Gamescom 2021 took to the next level on Wednesday with updates on all the most anticipated upcoming games and a preview of what to expect after 2021. Gamescom’s most anticipated event, Opening Night Live (ONL) was hosted by Geoff Keighley.
Gamescom 2021 Opening Night Live
ONL was filled with tons of announcements, trailers, and updates for some of the best Xbox games coming out and more, and comes the day after the less exciting (but still important) Xbox Gamescom 2021 event. ONL brought some big announcements to today’s event and it’s easy to miss something. We’ve rounded up all the announcements about Opening Night Live at Gamescom 2021 to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
The Games Featured When Night Live Opens Are Practically Available On Any Modern Gaming Platform, Including Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC, Switch, and more Many of these games could become some of the best Xbox games (or the best games in general) when released.
What are the major announcements from the Opening Night Live Gamescom 2021 event?
ONL, being the flagship stream of Gamescom 2021, was filled with some of the biggest announcements and news we can expect from the entirety of the event, from the biggest cross-platforms games to surprise appearances from Xbox Game Studios and Microsoft.
Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite’s campaign and multiplayer will officially launch on December 8, 2021. The release date has been revealed along with a multiplayer trailer focusing on Commander Laurette Agryna, who will be the featured character in the first season of Halo Infinite multiplayer.
A new Halo Infinite-themed Xbox Elite Wireless Controller 2 is coming to celebrate Halo’s 20th anniversary. That’s not all. Also in celebration of Halo’s 20th anniversary, Microsoft is releasing a limited edition Halo Infinite Xbox Series X. It will become available on November 15, 2021.
Saints Row Reboot
The Saints Row franchise has a reputation as Grand Theft Auto’s most chaotic and silly counterpart. In recent years, however, Saints Row games have fallen out of favor as they move further and further away from what made them special in the first place. Deep Silver and Volition seek to remedy this fact with the announcement of a Saints Row game reboot at Gamescom 2021.
The Saints Row reboot seeks to bring the franchise back to its roots, which will probably get fans of the old Saints excited. The Saints Row reboot is now available for pre-order and will be available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC on February 20. Infinite’s campaign and multiplayer will officially release on December 8, 2021. The release date has been revealed along with a multiplayer trailer focusing on Commander Laurette Agryna, who will be one of the main characters from the first season of the Halo Infinite multiplayer.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns
Marvel’s Midnight Suns is a brand new game from Firaxis, the makers of XCOM, that explores the story of an all-new, customizable superhero. Midnight Suns is a tactical RPG, but unfortunately we don’t have many specifics on what the gameplay will be or what the final product will look like (although we do know it won’t be just another XCOM). We know that the cast is huge, with popular Marvel characters like Iron Man, Ghost Rider, Dr. Strange, and more.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns is scheduled to release in March 2022, and we could see more gameplay for the game in the coming months.
Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Forbidden West is one of the most anticipated PlayStation exclusives and was originally scheduled to release in 2021. However, the delay rumors were confirmed today during the Opening Night Live event. Horizon Forbidden West is coming on February 18, 2022, and pre-orders are expected to open on September 2.
This delay will give Guerrilla Games the time they need to polish the game and hopefully put Horizon Forbidden West at the top of our list of the best PS5 games when it releases early next year.
Death Stranding Director’s Cut
Death Stranding is one of the most unique games for PlayStation and PC, and Hideo Kojima is expanding his original game with lots of new content, quality of life improvements, and more. At Gamescom, Death Stranding Director`s Cut got an extended trailer showcasing all the major additions and changes in the new version of the game. Stranding is offering plenty of reasons to revisit the game once it releases on September 24, 2021.
Call of Duty: Vanguard
A new Call of Duty comes out every year, and 2021 will bring us Call of Duty: Vanguard. Upon opening Night Live, Activision showed off nearly 10 minutes of uninterrupted gameplay footage from its single-player campaign, showing how the new title seeks to set itself apart from the increasingly competitive first-person shooter genre.
Call of Duty: Vanguard preview will tell you everything you need to know right now about the upcoming entry into the enduring franchise. The game revisits WWII, where many other games have gone before, but promises to tell a new story this time around with less focus on large-scale battles. Call of Duty: Vanguard will officially release in November 5, 2021.
Splitgate
Splitgate is a completely free-to-play multiplayer shooter that explodes in open beta thanks to its Haloesque combat mechanics and portal-like gameplay. On Wednesday, Splitgate announced that its open beta will continue with Season 0, a free update that is now available to players.
Season 0 will add a lot of new content to Splitgate, including a new Battle Pass that can be purchased and completed for a variety of in-game rewards. There is also a new melee game mode with an elegant-looking map.
