The summer gaming show schedule continues with Gamescom in August, and the event itself kicks off with a show called Gamescom Opening Night Live. Geoff Keighley, who also runs Summer Game Fest, returns to host Opening Night Live this year, and there are game announcements and new trailers on the schedule. In this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Opening Night Live, including how to watch, what to expect, how much publishers are paying to appear on the show, and more.
When is the opening night of Gamescom live?
Opening Night Live will take place on Tuesday, August 20th. The show will begin at 8 p.m. CET. It is expected to last about two hours and end around 10 p.m. CET. In the US, the show will air starting at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET. The event itself will take place at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, but will of course also be streamed live worldwide.
The main event will be preceded by a pre-show that begins 30 minutes before kickoff. This show will be pre-recorded and streamed online only; people physically present at the event will not be able to view it.
How to watch the opening night of Gamescom live
Opening Night Live will stream on YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Steam, Bilibili, X, and Facebook. These platforms are subject to change.
What to expect from Gamescom Opening Night Live
Viewers can look forward to new game announcements as well as new trailers and gameplay reveals. In addition, the event will offer a “first look” at upcoming events during Gamescom 2024. The trade show itself, which is one of the largest in the world for games, runs from August 21 to 25.
So far, Keighley has teased a number of announcements, including potentially the next Dying Light project. Below, you can watch a hype video edited personally by Keighley to get a sense of what to expect from the presentation.
Opening Night Live 2023 was packed with news and reveals, including new trailers for Starfield and Alan Wake, while the show also featured new footage from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.
How much do companies pay to showcase their games?
Opening Night Live is a big, big show, and to feature a game, publishers usually have to pay something, although that doesn’t always have to be the case. Published prices start at €115,000 ($125,000) for a 30-second spot and go up to €265,000 ($288,000) for two minutes. Publishers also have to have a booth at the show itself or another type of qualifying “activation” with a minimum outlay of €60,000 ($65,000) to be able to feature their games during Opening Night Live.
Be sure to check back with GameSpot regularly for the latest information, as we’ll be updating this post in the days and weeks leading up to the August show.
