go - Opening Night Live is.... LIVE!

Martin Robinson

Geoff looks a lot narrower than before.

Martin Robinson

Could be my screen. Or that sharp jacket.

Martin Robinson

He looks genuinely happy to be there though. Bless you Geoff.

Martin Robinson

(If you've never read Geoff's early gamz jurnlism - the Final Hours series, on the likes of Half-Life and Metal Gear Solid - they're really worth rooting out. He gets a bit of a bad rep, and these shows can be a bit awkward, but he's coming from a genuine place).

Martin Robinson

And this'll be Saints Row.

Martin Robinson

I'm embargoed on talking about this until 9pm. Because I guess they didn't know it was at the start of the show?

Martin Robinson

So yeah no idea what this is. True Crime Resurrected?

Martin Robinson

Oh look at that it's Saints Row.

Martin Robinson

I couldn't possibly say...

Martin Robinson

Right here with you pal. Right here with you.

Martin Robinson

To the gameplay itself, which is slightly less subdued than the trailer.

Martin Robinson

If I did see it recently, I might have seen a tiny bit more - but really not that much. Anyway, more at 9pm.

Martin Robinson

And now, to Marvel.

Martin Robinson

Wait for it....

Martin Robinson

Because this might not be Avengers.

Martin Robinson

It might be something a bit more exciting (yeah sorry this is something else we might have seen earlier!)

Martin Robinson

That looks an awful lot like more of Marvel than you see in Avongers.

Martin Robinson

So this is Midnight Suns - and it's the new game from the XCOM team at Firaxis.

Martin Robinson

I'm not a Marvel fan, but I am a fan of that team - so consider me interested.

Martin Robinson

(Also I am, of course, a fan of Jake Solomon - *swoooooooooon*)

Martin Robinson

This is a tactics RPG - so a slight deviation from XCOM, though I'm not sure how much of a deviation.

Martin Robinson

We're not going to get to see the game proper until September 1st. And it's out next March.

Martin Robinson

Consider me very much interested.

Martin Robinson

And now it's Call of Duty Vanguard!

Martin Robinson

A look at the campaign, I believe.

Martin Robinson

Apologies for the silence. It's partly because this is all hollow guff, but also because it's hard to muster any enthusiasm for Activision Blizzard products at present.

Martin Robinson

Anyway, excuse the grinding gear change but here's some footage of a fairly generic looking first person shooter campaign.

Martin Robinson

A neck has been stabbed.

Martin Robinson

Kami: So anyway, how's everyone's day been?

I'm going to be one of those awful people, but I've been playing something I can't talk about just yet (but I can tomorrow at 3pm) and it's just brilliant. The kind of game that doesn't come around that often, and that seems pretty special so far.

Martin Robinson

Also I had cheese and oatcakes for lunch.

Martin Robinson

So it's been win-win really.

Martin Robinson

Maybe it's because my own lack of enthusiasm for the series at the moment, but this looks very 2008 in terms of the action.

Martin Robinson

troymb: Martin Robinson multi or exclusive?

If I said that'd give the game away! Anyway, sorry for being a tease - just be reassured that not all games coming later this year will be as dull as this Call of Duty looks.

Martin Robinson

Malek86: I'm afraid 2008 just doesn't cut it. I wish it looked more like 1998.

I've been playing that lovely surprise Quake remaster this week and saying late 90s FPS is one of the best compliments you can give.

Martin Robinson

God it's still going on?

Martin Robinson

And yet still Call of Duty will outsell Battlefield this year. Poor DICE.

Martin Robinson

Kami: Is it just me or did they skip Quake 4 with those re-releases?

I've always seen Quake 4 as sort of non-canon as it's by Raven Software. That's not to say it's not good though! I mean, it's not great either.

Martin Robinson

Oh and also that makes a lot of sense.

Martin Robinson

Criminally this is the first time I've ever played Quake. It's good isn't it?

Martin Robinson

A friend said it's sort of like Mario 64, the game that invented 3D platforming while also perfecting so much of it. Quake just came along and perfected the FPS at the first ever crack.

Martin Robinson

Anyway the Call of Duty bit is over now, thankfully.

Martin Robinson

HERE'S HALO INFINITE!

Martin Robinson

Oooh that's given me the jolt I needed - I'm so looking forward to this.

Martin Robinson

Miyamotosan: I've been dipping in and out (mostly out), what's the biggest thing they've had so far?

Saints Row, I'd say.

Martin Robinson

Ah, this is a CG trailer and so my heart sinks once more.

Martin Robinson

A CG trailer for multiplayer?

Martin Robinson

Baritone: Martin, are you a Spartan?

we r all spartn now

Martin Robinson

Ah, remember that Halo 3 trailer? That was a banger.

Martin Robinson

This one isn't.

Martin Robinson

Still, looking forward to the game.

Martin Robinson

So it's a tie-in with the first free-to-play season of Halo Infinite - I guess they're doing that whole Fortnite worldbuilding thing, which is fair enough.

Martin Robinson

And there is the release date, which of course leaked earlier - it's December 8th.

Martin Robinson

A little surprise to coincide with the 20th anniversary of both Halo and Xbox - it's a Halo Elite controller!

Martin Robinson

Good god that thing is ugly.

Martin Robinson

Having spoken about the 'Finish the Fight' trailer (thanks for reminding me what it's called Eratosthenes) I get some similar vibes from this ad.

Martin Robinson

But this time it's an ad for a really ugly special edition Xbox Series X.

Martin Robinson

Still looking forward to Halo Infinite, though. Despite Microsoft's best efforts to drag them down with fairly underwhelming showings like that.

Martin Robinson

Here is something quirky and cute being published by Devolver - ....

Martin Robinson

Er I wasn't paying attention when they put the name up.

Martin Robinson

I'm such a pro.

Martin Robinson

The 2D/3D artstyle looks lovely - it reminds me of Dakko Dakko's PSVR game Pop-Up Pilgrims.

Martin Robinson

And that was Cult of the Lamb.

Martin Robinson

An over-the-top isometric action game that looks like John Wicks by way of Crusader No Remorse.

Martin Robinson

That is how I'd describe Midnight Fight Express. I would like to play that!

Martin Robinson

Dotemu's Turtles game!

Martin Robinson

I don't think I'm American enough to understand the Turtles.

Martin Robinson

When the Turtles movie came out, there was a rumour going around my school that there was an X rated version that someone had on video where the Turtles cut peoples heads off and did swears and everything.

Martin Robinson

Actually sounded alright.

Martin Robinson

Anyway, that did look like a fine arcade action game.

Martin Robinson

Here's a quick interlude which hands the mic over to the people at Gamescom.

Martin Robinson

It's Monkey Ball time!

Martin Robinson

I hate to say, though, Monkey Ball just isn't Monkey Ball without the GameCube's octopad. Luckily you can still use those on the Switch.

Martin Robinson

weebleman: Gonna drop my traditional ‘how longs this on for?’ question during this section.

Two hours! So it wraps at 9pm BST.

Martin Robinson

MONKEY TARGET EVERYONE! And it looks just as I remembered and loved it.

Martin Robinson

Monkey Fight can do one tho.

Martin Robinson

And the special guest is Morgana from Persona.

Martin Robinson

I still keep forgetting that Atlus and Sega are a thing.

Martin Robinson

Malek86: @Martin the arcade banana joystick was the real thing, accept no substitute

Haha, that is a very fair point.

Martin Robinson

The very popular Splitgate gets a moment now.

Martin Robinson

See, this has 1998 FPS vibes, and is all the better for it.

Martin Robinson

And an update on Riders Republic. I've played this!

Martin Robinson

I really liked it too!

Martin Robinson

(You can ignore all this zany annoying stuff and just dick around on mountains and across parks on a bike, and that bit is just brilliant).

Martin Robinson

The beta's just opened up. I'd recommend having a quick look!

Martin Robinson

Oh they're doing awards!

Martin Robinson

I was a judge for the Gamescom awards a couple of times.

Martin Robinson

It mostly meant having access to this incredibly detailed spreadsheet, getting access to a special room at the Koelnmesse which had some really nice biscuits in it and getting to jump and queue for console stations.

Martin Robinson

We're only 50 minutes in somehow - it really feels like it might be December already.

Martin Robinson

Miyamotosan: "I was a judge for the Gamescom awards a couple of times." [That picture of Harry Maguire leaning on the railings talking to those girls]

Hahaha

Martin Robinson

An advert for Game Pass which has me thinking 'cor Game Pass is so good' and also 'oh my god my backlog is going to become unbearable soon'

Martin Robinson

There really are a lot of good video games out there.

Martin Robinson

Like this one that lets you be a dragon!

Martin Robinson

Dragons are great.

Martin Robinson

Here's that football game Geoff teased, then.

Martin Robinson

UFL?

Martin Robinson

It's a free-to-play thing from devs I don't think I've heard of before.

Martin Robinson

And we're not getting much by way of details - they say it's a 'football simulation', so I guess it will be aiming to go toe-to-toe with FIFA and whatever Konami's calling that fetid corpse of a series they've been dragging around these past few years.

Martin Robinson

The Lego Skywalker Saga game now, looking like a very pretty Lego Star Wars game.

Martin Robinson

I'll be there for the prequel stuff.

Martin Robinson

Seriously, after Episode 9 all was forgiven for the prequels.

Martin Robinson

Anyway, after quite the hiatus for Lego games the next one is due up next Spring.

Martin Robinson

Miyamotosan: I watched The Last Jedi last night. It's actually worse than you remember.

I think in truth they're all a bit shit.

Martin Robinson

Apart from The Phantom Menace, obv.

Martin Robinson

A new Outlast game being trailered for you all, that's what's happening right now.

Martin Robinson

See? It's a great film.

Martin Robinson

A south Korean Pokemon-a-like now called Dokev.

Martin Robinson

I think I missed an accent in that title somewhere but I'm really bad at that stuff so sorry!

Martin Robinson

This is quite pointed timing given the reaction to Pokemon's most recent trailers and gameplay demos.

Martin Robinson

But, well - it does look kind of great and you do wonder what a real Pokemon game would be like with these kind of assets.

Martin Robinson

(Then you remember that the real appeal of Pokemon is nowt to do with its visuals and more about the depth and character elsewhere which isn't so easily replicated).

Martin Robinson

Also this framerate lol.

Martin Robinson

How long has this trailer been going on for though?

Martin Robinson

There was even time for a dubstep interlude.

Martin Robinson

Jurassic World Evolution 2 is getting its gameplay reveal - and I'm off to the fridge for a beer.

Martin Robinson

(no offence Jurassic World Evolution 2 - you look great but I'm really thirsty and it's just gone 8pm)

Martin Robinson

What did I misssssss?

Martin Robinson

kingmob: I've been playing video games since the ZX Spectrum and I've never known things to look so dire. Literally nothing of interest.

I've never known such an abundance of riches! The only real problem is having enough time to play everything that's interesting.

Martin Robinson

Also I don't play Ubisoft games like this which might help.

Martin Robinson

(sorry Far Cry just isn't my thing! This looks just fine if it is, though)

Martin Robinson

This Ghost Ship beer is really nice!

Martin Robinson

Three for a fiver, too. What a steal.

Martin Robinson

Here's the Vampire The Masquerade battle royale Blood Hunt.

Martin Robinson

(I think this is the battle royale? God I'm terrible at this)

Martin Robinson

Here's a new park building game callled - Park Beyond?

Martin Robinson

There was a very well modelled croissant I spotted just then.

Martin Robinson

If this is gameplay - or at least in-engine - then that's very impressive indeed.

Martin Robinson

It's by Limbic Entertainment, who previously made Tropico 6.

Martin Robinson

And what I will say for it is that's one of the most Gamescom reveals ever.

Martin Robinson

Jett: Far Shore now! It's from Superbrothers, it's quite likely to therefore be brilliant.

Martin Robinson

Spoilers!

Martin Robinson

Oh this is an update about Horizon: Forbidden West - which we understand is now coming out next year.

Martin Robinson

But yes it also looks like Horizon Zero Dawn just got a 60fps patch.

Martin Robinson

18th February 2022 release date - for both the PS4 and PS5 versions.

Martin Robinson

Confirmation there for the 60fps patch. Lovely stuff.

Martin Robinson

Lexkalin: Couldn’t play first horizon at all. Too repetitive and generic.

Shhhhh don't say that around these parts.

Martin Robinson

An extended trailer for Amazon's New World now.

Martin Robinson

I might have dozed off for a second.

Martin Robinson

Kami: I really wouldn't mind a new MMORPG to get stuck into but New World just isn't striking a chord with me for some reason.

I don't know what to look for in an MMORPG, but Bertie does and seems if not massively excited then definitely interested.

Martin Robinson

Here's a new Marvel F2P game for mobile. Do you mind if I have another quick doze?

Martin Robinson

Alkaline: Wake up Martin, you’re missing a zoom call from two middle aged men.

*sits bolt upright*

Martin Robinson

I do this when I play guitar in my shed too.

Martin Robinson

I can't kick that high tho.

Martin Robinson

weebleman: We’re getting 30 mins of death stranding to close the show aren’t we

I'd bet on it.

Martin Robinson

Here's another annoucement of a mobile game - this time a Tales of entry.

Martin Robinson

Tales of Luminaria, fwiw.

Martin Robinson

Tales of Arise does look great, mind.

Martin Robinson

An award! Mario + Rabbids is the best Switch game of 2021!

Martin Robinson

Kami: Wait... isn't it coming out in 2022?!

It is! I did a typo!

Martin Robinson

Which I now can't fix because the limitations of our CMS so I'll have to leave that mistake there for posterity.

Martin Robinson

Kami: ... holy shit, this Lychee stuff must be opening my third eye or something...

Gissa shot of it plz.

Martin Robinson

A series of ads - yes I'm aware this whole thing is a series of ads but these are literally just ads - helps bring us through to the last half hour.

Martin Robinson

Deadmaus is announcing his own presence in the metaverse now and fuck me I'm old.

Martin Robinson

Literally no idea what's going on anymore.

Martin Robinson

And I think I just pissed myself.

Martin Robinson

You don't need a virtual concert. Just tape that shit and play it from the deck of a Citroen Saxo while you sit in the back a bit worse for wear and get driven around. That's when music is heard at its best.

Martin Robinson

But yeah I have no idea what all that was just about.

Martin Robinson

Kami: I'll be honest, I'm starting to feel a bit lost at the tail end of this show.

Same here!

Martin Robinson

There's been some lovely stuff, but not enough to keep the momentum going for two whole hours.

Martin Robinson

Age of Empires 4, anyway, which is something. Valheim now - I'm thinking that Death Stranding extended ending is actually going to happen.

Martin Robinson

So get ready to collect your winnings if you took that particular bet.

Martin Robinson

weebleman: Either that Martin or bluebox games announce silent hill….

!

Martin Robinson

Kami: Waiting for the day Keighley rips off his shirt and throws himself at a completely befuddled Kojima.

To be honest that's the main reason I keep showing up for these. I think that's the same for a lot of us.

Martin Robinson

Kami: Brevity is the soul of wit, I think the saying goes. So many of these shows could lose at least 30 minutes or so.

'Game shows are the most witless things in the world' goes the other adage.

Martin Robinson

God maybe video games are terrible after all.

Martin Robinson

Here's a World of Tanks music video.

Martin Robinson

They are a bit shit aren't they?

Martin Robinson

Honestly what is going on.

Martin Robinson

Aloy is on her way to Genshin Impact - I think we knew this already, but here she is in action.

Martin Robinson

This is a very weak show.

Martin Robinson

Like I'm thinking I need a new hobby.

Martin Robinson

....

Martin Robinson

Right, something interesting! Sifu, the new game from the Absolver lot, that looks like a right good time.

Martin Robinson

A release date too - it's coming 22nd February 2022.

Martin Robinson

Next February is going to be busy.

Martin Robinson

They're going to plant some trees which is nice.

Martin Robinson

With five minutes to go, here's what we feared.

Martin Robinson

weebleman: Called it

Damn you!

Martin Robinson

u can rkt jmp nw

Martin Robinson

I actually love Death Stranding!

Martin Robinson

But also I don't need five minutes to go through all these updates.

Martin Robinson

Anyone got any nice plans for the long weekend?

Martin Robinson

I mean probably not given *everything*, but still.

Martin Robinson

lintonfen: So Death Stranding is just Euro Truck Sim 2 but without the fun? Yaaayyyyy

Very much this.

Martin Robinson

Kami: I'm probably going to just sleep for most of the weekend.

That sounds ideal!

Martin Robinson

And that's 9pm.

Martin Robinson

Not that I'm getting paid by the hour, but - shouldn't this be done now?

Martin Robinson

Apologies if your Wednesday evening has been ruined by this. I tried to help!

Martin Robinson

weebleman: Is it me or is this just metal gear stranding now

I think that's the intention!

Martin Robinson

It seems a bit odd given the heavily rumoured Bluepoint remake of it, but there we are.

Martin Robinson

I think that's it? I hope that's it.

Martin Robinson

And that really is it. Ah, that familiar tinge of disappointment, and of having an evening robbed so that we might sit here and watch some overblown, overlong trailers.

Martin Robinson

But it is over! Go! Be free!

Martin Robinson

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