Microsoft’s very strong showing at E3 this year proved to be very popular, as it created incredible hype around upcoming titles (Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring, to name a few) while providing a much-needed spotlight on some amazing indie titles (basically every game on ID @ Xbox). Now, the company is looking to follow up its monumental success in LA and replicate it across the pond, as Microsoft and Xbox announced their plans for the upcoming Gamescom 2019 to be held in Cologne, Germany running from August 20 to August 24.
Expect a lineup filled with upcoming titles from studios under the Xbox brand and from developers around the world, with over 200 gameplay booths to be made available to the public. Among these is the first ever public hands-on of two highly-anticipated Xbox Game Studios titles – Minecraft Dungeons and the Horde Mode in Gears 5. Attendees for the event can also try out Microsoft’s upcoming cloud-based subscription service, Project xCloud, for the very first time.
Here is some more of what’s in store for Gamescom 2019 attendees from Microsoft and Xbox:
- Inside Xbox episode, live from Cologne – Kicking things off is a very special episode of Inside Xbox, the show where we get to hear the latest news, games, accessories and features across the brand. You can catch the show on a variety of streaming sites like Xbox’s own, Mixer, Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter on Monday, August 19 at 11:00 a.m. EDT (5:00PM CEST).
- Xbox Open Doors – A multiday experience that will be held at the Gloria Theatre, Xbox Open Doors is free for all fans, with activities such as various community events, game tournaments, panel sessions and other exciting experiences. Xbox Open Doors will be held from August 21 to August 23.
- Xbox Booth – With nearly 200 gaming stations available all across the show floor, the Xbox booths will be kind of hard to miss for Gamescom 2019’s attendees. What awaits you in these booths are a great selection of titles across genres and platforms, many of which will be coming to the Xbox Game Pass service for both console and PC at their respective launch dates. The Xbox booths will be located in Hall 8 of the Koelnmesse, which is accessible via the North entrance.
Gamescom 2019 will also be, for Xbox fans in Europe, their first chance to check out and play many of the upcoming Xbox Game Studios titles set for release later this year and beyond. Some of these games include:
- Age of Empires II Definitive Edition
- Battletoads
- Bleeding Edge
- Gears 5
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection on PC
- Minecraft Dungeons
In addition to these first-party titles, there will also be a number of third-party games available for everyone to try out, including titles like Borderlands 3, Doom Eternal, NBA 2K20, and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. Of course, attendees of Gamescom 2019 will also be among the first in Europe to try out Project xCloud, Microsoft’s upcoming cloud-based subscription service.
In the spirit of inclusivity and accessibility, Microsoft also announced that the Xbox booth will be more accessible to fans coming to Gamescom this year. Xbox Adaptive Controllers are available and on standby for nearly every game in the booth, wheelchair access is at every point of the booth, and sign language support will be available across Microsoft’s areas.
Xbox Game Pass for PC will also be put on display at the event, featuring titles like the highly-anticipated Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition. There’s also a dedicated area for Windows PC gaming that features the latest hardware, for those looking to upgrade or start building their rigs altogether. Custom-built PCs from BoostBoxx by CSL will also be on display, along with the latest gaming laptops and desktops from Acer, plus some high-quality components from other partners.
The Xbox Official Gear Shop will also make a return to Gamescom this year, in partnership with Game Legends. Located in the Gamescom fanshop arena, you can show off your support for Xbox with official colors and designs based on franchises like Gears of War, Halo, and Sea of Thieves across new apparel and collectibles. Be sure to check out the Gamescom-exclusive Xbox Green Tech Sphere pin as well.
For those attending the event, here are the opening times on the various days:
- Tuesday, August 20 – 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. CEST (press/trade only day)
- Wednesday, August 21 – 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. CEST
- Thursday, August 22 – 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. CEST
- Friday, August 23 – 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. CEST
- Saturday, August 24 – 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. CEST
Be sure to check in back with us here for more of our coverage of the upcoming Gamescom 2019.
