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‘Final Fantasy’, ‘The Witcher’ in spotlight at Europe gaming bash
thestar.com.my Aug 26, 2026

‘Final Fantasy’, ‘The Witcher’ in spotlight at Europe gaming bash

Curated by · TechCapsules ·

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Europe’s largest video game exhibition, Gamescom, commenced in Cologne on August 25, featuring major announcements for Final Fantasy and The Witcher series. Approximately 5,000 attendees gathered for a sold-out opening ceremony hosted by Geoff Keighley, where CD Projekt revealed a free remaster of The Witcher 3 and a new expansion. Square Enix showcased Final Fantasy VII Revelation, while Ukrainian studio 4A Games previewed Metro 2039. Notably, Rockstar Games excluded Grand Theft Auto VI from the event, opting for a separate Netflix preview. Over 1,600 exhibitors will display more than 800 titles, with Nintendo and Microsoft also presenting new releases. Sony remained absent. The industry faces intense competition and job cuts, with many studios adjusting release schedules to avoid clashing with the highly anticipated GTA VI launch in November.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · The strategic exclusion of Grand Theft Auto VI from Gamescom underscores a shift in marketing dominance, where blockbuster titles now dictate industry calendars rather than traditional trade shows.
  • · This fragmentation forces competitors to aggressively reposition their launches, intensifying market saturation and consumer choice in an already crowded sector.
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