IGN is on the ground at gamescom 2023 where we’re checking out all the latest and greatest in games in Cologne, Germany. In the wake of Opening Night Live, where we got to see updates for Mortal Kombat 1, Modern Warfare 3, and lots more, we had a chance sit down a ton of developers over the course of our multi-day live show.
This article highlights everything that came out from the second day of gamescom, which you can read more about below. You can find info on what to expect as gamescom 2023 continues into the weekend, including the awards show and lots more! Here’s the entire gamescom 2023 schedule and how to watch.
gamescom Day 2: The biggest announcements
The second day of gamescom 2023 kept the momentum going. Some games that made an appearance on day two include STALKER 2, Marvel Snap, and The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria. The full list is below.
We revealed exclusive gameplay for The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
IGN can exclusively reveal the 13 minutes of gameplay for Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria. Yesterday we exclusively revealed the next game in the popular fantasy series inspired by the books by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria will be released on October 24, 2023, on PS5 and PC as an exclusive on the Epic Games Store, while an Xbox Series X/S version is targeting an early 2024 release.
We got a new look at S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
Despite the game being pushed back to early 2024, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl developer GSC Game World appeared at gamescom to share a slew of new gameplay for its upcoming first-person shooter.
Additionally, the CEO of GSC Game World sat down with us to answer all questions we had about the development team and its project. We also shared our first impressions of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s gameplay, which you can watch right here.
CD Projekt Red talked about how Phantom Liberty is the last big update before Cyberpunk 2
My colleague Stella Chung had a chance to sit down with game director Gabriel Amatangelo to discuss the new content coming to the next expansion of Cyberpunk 2077, including a quick look at a new zone called Dogtown.
More interestingly, Amatangelo revealed that Phantom Liberty is the last big expansion fans will see before a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 launches.
We learned that Kazuma Kiryu was always meant to be the dual protagonist in Like a Dragon Gaiden
We sat down with Like a Dragon series producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto at gamescom 2023 to get some answers to our questions on Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, including new details about the game’s setting, fighting styles, battle arena, Kiryu’s fashion sense, and more.
Since the reveal of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, many veteran fans of the series have been perplexed by the decision to bring back long-time series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu as a dual protagonist. However, Like a Dragon series producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto claims that Kiryu’s return has been in the cards for a long, long time.
Second Dinner’s Ben Brode talked about Marvel Snap leaving Steam Early Access
Ben Brode, the Chief Development Officer at Second Dinner sat down with us to discuss Marvel Snap’s PC launch and his favorite deck in the game.
At Opening Night Live earlier this week, Second Dinner announced that Marvel Snap was finally out of Early Access. Last October, the game was released on PC (via Steam), in addition to macOS and mobile devices, but only the Steam version was left in Early Access.
Wayfinder revealed as a new MMO that looks like a fusion between Destiny and WoW
If you’re a Destiny and/or World of Warcraft fan, Wayfinder might be up your alley. This upcoming MMO. IGN sat down with AJ LaSaracina, the director of marketing and engagement for the game. He explained the game’s journey so far and what fans can expect when it finally releases sometime next year.
Project Mugen is a new open world RPG where Cyberpunk meets Genshin Impact
After teasing the game a few days prior, NetEase Games and Naked Rain announced Project Mugen, a free-to-play urban open-world RPG that resembles a fusion of Cyberpunk and Genshin Impact.
Despite no release date, we do know Project Mugen is coming to PlayStation, PC, and mobile devices. Pre-registrations are open now for those interested in giving the game a try.
gamescom Day 1: The biggest announcements
The first full day of the trade show started off strong with new information on Starfield, Alan Wake 2, and RoboCop: Rogue City. Of course, we also saw some great surprises, including a brand-new teaser for the Fallout TV series.
Bethesda showed off the first teaser for the Fallout TV series
During a presentation for Bethesda’s upcoming open-world RPG Starfield, Todd Howard surprised those who attended with a sneak peek at the forthcoming Fallout TV series.
📍 Vault 33
Location: Los AngelesFallout, an original series, coming to Prime Video in 2024 pic.twitter.com/tlHh2WutF4
— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) August 23, 2023
The TV adaption based on the popular post-apocalyptic franchise was announced in 2020 and is a collaboration between Bethesda Softworks and Prime Video. However, there’s been comparatively little news on the series. Howard mentioned in the presentation that there will be bigger tease, and Prime Video confirmed the series would premiere sometime next year.
We got to see Starfield’s first mission
We also got to see the first mission for Starfield at gamescom 2023. The first 15 minutes of Starfield follows its showing at Opening Night Live, which include a live-action trailer among other highlights.
The first mission of the game has players on the Argos Extractors Mining Outpost on the Moon of Vectera, mining for ores before wandering in a tunnel alone, where we discover and interact with a weird blue deposit, which leaves us unconscious with a transition into you waking up and commencing the start of your character creation.
We had a chat with Xbox Boss Phil Spencer
Phil Spencer sat down to chat with us about a variety of things: from sharing his opinions on Baldur’s Gate 3, to teasing more Final Fantasy games coming to Xbox consoles, and reiterating that there is no plans to offer a mid-generation upgrade to the Xbox Series X/S consoles.
Circling back to the Final Fantasy comments, we asked him if Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 16, two games that have been big heavy hitters on PlayStation consoles, would ever make its way onto Xbox. While we did not get an outright confirmation, Spencer noting that Square’s previous commitment to Xbox sounds hopeful for RPG fans in the Xbox ecosystem.
Zack Snyder talks Rebel Moon and his ideal game to adapt for the big screen
At Opening Night Live yesterday, we got new details on Zack Snyder’s upcoming sci-fi films Rebel Moon. Part 1, subtitled A Child of Fire, which we already knew will hit Netflix on December 22, but Part 2: The Scargiver, will arrive on April 19, 2024.
At day one of gamescom, Snyder revealed the approixmate runtimes for both films in an interview with us, with both films lasting roughly four hours. But if you are craving for longer run times for both, Snyder did reveal that there are director’s cuts of the films also in the works, too.
More interestingly, Zack Snyder told us that he would love to adapt Gears of War for the big screen, while also mentioning that he is interested in the Halo franchise. While Halo is already being adapted for the small screen with a second season on the way at Paramout+, a Gears ofWar movie and adult animated series were announced last year.
Remedy was on hand to show off 40 minutes of Alan Wake 2
With Alan Wake 2 released in October month, Remedy Entertainment showed off a full chapter comprising some 40 minutes of its horror sequel. The chapter is set in an ominous replica of New York City called The Dark Place. Remedy previously noted that Alan Wake 2 was going to be its first survival horror game.
The Dark Place offers a stark contrast to what Alan Wake fans have previously seen; its roads are populated with oil-spill-like pools od darkness and newspapers litter the streets. Outside of its NYC-infleunced design The Dark Place is filled to the brim with Easter Eggs, including a cameo from creative director Sam Lake, who is already confirmed not to be reprising his role as Max Payne and instead playing another character in Alan Wake 2.
Mortal Kombat 1 devs talk Lore and invasions while addressing the animation criticism
We had a few interviews on day one of gamescom from Netherealm Studios, and they were all about its upcoming fighting game Mortal Kombat 1.
IGN sat down with Netherrealm’s story and voiceover director to discuss the lore and how it has changed in Mortal Kombat 1 as the next main installment serves as a reboot for the series. A separate interview had us talking to Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon, where he addressed the criticisms made about certain attack animations featured in Mortal Kmbat 1.
My colleague Mitchell Saltzman published his final preview for Mortal Kombat 1, discussing the new Invasions mode, which he described as an “RPG mixed with a board game.” You can watch the video version of that preview above.
The first 16 minutes of RoboCop: Rogue included a ton of ED-209s
In 2021, a RoboCop first-person shooter was announced. And today, IGN can exclusively reveal the first 16 minutes of RoboCop: Rogue City. The 16 minutes is filled with elements fans of the films can expect, including a gaggle of ED-209s.
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria received a PS5 and PC release date
IGN can exclusively reveal that The Lord of the Rings: Return of Moria is coming to PC and PS5 on October 24. An Xbox Series X/S version was previously announced as well, but Indie developer Free Range Games and publisher North Beach Games said that version will arrive early next year.
Star Wars: Dark Forces remaster announced
Nightdive Studios, the developer who previously gave the remaster treatment to System Shock and Quake 2 announced its next project: Star Wars: Dark Forces remaster. It’s in development for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
Turok 3 is also on the way
Alongside a remaster for Star Wars: Dark Forces, Nightdive Studios also announced at this year’s gamescom that Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion is also on the way. It’s slated to release sometime between October and December of this year and will launch on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.
Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story received a new trailer
Another exclusive IGN revealed outta this year’s gamescom is Son of Nunu: A League of Legends Story. The latest trailer featruures gameplay, a look at the fictional region of Freljord and an appearance from Braum, a champion from League of Legends.
Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story does not have a release date (yet) but we do know it will release sometime this fall.
We learned lots more about Hellboy: Web of Wyrd
IGN’s Max Scoville sat down with Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and Art Director Patrick Martin to talk about Hellboy’s new game, Hellboy: Web of Wyrd.
Patrick and Mike talk to Max about multiple elements of the new game. They discuss the game’s heavy emphasis on melee combat that still includes shooting. More than that, they also dug deep into the game’s rogue-like elements, like Hellboy’s different upgradable abilities and what players could expect to customize from run to run.
We learned how Assassin’s Creed: Codename Jade made the leap to mobile
Assassin’s Creed Jade is the first full game in the franchise to be made exclusively for mobile devices. Playable at gamescom 2023, we took to the level Infinite booth to get some quality time with Assassin’s Creed Jade to see just what the developers were able to achieve on the mobile platform.
What to expect from gamescom Day 3
That’s about it for our recap of Day 2 of gamescom! Keep an eye on this space for lots more interviews, trailers, and announcements as we roll on to Day 3 of gamescom. Tomorrow are the gamescom 2023 awards! Here’s a list of what to expect.
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Best Announcement / Trailer
- Best Xbox Game
- Best Playstation Game
- Best Nintendo Game
- Best PC Game
- Best Mobile Game
- And More!
- Plus exclusive trailers for a ton of new games
- Game code giveaways in chat throughout the whole show
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
All content and images belong to their respected owners. This article is aggregated for informational purposes only with full credit to the source.
