Gamescom 2025 Opens in Cologne with Call of Duty, Lego Batman Highlights, 300,000+ Attendees Expected

Gamescom 2025, the world's largest gaming event held in Cologne, showcased major upcoming releases that have generated significant excitement despite the industry's recent job cuts. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, set for release on November 14, 2025, stands out with its futuristic, psychological storyline set in 2035, featuring a four-player co-op campaign, expanded multiplayer maps, and the return of the Zombies mode. The event also revealed Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, arriving in 2026, which promises to revisit iconic moments from decades of Batman history with a humorous Lego twist. Other highlights included Resident Evil Requiem’s unsettling demo, the space adventure The Outer Worlds 2, and a surprise reveal of Black Myth: Zhong Kui, a sequel to the 2024 hit Black Myth: Wukong. Nintendo returned to Gamescom following the successful launch of its Switch 2 console, contributing to hopes that 2025’s attendance will rebound to pre-pandemic levels. The event attracted over 5,300 attendees on opening night alone, underscoring the gaming community's enthusiasm for new releases and cultural impact, including the announcement of the second season of the Fallout TV adaptation.