What to expect from Gamescom 2014

Gamescom 2014, taking place in Cologne, Germany from 13 – 17 August 2014, is self-proclaimed to be the world’s “largest trade fair and event highlight for interactive games”.

In other words: a lot of cool gaming stuff is going to be shown off.

What can gamers expect from this year’s event? Let’s take a look.

Ubisoft is coming out in full force

Ubisoft is not holding anything back at Gamescom this year, bringing a bucket-load of titles to the industry event.

Expect to see a lot more trailers, gameplay, and story details from the following games:

• Far Cry 4
• Assassin’s Creed Unity
• Assassin’s Creed Rogue
• Tom Clancy’s The Division
• The Crew
• Just Dance 2015
• Just Dance Now
• The Settlers Kingdom of Anteria
• Shape Up

And those are the titles we know about. There may be a surprise or two in the works.

Sony is being sneaky

Sony has not revealed much about its Gamescom plans, bar a very short teaser video showing a blood-soaked snowflake slowly falling to the ground.

The Interwebs has speculated that this may be a teaser for Resident Evil 7, but that claim holds as much (frozen) water as any educated guess.

Games we should see promoted by Sony at Gamescom include:

• Driveclub
• Destiny
• Bloodborne
• LittleBigPlanet 3
• The Order 1886
• Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
• Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

EA Games coming in hard, sort of

Electronic Arts comes to this year’s event with quite a diverse bag of offerings, giving gamers the chance to shoot a robber in the face, or make friends with their virtual neighbour at a pool party. Wait… scrap the pool party idea.

Games we can expect EA to show off:

• The Sims 4
• Battlefield Hardline
• Dragon Age: Inquisition
• Fifa 15
• Dawngate
• Madden 15

What will Microsoft dish out?

Microsoft will no doubt look to boost the profile of the Xbox One ahead of its “launch” in multiple countries – including South Africa – in September. With a Kinect-less bundle now available, and a list of tidy games due to be released in the coming months, this is a chance for the company to catch up ground it has lost to Sony.

Here are a few of the titles we should see:

• Halo: Master Chief Collection
• Forza Horizon 2
• Sunset Overdrive
• Halo 5
• Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
• NBA 2K15

Microsoft has also promised a “big surprise”, so keep a look out for that.

Other games we can expect to see

These titles should be rearing their heads at Gamescom this year.

• Dead Island 2
• Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
• The Evil Within
• WWE 2K15
• Project Cars
• Dead Rising 3
• Alien Isolation
• Batman: Arkham Knight
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
• Evolve
• GTA 5
• More on Square Enix’s newly announce Life is Strange
• BioWare’s new IP, speculated to be called Shadow Realms

Sierra is making a comeback

Sierra – best known for their seminal graphic adventure games such as the Space Quest and Police Quest series – is set to make a comeback at Gamescom 2014.

According to a short video, posted below, and a new website, the publisher is set to return following its absorption into its parent company – then Activision – in 2008.

Will they be showing off a some new games? Let’s hope so.

Cosplay

Hot women dressed as movie and/or video game characters – yes please , I will watch a bit of that. Expect tight leather and lots of cleavage, as per normal. There’s also bound to be some man-candy to ogle at too, if you’re that way inclined.

Cosplay

There are also the pre-award, awards… for games that aren’t finished

Although some of these games are not yet available, or playable, they are up for Gamescom Awards.

Best Console Game Sony Playstation

• The Evil Within
• Evolve
• Dying Light
• Far Cry 4
• Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor

Best Console Game Microsoft Xbox

• The Evil Within
• Evolve
• Assassin’s Creed Rogue
• Sunset Overdrive
• Ori and the Blind Forest

Best Console Game Nintendo Wii

• Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
• Splatoon
• Super Smash Bros.

Best Role Playing Game

• Skylanders Trap Team
• Risen 3
• Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMIX

Best Action Game

• The Order: 1886
• Evolve
• Far Cry 4
• Ori and the Blind Forest
• Super Smash Bros.

Best Simulation Game

• Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call
• World of Warships

Best Sports Game

• FIFA 15
• Forza Horizon 2
• PES2015

Best Family Game

• Skylanders Trap Team
• Silence
• LittleBigPlanet 3
• LEGO Batman 3
• Yoshi’s Woolly World

Best PC Game

• Heroes of the Storm
• The Evil Within
• Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
• Evolve
• Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

Best Mobile Game

• Darkblade
• Super Smash Bros. For 3DS
• Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call

Best Social/Casual/Online Game

• Orcs Must Die! Unchained
• Dance Central Spotlight
• LittleBigPlanet 3
• SingStar
• LEGO Batman 3

Best Online Multiplayer Game

• Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
• Heroes of the Storm
• FIFA 15
• Evolve
• Forza Horizon 2

Best Hardware

• Virtualizer
• Oculus Rift DK 2
• Project Morpheus
• Amiibo
• SHIELD Tablet and SHIELD Wireless Controller

What are you looking forward to from Gamescom? Let us know in the comments and forum.

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