The Gamescom 2019 Opening Night Live event just ended and there were a plethora of announcements. Some were breathtaking and loaded with information that fans have been craving, while others were less than stellar or topics that have been circulating for a few months now. However, the most positive aspect of this O.N.L event is that the majority of premieres showcased gameplay instead of just a pretty computer-generated trailer. That was a pleasant sigh of relief considering E3 2019 press conferences showed C.G.I trailers, mostly. Announcements ranged from developing studios like The Coalition, which is the studio that spears the production for Gears of War 5, to announcements from legendary game developer/creative director, Hideo Kojima, with his (and his development team’s) new project Death Stranding (which stars the popular Walking Dead actor, Norman Reedus, as well as other stars).
The number of announcements that were shown at the O.N.L event was quite staggering and, to be put frankly, something I did not expect; with the current console generation ending soon and all. Though, I digress, all the developer studios put the pedal to the metal for this event. The O.N.L was two hours of non-stop video game footage and that’s all we really want from these conferences. To make the streamline of information in this article easier to digest, we’ve decided that this list will feature the video games seen as the “highlights” of the O.N.L conference.
Major Announcements:
Gears of War 5
The Coalition
Release date: September 10, 2019
The fifth installment to the Gears of War franchise is gearing (puns!) up to be the biggest story that the franchise has seen to date. At the O.N.L, studio head Rod Fergusson came out on stage to further discuss what it is that fans can expect from this game. He said that the game had a two-sided story: One is about continuing the ongoing struggle that humanity, on ‘Sera’, faces when fighting against hordes of the monstrous creature; the second story deepens the lore of the character ‘Kate’ and how she is connected to the former ‘Locust Queen’, ‘Myrahh’. Fergusson showcased a new story trailer for the game and discussed new elements for the game’s ‘Horde Mode’. The studio head said that each character will have their own unique ability that will change how you function as a team/individual player and that there will be a crossover with the ‘Spartans’ of ‘Noble Squad’ from Halo: Reach, playable as characters in ‘Horde Mode’ and possibly multiplayer (a crossover with characters from Terminator: Dark Fate was already announced at E3 2019). Lastly, the best announcement is that your little robot helping friend ‘Jack’ is a playable character in ‘Horde Mode’ and the campaign. ‘Jack’ will be a “support” character, he collects guns and ammo; however, in campaign ‘Jack’ will have these functions and can be played by a third person in online co-op or split-screen. This is awesome.
Need For Speed: Heat
EA
Release date: November 8, 2019
It seems that EA is putting a lot into the development of this new Need For Speed. Need For Speed: Heat is bringing back the concept of cops vs. robbers. Beyond that, there are two kinds of races and cops between day and night cycles in the game. During the day players can race in ‘Sanctioned’ races to win and score big; then players can use these winnings to customize their car. Cops patrol the streets during the day, they limit your maneuverability on the road and fine you for your speed and racing. However, at night, the game changes completely. The races at night are ‘Unsanctioned’ but offer an even bigger reward; the only downside to racing at night is that the cops become completely different. The cops become more aggressive and use special tactics to take your car down. If they do that then your car is as good as gone. Also, download Need For Speed: Heat Studio as an app right now to customize your future in-game car.
Little Nightmares II
Tarsier Studios
Release date: Some Time 2020
Continuing the story of the previous horror-themed platformer, Little Nightmares II puts you in charge of the new character ‘Mono’. Players can play co-op and join in as the previous protagonist ‘Six’. Players must conquer many fears as they to and in ‘Signal Tower’. This will be the primary focus of the new game.
Predator: Hunting Grounds
Ill Fonic
Release date: 2020
In this new 4 vs 1 first-person shooter, you can play as either the legendary ‘Predator’ or as a fire-team of four specially trained soldiers. As the ‘Predator’ you hunt all that you can and as the soldiers complete your mission and survive or turn the tables and hunt the ‘Predator’.
Monster Hunter World: Ice Borne
Capcom
Release date: September 6, 2019
In the newest expansion of Monster Hunter World explore the new icey lands of the in-game’s “New World”. Take part in the new hunt against the new elder-dragon, the ‘Velkana’, and craft new weapon and armor designs with your bounty. This expansion will host a plethora of other hunts, monsters, customizable options, and ways to play with your friends.
Borderlands 3
Gearbox Software
Release date: September 13, 2019
With this new entry, players can expect some amazing high-level end game experience and an interplanetary adventure.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Infinity Ward
Release date: October 25, 2019
The devs at Infinity Ward are calling this game a “reimagining” of the original Call of Duty 4. The purpose of this “reimagining” is to put the player in today’s kind of warfare, packed with all of its technology, tactic, and unfortunate carnage. This game features crossplay between Xbox One and PlayStation 4 owners; plus, crossplay between consoles and PC (good choice devs). Multiplayer has a wide range of playable options between 2vs2, 6vs6, and 100vs100 gameplay modes; this adds on to the full campaign mode that features returning characters like ‘Captain Price’. A Beta for the game has been announced for September and an Alpha for the 2vs2 multiplayer mode will be made available worldwide this Friday on PS4.
Death Stranding
Kojima Productions
Release date: November 8, 2019
Legendary game designer/creative director Hideo Kojima was welcomed like a rock star at Gamescom 2019. Today’s conference was the most information given to us about this mysterious new title that he has somehow developed. During today’s conference, Kojima introduced us to new characters like ‘Mama’ (played by Margaret Qualley), whose baby was born on the ‘Otherside’ and is tethered to the baby via the umbilical cord and due to this, she cannot leave the place she lives. Also introduced to us was famous director Guillermo Del Toro’s character ‘Dead Man’, who explains why the in-game ‘Baby’ is so important. From what I can understand is that this ‘Baby’ is the connection that we will have to the ‘Otherside’, essentially the world of the dead (again, that’s where ‘Mama’s child is), and can sense the in-game enemy, the ‘BT’s. How we combat the beings from the ‘Otherside’? No clue, though, I’m sure Kojima will give an explanation at some point. We also got a six-minute gameplay demo that showed a little more as to how the game will play. Not a lot of action (there was a lot of peeing though), but we did get see the concept of the game, albeit a rough concept. We will be controlling the character ‘Sam’ and delivering objects throughout the U.C.A (United Cities of America) to re-establish the connection of the people and cities. At the same time, we connect to other in-game N.P.Cs called ‘Preppers’ and through them can obtain higher value equipment and further our connection network. Confused? Don’t worry, that comes with getting into Kojima’s games; go play the Metal Gear Solid series.
Those are all the big announcements from this years Gamescom 2019 Opening Night Live event. These were easily the highlights of the event and hopefully, it’ll go on again next year.