7 actually exciting announcements from Gamescom 2024

Gamescom is one of the biggest annual events in gaming, with the four-day showcase regularly setting the pace for the rest of the year and beyond.

Taking place over the week just gone (August 20-24), the 2024 event was no different. Sure, there’s still no news on Hollow Knight: Silksong and fans are still wondering when Rockstar Games will release any more info about Grand Theft Auto 6 but there was a whole host of announcements to get gamers buzzed – and we’ve rounded up the most exciting below. Lucky you!

Indiana Jones And The Great Circle has a release date

The name is still a bit odd, but everything Bethesda have shared about Indiana Jones And The Great Circle looks amazing. We know the game is set between the events of Raiders Of The Lost Ark and The Last Crusade as Indy once again takes on the Nazis in a hunt for an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, but a new trailer revealed at Gamescom 2024 confirmed the game would be released this year.

Indiana Jones And The Great Circle is due to launch December 9 for Xbox Series X/S and PC. It will also be a Day One Xbox Game Pass release. It comes after rumours the game would be pushed back to 2025 started to circulate online.

In other news, Microsoft also confirmed it would continue to release exclusive titles on rival consoles, with Indiana Jones And The Great Circle coming to PlayStation at some point in 2025.

We got a first look at Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6‘s campaign

It’s set to be a busy few weeks for Call Of Duty fans, with the first look at Black Ops 6’s multiplayer shared earlier this week (August 26) ahead of real-life event CODNext, which takes place on August 28.

That didn’t stop Activision from giving players a first look at the new zombie mode that’s set to launch for the game at Gamescom 2024 though. A cinematic trailer transports players to the small town of Liberty Falls which has some tricky ongoing problems with the undead…

Starfield’s Shattered Space expansion is coming soon

Bethesda has been teasing its massive Shattered Space Starfield expansion for a number of months now, but we finally have a release date. The horror-inspired new storyline will see players get familiar with the creepy House Va’ruun faction as they deal with a power struggle on the edge of catastrophe. A new trailer also confirms the expansion will be released on September 30 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.

Borderlands 4 has finally been confirmed

Perhaps hoping to distance itself from the questionable Borderlands movie, Gearbox Software used Gamescom 2024 to confirm a release window for Borderlands 4 with a teaser trailer.

Borderlands 4 is due to release at some point in 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. According to the official description of the game, “in this next instalment of the definitive looter shooter, players will assume the role of a legendary Vault Hunter as they blast their way through hordes of enemies in search of new treasures to loot on an all-new planet.”

Last month, Gearbox boss Randy Pickford teased the Borderlands 4 announcement. “I’m confident that our fans are going to be very, very happy with the next video game project,” he promised.

The Dying Light 2 expansion has become a standalone game

Dying Light 2: Stay Human didn’t exactly get off to the best start, with many fans disappointed by its shaky launch after such a high-profile marketing campaign. Two years on, and Techland confirmed that a planned DLC has been turned into a standalone game at Gamescom 2024.

Dying Light: The Beast sees the return of protagonist Kyle Crane, 13 years after the events of the original game. In The Beast, Crane finally escapes his mysterious captors but now has zombie DNA mixed into his own, giving him newfound powers. Dying Light: The Beast will release for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC but no specific dates have been revealed.

Mafia 4 is now Mafia: The Old Country

Two years ago, Take-Two Interactive and Hangar 13 confirmed an  “all-new” Mafia game was in development following the success of Mafia: The Definitive Edition. At Gamescom 2024, the studio announced the sequel would be called Mafia: The Old Country and be released at some point in 2025.

“Across the first three entries in the Mafia franchise, we introduced players to the world of the Mafia through brutal stories set in different eras,” said Nick Baynes, President of Hangar 13. “In Mafia: The Old Country, we’re going back to the roots of what fans love about the franchise, crafting a deep, linear narrative with that classic mob movie feeling, visiting a stunning new setting, and delivering it all in a tight, focused package perfect for fans of immersive experiences.”

Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 got a release date

Whispers about Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 started up back in 2021 thanks to a stray job listing but it wasn’t until June 2024 that any solid details emerged about the epic strategy game.

At Gamescom 2024, Firaxis shared even more info via a 20-minute deep-dive. The main takeaway? Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 is due for release February 11 2025 and will be an “innovative” addition to the long-running franchise.

A legacy, 34 years in the making. pic.twitter.com/TQCHGbXjnZ

— Sid Meier's Civilization VII (@CivGame) August 26, 2024

 

There was a tantalising Lord Of The Rings update

In other news, it doesn’t look like Amazon Games’ Lord Of The Rings MMO will be released any time soon, but it is still in the works.

Amazon Games boss Christoph Hartmann revealed the project is still “early” in development, with the team currently trying to find a way to make the game “different” to other MMOs.

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