Gamescom organizers issued a public apology after indie developers criticized the company's initial muted response to laptops and consoles stolen from their booths. The company said it has since contacted the affected exhibitors, is running its usual post-event review, and will hold an additional security evaluation for indie booths. At least three exhibitors—Ryan Laley, iam8bit, and Tessera Studios—reported stolen equipment during the event.
At Gamescom 2026, Dwarf Fortress co-creator Tarn Adams told PC Gamer that executives are chasing a fantasy where AI lets a CEO generate games at the push of a button while cutting the workforce that makes them possible. He argued this mirrors broader corporate behavior, citing his own father losing a job at a sewage plant because management didn't understand the technical work he did.
Several exhibitors at Gamescom in Cologne reported stolen equipment from booths in the show's business zone, including developer Ryan Laley's new Alienware laptop, two laptops from publisher iam8bit, and two laptops plus a Steam Deck from Tessera Studios. The thefts occurred despite the area being restricted to press and industry badge holders, with organizers claiming 24/7 security was in place.
Gamescom, the world's largest in-person gaming expo, took place this week in Cologne, Germany, with attendance expected to surpass last year's 350,000 visitors. Major publishers like Xbox and Sega showcased upcoming titles alongside small indie teams, with highlights including a new Witcher 3 expansion and Alien: Isolation 2.
At gamescom 2026, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma told BBC News that Project Helix, the code name for Xbox's next-generation hardware, actually refers to a whole lineup of devices rather than a single console. She declined to give specifics or say whether the discless-versus-disc question applies to the entire family, only confirming that all Helix hardware will support both console and PC games and that performance will keep improving.
ASUS revealed three new 24.5-inch gaming monitors under its Ace lineup: the 720Hz ROG Swift OLED PG259QWS Ace with a Tandem WOLED panel and Dolby Vision support, and two QD-OLED models, the 560Hz XG259QDPG Ace and 360Hz XG259QDNS Ace, both featuring a new anti-glare 'BlackShield' film. The PG259QWS Ace launches in early Q4 for $1,099, while pricing and availability for the QD-OLED models remain unannounced except for the previously shown XG259QWPG Ace at $699.
IKEA and Microsoft revealed the complete YXSTABY collection at Gamescom, expanding on last week's teaser of an Xbox-themed D-pad cushion. The nine-item lineup includes a tilting thumbstick stool, a rollable TV stand with hidden storage, a controller-and-cable toolbox that doubles as a laptop stand, a wheeled side table, a stainless steel D-pad platter, and a two-tone controller display case. The collection launches in the US on September 30.
Geoff Keighley's Gamescom 2026 opening ceremony delivered a wave of trailers, including HoYoverse's co-op action game Nodus Fall, Iceflake Studios' LEGO-themed city builder LEGO Skylines, and Rainbow Six Tactics, a turn-based spin-off due in 2027 that marks the franchise's first single-player entry since 2008. Microsoft also showed the first campaign footage for Gears of War: E-Day ahead of its October 6 launch, while Pearl Abyss unveiled an enhanced version of Crimson Desert.
CD Projekt Red announced at Gamescom's Opening Night Live that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered will arrive Sept. 29 as a free upgrade for existing owners on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and will also debut on Nintendo Switch 2 and Battle.net. Starting immediately, the studio is also making the game's two expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, free to owners. A new paid expansion, Songs of the Past, is planned for 2027, introducing a new region called Letten and serving as what may be Geralt of Rivia's final adventure.
CD Projekt Red announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live that a remastered version of The Witcher 3, bundled with both existing expansions, launches September 29 as a free upgrade for current owners. Switch owners will also get a complimentary upgrade path to the Switch 2 version. The remaster brings visual improvements plus reworked skill trees, combat, camera, targeting, movement and mount handling.
Gamescom's Opening Night Live showcase launched with a two-hour stream hosted by Geoff Keighley, streamed on YouTube and Twitch. The event featured new looks at Gears of War: E-Day, Silent Hill: Townfall, and Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, along with a first glimpse of The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past expansion and updates on Path of Exile 2, Metro 2039, and Valor Mortis.
Gamescom's Opening Night Live 2026 showcase aired live, presenting a lineup of new game announcements, updates, and trailers from developers across the industry. The event was streamed publicly on YouTube alongside continuing coverage from the Gamescom show floor.
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