Gamescom 2025`s Opening Night Live ceremony unveiled a plethora of new announcements and gameplay demonstrations, covering titles from Black Ops 7 to Bubsy 4D. It appears that viewers showed immense interest in what host Geoff Keighley had prepared, as this year`s show registered a significant surge in audience numbers compared to the previous year.
According to a press release, Gamescom ONL amassed over 72 million views, marking an impressive 80% increase from the previous year. The Gamescom convention itself, held in Cologne, Germany, also experienced a healthy rise in attendance, with approximately 7% more visitors than in 2024. This year, the conference drew 357,000 attendees, temporarily boosting Cologne`s population by over a third.
These figures suggest that gaming audiences are keen to discover upcoming game releases. While it`s challenging to pinpoint the exact reasons for the surge in viewership, Keighley`s pre-show teasers about announcements for Hollow Knight: Silksong, Resident Evil Requiem, and the next season of the Fallout TV series likely played a significant role. The recent launch of the Switch 2 and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Microsoft`s future projects might have also contributed to the event`s appeal.
Opening Night Live featured dozens of announcements, trailers, and fresh details about upcoming titles. Besides a brief glimpse of Silksong (which received a release date later in the week) and a teaser for Fallout Season 2, the show also showcased Europa Universalis V, Silent Hill F, and Dawn of War IV.