Last week, we shared the exciting news that our Head of Europe Victor would be attending Gamescom 2025 to connect with studios, publishers, and service providers shaping the future of gaming.
Now that the doors have closed on this record-breaking edition, Remote Resources is back with a comprehensive recap of the event!
In this article, we review the edition’s record-breaking numbers, explore the emerging trends shaping game development, share Victor’s highlights from standout booths and presentations, review the biggest announcements of industry giants, and look back at the games and studios that took top honours this year.
GamesCom 2025 in Numbers
Gamescom 2025 has once again shattered records, underscoring its status as the world’s premier gaming event.
This year’s edition brought together 357,000 visitors from 128 countries, including over 34,000 trade professionals, with the strongest growth coming from the US, China, Canada, and Japan.
On the show floor, 1,568 exhibitors from 72 nations filled an impressive 233,000 m² of exhibition space, supported by 40 country pavilions representing 35 countries. Beyond the convention center, another 80,000 people flocked to Cologne’s City Festival, making the city itself feel like one massive celebration of gaming.
The digital reach was just as staggering. The official program drew more than 630 million views, a 105% increase over last year, while Gamescom Opening Night Live alone racked up 72 million views, up 80% year on year.
Fans also engaged deeply with Gamescom Epix, which recorded 5.7 million page views by Saturday evening. With 70% of exhibitors coming from abroad, the show highlighted not only gaming’s global appeal but also the industry’s resilience and momentum.
GamesCom 2025 Emerging Trends & Industry Shifts
Even as trends like Web3 showed signs of cooling, the atmosphere in Cologne was charged with optimism, creativity, and innovation.
From developers to publishers and fans, the collective energy proved that gaming is still moving forward with force.
Let’s explore the key trends we saw at this GamesCom 2025!
1. AI-driven NPCs and procedural storytelling
AI-driven NPCs and procedural storytelling stole the spotlight at Gamescom 2025.
Studios showcased how machine learning is no longer just a background tool but a driver of player-driven narratives. Instead of static quest-givers or predictable dialogue trees, NPCs now react dynamically to player actions, evolving with the unfolding story.
This creates experiences that feel fresh even after multiple playthroughs, hinting at a future where no two journeys will ever be exactly the same.
2. Cloud gaming
Cloud gaming also made a major leap forward.
Both NVIDIA and Xbox unveiled new latency-reduction protocols, directly addressing one of the biggest concerns for players on streaming platforms.
Demos highlighted fluid, near-instant responsiveness, making even competitive online titles viable in the cloud for the first time.
For players, this means console-quality performance without the console, a shift that could redefine accessibility in global markets.
3. VR & AR experiences
Meanwhile, VR and AR experiences took center stage.
Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Nexus wowed attendees with a fully immersive stealth experience, allowing players to scale rooftops and blend into crowds with unprecedented realism. Unlike earlier experiments, the new wave of VR content proved polished, intuitive, and ready for mainstream adoption.
Combined with AR enhancements shown by several indie studios, the technology hinted at a future where physical and digital spaces blend seamlessly in gameplay.
Together, these innovations made it clear that Gamescom 2025 was less about incremental upgrades and more about reshaping how games are built, delivered, and experienced.
Major Announcements and Industry Highlights at Gamescom 2025
Gamescom 2025 delivered a whirlwind of excitement, with studios unveiling blockbuster titles, innovative hardware, and cutting-edge peripherals. IGN and Top Gear highlighted some of the most jaw-dropping announcements that had attendees and digital viewers buzzing.
Game Reveals That Stole the Spotlight
- Cyberpunk 2077: Revenant – CD Projekt Red returned to Night City with a gritty expansion featuring new factions and a revamped combat system, promising fresh challenges for veteran players.
- Elder Scrolls VI – Bethesda finally released a cinematic teaser, confirming the game’s setting in Hammerfell and hinting at dynamic weather systems that will shape gameplay.
- Forza Horizon: Tokyo Drift – Playground Games surprised fans with neon-lit streets, new drifting mechanics, and real-time traffic AI, marking an exciting new chapter for the franchise.
- Hollow Knight: Silksong – Indie developer Team Cherry confirmed a release date of September 4, 2025, revealing an expansive map, innovative crafting mechanics, and plans for post-launch content.
- Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight – TT Games teased a rich open-world Gotham adventure, blending gritty comic inspirations with Arkham-style detective mechanics and combo-driven combat. British comedian Matt Berry lends his voice to Bane, adding a layer of humor and gravitas to the narrative.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 – Treyarch and Raven delivered an explosive campaign reveal, set in 2035. For the first time, the game offers four-player co-op, a dark and abstract tone, and the highly replayable Endgame mode, spanning diverse global locations from Alaska to neon-lit Tokyo.
Hardware and Peripheral Innovations
- Xbox Handhelds (ROG Xbox Ally X & ROG Xbox Ally) – Microsoft, in collaboration with Asus, announced the release of two powerful handheld consoles for October 16. The ROG Xbox Ally X features an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme SoC, 24GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB storage, while the standard Ally packs 16GB DDR5 RAM and 512GB storage. Both sport 7-inch 120Hz IPS displays and a console-inspired full-screen UI to optimize gaming performance.
- Sony Inzone Gaming Gear – Sony expanded its Inzone line with the flagship keyboard (KBD-H75), matching Mouse-A, new mousepads (Mat-D & Mat-F), the revamped Inzone H9 II headset, and Inzone E9 FPS earbuds, all developed in collaboration with esports team Fnatic for peak performance across PC and console gaming.
Victor Vautrin’s Favourite Booths: Upcoming Game Spotlights
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
An ambitious action-RPG set in Lumiose City, introducing Mega Evolution and a shift toward dynamic combat. Launching October 16, 2025 on both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, with enhanced visuals on the latter.
Duet Night Abyss
A fast-paced fantasy action RPG by Pan Studio and Hero Games, featuring multiple weapon loadouts, 3D combat, and a dual-perspective narrative. It launches globally on October 28, 2025 for PC and mobile.
CrisisX
An action-adventure, free-to-play survival MMO/sim by HK Hero Entertainment. While initially touted for a 2025 release, current sources indicate a planned launch in 2026 on PC, Xbox, and mobile platforms.
Borderlands 4
The next installment in the looter-shooter saga. Set on a new planet, featuring four Vault Hunters—including Vex (a Siren) and Rafa. Launching September 12, 2025 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, with the Switch 2 version arriving October 3, 2025. The tone deepens with emotional story elements, especially around Claptrap.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
A grand, open-world action-adventure that spans Batman’s history across film, comics, and games. Combines Arkham-style combat, gliding, vehicle chases, and two-player local co-op. Scheduled for release in 2026 across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
Gamescom 2025 Winners
Looking Ahead: Partnering for Success in Game Development
Gamescom 2025 showcased the best the industry has to offer—from groundbreaking gameplay innovations to immersive VR experiences and next-generation hardware.
For studios and publishers, keeping pace with these developments requires not only creativity but also reliable production pipelines and specialized expertise.
This is where Remote Resources and Saigon Dragon Studios step in.
By offering tailored outsourcing solutions for QA/QC testing, art and animation production, and technical development, they help studios scale efficiently, reduce time-to-market, and maintain the high quality that today’s players expect.
Whether you’re launching a AAA title, an indie hit, or exploring cutting-edge VR/AR projects, partnering with experienced offshore teams ensures that your vision is realized without compromise.
With insights from Gamescom 2025 and a global network of talent, Remote Resources empowers studios to focus on creativity while leaving production challenges in trusted hands.
From concept to launch, Saigon Dragon Studios and Remote Resources make it possible to turn ambitious gaming projects into reality—faster, smarter, and at a competitive edge.
