Gamescom is back – das ist super! And it kicks off tonight with Geoff Keighleys Opening Night Live from 7pm UK time. And well be covering it live, right here, while you watch and chat about it.
What are we going to see? Well, Geoff Keighley! And hes promised a bumper load of world premiere trailers for games such as Return to Monkey Island, The Expanse: Telltale Series, The Callisto Protocol and “more than a dozen” more. I wonder if any of those will have dates on?
Weve also had a leak or two already. A new trailer for Sonic Frontiers popped up this morning before being hastily pulled down again, but not before the internet caught the 8th November release date.
So, see you later? And if you have two monitors, you can watch Zoe react to the conference announcements live, too.
There are more Gamescom conferences this week but we wont be covering them live. We will, however, be mopping them like a dirty floor afterwards for anything interesting that happened. And we have our man on the ground, Chris Tapsell, booked up to his eyeballs with appointments at the show.
You can get up to speed with everything thats happening this week with our Gamescom 2022 guide.
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Our live coverage of this event has finished.
Coverage
13:31 pm
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– Robert Purchese
13:32 pm
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Which of those are you most looking forward to? Or is there another game youd like to see?
– Robert Purchese
17:41 pm
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Good afternoon-slash-evening! Its lovely to feel all of your presences. Are you excited? I am. I cant help myself.
– Robert Purchese
17:41 pm
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IanHigton says: I love Bertie, he is nice. (also, Callisto Protocol for me)
Hooray! Your fiver is in the post.
– Robert Purchese
17:43 pm
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RevBadger says: Personally, looking forward to Return to Monkey Island. My daughter wants to see some Hogwarts Legacy actual play footage.
Im with your daughter. Tricky prospect with everything going on but I still feel the pull of Harry Potter.
17:43 pm
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2much says: Always Sonic
You are very much on brand!
– Robert Purchese
17:44 pm
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Kami says: Interesting list. Aside WET 2, to keep that joke alive… Im still hoping for a Grim Dawn sequel announcement.
WET 2 – yes! Tonight could be the night!
– Robert Purchese
17:44 pm
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Weebleman says: Hello Bertie. Hope all is well!
Hello! It is. I have a beer chilling right now. I wish it would hurry up.
– Robert Purchese
17:45 pm
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Kami says: Heyo Bertie! I have a pot of Earl Grey and a twin pack of Jaffa Cakes. Im set for this!
Hello! I have a Tunnocks caramel bar. I bloody love those things.
– Robert Purchese
17:47 pm
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Bauul says: @JudgeCal Lies of P is essentially a Bloodborne homage, at least from all the trailers so far. Just with oily puppets and automotons stalking the city rather than werewolves. But it does look like it captures that From essence quite well.
Oily puppets?! Thats quite an aesthetic.
– Robert Purchese
17:51 pm
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Ready for thousands of fans! pic.twitter.com/fBJlQFdSkf
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) August 23, 2022
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But theres no one there, Geoff!
– Robert Purchese
17:52 pm
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Backstage getting ready for #OpeningNightLive pic.twitter.com/fwdFGp63o9
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) August 23, 2022
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Im just trawling Geoff Keighleys Twitter feed, as you do.
– Robert Purchese
17:55 pm
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Six whole minutes. I got excited too early, didnt I?
What is the optimum set-up for watching these things? Im cramming everything onto one monitor this evening – it feels less than ideal.
– Robert Purchese
17:56 pm
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Im not sure about this opening hold music. Its like a record scratch that will never end.
– Robert Purchese
17:57 pm
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Gosh these live reports take me back. I remember the first ones we did, back in, what was it, 2005 maybe? Back when it was really hard to get live video feed from E3 conferences. How things have changed (but we havent)!
– Robert Purchese
18:00 pm
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Kami says: Remember being offered to DOWNLOAD the old Nintendo E3 streams from what was then GameSpy. Damn, Im old enough to remember GameSpy.
Yes! I remember Johnny Minkley and James Hills – his camera chap – filming and then chopping entire conferences into dozens of pieces people could download.
Oh, here we go!
– Robert Purchese
18:01 pm
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Its Geoff, collar up on a crushed leather jacket. Hes pumped. Hes gone for trainers with smart trousers, keeping it lowkey.
He looks a little bit like David Hasselhoff.
– Robert Purchese
18:03 pm
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Two HOURS?! Lets get to it, Geoff.
A new world from a brand new team with a bolc new vision – dont they all?
Leslie Benzies, former Rockstar VIP!
– Robert Purchese
18:05 pm
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What is it what is it what is it?
Five years, theyve been working on it.
Were seeing a glimpse at some environments in the game – a canyon, a lush forest. Theres driving, theres jumping and shooting, theres clearly multiplayer. It looks Fortnitey.
Its called Everywhere.
– Robert Purchese
18:07 pm
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Assistant game director Adam Whiting is on stage, hitting all the buzz words. “Watch, play, create.” Theres that Fortnite feeling again.
Hes talking about players making their own experiences. I wonder if its a game-making platform like Roblox and Fortnite.
Hes said a lot without saying anything, basically.
They aim to have Everywhere out in 2023.
– Robert Purchese
18:08 pm
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Were onto another world premiere announcement. Its Funcom and Legendary Pictures. Were in a desert looking at the back of a mans head. Is it Dune?
– Robert Purchese
18:10 pm
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I think it is! Theres a bloody great sandworm just swallowed a machine. The hero character is now going to ride the worm, presumably, like Sting once did but we havent seen Timothée Chalamet do yet.
This is an open-world survival MMO. Remember, Funcom made Conan Exiles, which is also set in desert biomes, so perhaps theres a lot of crossover possible there?
– Robert Purchese
18:11 pm
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A PlayStation announcement now. Were looking at the DualSense 5 – its the DualSense Edge.
Its a high-performance, ultra-customisable PS5 controller. You can have custom control profiles. Its a thin announcement and theres more info on the blog.
Big cheer as Geoff annoucnes Callisto Protocol, and heres boss Glen Schofield to demo it – hes putting in the promotional hours isnt he?
– Robert Purchese
18:12 pm
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Hes got a good voice, hasnt he? He sounds like a grizzled marine.
Were going to get a mix of live gameplay across two sections. The 2nd December 2022 date is on the board behind him.
I love Geoff very politely talking about “strategic dismemberment”, like its a bullet point on an annual forecast or something.
– Robert Purchese
18:13 pm
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Kami says: Is it wrong Im looking forward to Callisto Protocol more than the Dead Space reboot?
I dont think so! I think many people are.
– Robert Purchese
18:13 pm
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Boooo_urns says: Ambiguous was the name of the game for Everywhere. Not a clue what it was
Yeah, I hear you.
– Robert Purchese
18:16 pm
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Thats a cool gun – holds enemies as if in a kind of stasis, then can fling them away like the Gravity Gun.
Oh, theres a kind of pivot or dodge ability for when enemies get close – thats nice.
Were watching our hero go down some space flume now, with the running water. This cant be the new gameplay Glen was talking about can it – an endless floater?
Hes dodging what are clearly fatal obstacles in his way – spinning blades and turbine blades. Might make a nice break from the other action. And oh dear, hes been cut in half.
– Robert Purchese
18:19 pm
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This is a biggie, this next premiere, according to Geoff, but then he would say that.
Skulls on the battlefield, armoured riders on horses. Its Hexworks Studio in collaboration with CI Games. Some story about fallen gods influencing the world, corrupting it, pillars of dark magic in the sky.
Oh! Is it Lords of the Fallen 2?!
– Robert Purchese
18:20 pm
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Its all cinematic, which is annoying. Lords of the Fallen was a stylish game though – a bit of a grab at finding a Souls audience in between Souls releases.
Oh, this is just “The Lords of the Fallen”. No number 2 on it now.
– Robert Purchese
18:21 pm
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Scratch that last thought, I dont know what I was thinking. Its Moving Out 2, from Team 17.
– Robert Purchese
18:22 pm
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Cue Harry Potter music, its Hogwarts Legacy time. The audience seem excited. February 2023, remember. Were going to see a brand new trailer.
– Robert Purchese
18:24 pm
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Were seeing a montage of gameplay here. Were outside the Chamber of Secrets, maybe? The student wizards are battling zombie-like enemies. Looks like a nicely-drawn dungeon, pretty much.
Im not sure that convinced me but it continues to look interesting.
– Robert Purchese
18:25 pm
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Randy Pitchford is on stage now, in yellow trousers, to officially announce – there were leaks – New Tales From the Borderlands.
This is a continuation of what Telltale memorably made, and its made by some former Telltale staff. Its coming in October this year on “all platforms”
– Robert Purchese
18:26 pm
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No apparent lip-synching, not that thats a bad thing. Its got that thick-lined Telltale look. It seems colourful and varied, and lively. And its out soon.
– Robert Purchese
18:28 pm
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Techland here to present some Dying Light 2 DLC, I think?
Were in an underground gym, a sort of arena, Mad Max Thunderdome style. Youre going to have to stay alive in there.
– Robert Purchese
18:28 pm
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Dying Light 2: Stay Human – Bloody Ties. I think that was the name.
– Robert Purchese
18:30 pm
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An sketchy looking pirate game just whizzed by. Tortgua: A Pirates Tale. And heres a forgettable looking shooter called Marauders. I guess were just getting these out of the way quickly? I hope theyre not actually interesting.
– Robert Purchese
18:31 pm
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Kami says: Bloody Ties is the DLC title
Thank you!
– Robert Purchese
18:32 pm
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I just completely glossed over Destiny 2: Lightfall there.
– Robert Purchese
18:33 pm
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How has Metal: Hellsinger won an award already? Regardless, it looks great. I genuinely cant wait to play it.
– Robert Purchese
18:33 pm
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I like that shes talking about kindness and empathy as equally important skills and traits in the industry. Treat each other with heart – make games with humanity. Nice message.
– Robert Purchese
18:34 pm
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Its Sonic time!
Heres Sonic Frontiers, the release date of which was leaked earlier. But were going to see it for real now!
– Robert Purchese
18:35 pm
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It looks very fast! Could it actually be… good? Whisper it!
Why does Sonic run with his arms behind his back? Is that a faster way of running? Ive never tried that.
8th November! Well waddaya know.
– Robert Purchese
18:37 pm
UTC
A French studio: its Quantic Dream and Parallel Studio.
Were under the water in a sumbmersible vehicle of some kind. Were out in the ocean, exploring sunken worlds. There are ghosts, by the looks of things.
Its Under the Waves, due 2023. Has a melancholic vibe. Interesting.
– Robert Purchese
18:37 pm
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Malek86 says: Robert, you never tried Naruto running? It les you run faster than bullets, you know.
What have I been missing my whole life!
– Robert Purchese
18:39 pm
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Goat Simulator 3 – the game that skipped a sequel.
It looks appropriately wild. Theres a goat throwing a fisbee. Theres a goat dressed as a knight. Theres a goat driving a car. Theres a goat jousting down a power line?!
I think its safe to say theres nothing like subtlety there. 17th November.
– Robert Purchese
18:39 pm
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Ooh, its Return to Monkey Island. Were going to get a release date!
– Robert Purchese
18:40 pm
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I think this new game looks lovely, for what its worth.
19th September – International Talk Like a Pirate Day!
– Robert Purchese
18:41 pm
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Haha, theyre having a pop at Oblivions Horse Armour. Do you know, I met the man who was in charge of Horse Armour the other day. We didnt actually talk about it. Missed opportunity.
– Robert Purchese
18:42 pm
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Subnautica developer Unknown Worlds here to reveal its brand new IP, a turn-based sci-fi game. Its bestselling author Brandon Sanderson!
Hes been working with Unknown Worlds!
– Robert Purchese
18:44 pm
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Moonbreaker.
Were seeing a very colourful cityscape, and huge figurine-like characters are smashing down onto a turn-based playing space.
Its very energetic and colourful. There are obstructions and what appears to be cover. Theres a lot of character coming through the voices, and flashy special moves.
This is right up my street!
Oh it IS based on figurines. We can build them, paint them, then assemble our teams.
– Robert Purchese
18:44 pm
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Early Access 29th September.
– Robert Purchese
18:45 pm
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Theyre calling it a “digital miniatures game”.
Theyre channelling Guardians of the Galaxy and Firefly, apparently. You choose a captain and 10 crew. Every unit in the game is really strange and special and game-breaking. Oh man theyre saying all the right things. Hearthstone meets X-COM is another comparison made.
– Robert Purchese
18:47 pm
UTC
So you can paint your miniatures a bit like if youre using a painting program, spinning around the figure, using brushes on them. But its not too complicated to be off-putting, apparently. I like it, I like it!
Theyll be on Steam Playtest in September ahead of the Early Access launch.
– Robert Purchese
18:48 pm
UTC
What is the colourful assault on our eyes? A card game of some kind? A lovely trailer but I have no idea what the game is. Friends vs. Friends. Oh and hello, its a first-person shooter card game? How unusual! I like it.
– Robert Purchese
18:49 pm
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Lies of P, a Soulslike inspired by Pinocchio, by Neowiz. Coming to Game Pass day one.
– Robert Purchese
18:51 pm
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Some very ornate scenery and environments. You have a mechanical arm that you can customise. I do very much like the main characters hair. Gepeto?!
Is that Jimminy Cricket in the pouch thing?
I like the idea but Im not sure.
– Robert Purchese
18:53 pm
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Malek86 says: I dunno, I feel like Alice worked because it was unexpected and also felt original enough despite its obvious influence. This is too much of a Soulslike, and not nearly as close to the book to be a noticeable thing.
Yeah, I hear that. It looks too familiar despite trying to be quite different?
– Robert Purchese
18:55 pm
UTC
Its Samantha Cristoforetti on the International Space Station. Theres a Gamescom banner behind her. I wonder if she plays games up there. What would you play?
Oh I thought she was going to announce a game – that would have been cool!
– Robert Purchese
18:59 pm
UTC
Were onto Focus and Deck 13 now – makers of The Surge.
Were in a desert landscape, playing a female heroine who can surf across the sand at great speeds. Shes very acrobatic. Shes fighting what look like magical sand beasts. Oh and that fellow is helping her – thats nice of him.
A co-op action game?
– Robert Purchese
19:00 pm
UTC
Atlas Fallen. Now were seeing some gameplay. Big powers, sand surfing at great speed. Due 2023. Looks promising.
– Robert Purchese
19:00 pm
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Kami says: and now THIS is what I was expecting from Lords of the Fallen 2.
Deck 13 being the original developer of Lords of the Fallen, of course!
– Robert Purchese
19:01 pm
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Homeworld 3 now. I actually played this the other day except I cant talk about it yet – dont tell anyone. Look for my proper thoughts later this week.
I love the grace of the ships. Theres great detail on show here, and were hearing a lot about using debris of big ships as cover. I wonder what its like to play! Stop it, Bertie!
– Robert Purchese
19:03 pm
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I love how Geoff had to look down at his notes when he was talking about Genshin Impact there. The big 3.0 update is coming out of course. Were getting a look at it. We had a big State of the Game piece on this the other day, and Alan Wen is totally still in love with the game.
This update is about as bright and green as I think you can get. It looks lush. Id quite like to live in this world to be fair.
– Robert Purchese
19:07 pm
UTC
I wonder what Geoff does in these interrim moments – compose himself somehow? Maybe he has a little mantra to repeat to himself.
Benedict Fox does look good though – the game winning a Most Wanted trailer now. Oh hes from Krakow! I like Krakow!
– Robert Purchese
19:09 pm
UTC
This is High on Life from Squanch Games. Its got that Oddworld, talking-weapons vibe, except this is very over the top. The gun is trash-talking the boss. But the gun looks kind of boring to actually use? Its just a pistol?
Oh, theres some grappling now, and yes, it also talks. OK I did laugh when he got that murderous knife out. That is one bloodthirsty blade!
– Robert Purchese
19:10 pm
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This is already wearing thin a few minutes in. I worry what it will be like across a whole game. Perhaps you need a big toot before you play.
– Robert Purchese
19:12 pm
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Were seeing a few games roll by now. Do these count as games included in the presentation? Bit sneaky – theyre barely on for 10 seconds.
– Robert Purchese
19:12 pm
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Malek86 says: I need someone to tell me what that VR sketch was all about.
Me too! I bet none of those headsets were ever turned on.
– Robert Purchese
19:14 pm
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This is Homeworld 3 developer Blackbirds space engineering game Hardspace Shipbreaker. Its coming 20th September to console by the looks of things.
– Robert Purchese
19:15 pm
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I cant wait to play Immortality, which we glimpsed in this PC Game Pass sizzle reel. Is it really as good as people are saying? We shall see!
– Robert Purchese
19:17 pm
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Ooh, its Telltales Expanse game. I still havent seen the series and everyone keeps telling me to.
It seems like theyve got some of the actors from the series to reprise their roles. Theres zero-g gameplay. There are dialogue choices. It looks quite good you know.
– Robert Purchese
19:18 pm
UTC
Umang says: Bertie, any idea if Telltale will be using a new engine this time around? That was one of the things that hindered them significantly before they went belly up…
I have no idea but well try and find out.
Summer 2023, for the Expanse game.
– Robert Purchese
19:19 pm
UTC
A film adaptation into a game we would never have expected, says Geoff. Challenge accepted!
A teenage kid in his bedroom. From the exec director of Friday 13th. Scary clowns at his door. Its Killer Klowns From Outer Space!
– Robert Purchese
19:21 pm
UTC
A sci-fi action adventure now… Prime Matter, Mad Head Games. A big pyramid thing in the sky. A lady on an alien planet. Lip synching. I dont see any combat yet – oh, there it is, guns.
Scars Above, coming soon.
– Robert Purchese
19:23 pm
UTC
Gamescom is the first “climate friendly” show apparently. The Playing for the Planet Alliance is here – Ive talked to them – to give a Gamescom Goes Green award to an exhibitor.
Its great to see games shows talking about being climate neutral, as Geoff said – to see this becoming part of the conversation.
Dr Jo Twist from UKIE delivering a sobering message that “we only have one planet”.
– Robert Purchese
19:23 pm
UTC
Brand new game from a new studio of veterans. I think this is the game I have just done an interview for. It is: it is Wyrdsong from new developer Something Wicked Games.
– Robert Purchese
19:25 pm
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Ive got a separate extended news piece going up about this right now. In short, this is an occult, Knights Templar-themed RPG from a very new studio thats years away from finishing it. Helmed by Jeff Gardiner, ex Fallout 76 lead, and Charles Staples, lead designer on Outer Worlds.
– Robert Purchese
19:25 pm
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– Robert Purchese
19:29 pm
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Gotham Knights is going to come out earlier than expected – but is it going to be any good?
A meaty montage of everything Gotham Knights is going to be about. 21st October, three days before my birthday.
– Robert Purchese
19:33 pm
UTC
I cant work out if I like the look of this or not. Its Where Winds Meet, an MMO by Everstone Games based heavily on martial arts.
I wonder how the MMO part comes into it – I havent seen many other players in this trailer.
– Robert Purchese
19:34 pm
UTC
Its Hideo Kojima, Geoffs best pal!
Hes here to share some news. Hes going to announce that his podcast program is going to be available exclusively on Spotify in September are you kidding me?
– Robert Purchese
19:35 pm
UTC
I also do a podcast, Hideo.
– Robert Purchese
19:36 pm
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Bandai Namco and Limbic. Its, could this be, is it, Theme Park?
– Robert Purchese
19:36 pm
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I went to Alton Towers recently, you know – what an ordeal that place is! Get Fast Pass!
– Robert Purchese
19:37 pm
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Its not Theme Park, its Park Beyond. But beyond what? It doesnt say. The hedge?
– Robert Purchese
19:38 pm
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How did Geoff just teleport like that!
– Robert Purchese
19:38 pm
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How did Geoff just teleport like that!
– Robert Purchese
19:39 pm
UTC
I cant believe theyd actually let that actor eat a piece of pizza in the back of that car.
Is that car real? Is it actually there? Its very nice but slap a number plate on their and give it a few bangs in a supermarket car park and then well see what it looks like eh?
Apparently you can connect your console to the screen? That sounds horrifically dangerous.
– Robert Purchese
19:40 pm
UTC
Play On… your way to A&E.
– Robert Purchese
19:41 pm
UTC
Ooh Darktide looks the business – cannot wait.
I love the atmosphere of Vermintide, and it looks like theyve got that nailed again here. You against absolutely everything. Look at that! It looks brilliant!
– Robert Purchese
19:42 pm
UTC
30th November for Darktide.
– Robert Purchese
19:42 pm
UTC
Skippermonkey says: Depressing amount of multiplayer and co-op titles for someone like me that hates other people.
Ha! Yes.
– Robert Purchese
19:43 pm
UTC
This looks interesting. A game about using a bow and arrow, and witchcraft. Will you become the good witch or the evil witch? Blacktail. Coming this Winter from Focus and Parasight – I havent heard of that studio.
– Robert Purchese
19:44 pm
UTC
Oh, its The Parasight and it was only founded in 2019.
– Robert Purchese
19:46 pm
UTC
Weebleman says: Recently picked up vermintide 2 and i am very very impressed so far.
I wish Id played more of it! Its one of those games on my permanent “must play more, Bertie – stop making excuses” list.
– Robert Purchese
19:47 pm
UTC
A few more games to go.
Four students in Berlin. I know who this is! Its Toukana! I met them! Its Dorfromantik and its coming to Switch on 29th September. What a brilliant game that is.
– Robert Purchese
19:51 pm
UTC
The Outlast Trials, that we havent heard anything on since last year, really.
A first-person horror that looks quite disturbing, to be honest. I like the atmosphere. I wonder how clever it is. You can now register for a beta. That was an anti-climax.
– Robert Purchese
19:52 pm
UTC
OK, the big finish!
– Robert Purchese
19:53 pm
UTC
A hotel room that looks like a big party has happened there. A man rifling through – god its horrid. Get a cleaner in there.
Its Lenny Kravitz Simulator!
– Robert Purchese
19:53 pm
UTC
Sorry for stealing your joke, Weeble. I think Kami is on the money here! This is fairly clearly Dead Island 2, the game that has been in development at various places for what feels like an eternity now.
This is CGI, though. What does it actually look like?
– Robert Purchese
19:57 pm
UTC
Dead Island 2 coming in February.
Dambusters is behind this game, the Homefront: Revolution lot.
Deep Silver Dambusters started work on this about four years ago and built it from the ground-up, apparently. They liked the over-the-topness, the pulp horror side of it. Theyve built an action RPG out of it.
Its all about experimenting with your style of zombie killing – and its more about close quarters than gunplay, which is cool.
Were going to see some gameplay.
– Robert Purchese
19:57 pm
UTC
Kami says: This is set, reportedly, in LA. So… not an island.
Haha – touché!
– Robert Purchese
19:59 pm
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I am here for the lurid brightness of it. It is gory Jackanory – heads being skewerd like theyre going on the barbecue. Its wild, its silly, its messy. I definitely like the tone of it all.
– Robert Purchese
20:00 pm
UTC
Thats it for the show. A few things of interest, I think, but not Kojimas podcast (Ill probably still listen to it). What took your fancy?
– Robert Purchese
20:04 pm
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For me, it was Moonbreaker, the new game from the Subnautica lot. Im intrigued by that Quantic Dream-related project Under the Waves too.
– Robert Purchese
20:05 pm
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Time to crack open that celebratory beer – I completely forgot about that. Thank you all for joining me this evening. It wasnt too bad was it?
– Robert Purchese
20:07 pm
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Kami says: Not at all, a pleasant couple hours. And I only went through half my jaffa cakes!
Bonus!
– Robert Purchese
