This week, RPS took the heroic step of declining to live report on the latest Geoff Keighley trailer bonanza at Gamescom 2026’s Opening Night Live. Under the wise guidance of editor-in-chief Julian “Walks Away From Omelas” Benson – and with the honorable exception of Oisin “Looking At Omelas Through A Telescope” Kuhnke, who was on regular evening freelance newswriting duty – we experimented with viewing the showcase as ordinary humans do, partly because we’ve recently found that the returns aren’t worth the effort of staying at our desks. Some of us may have even streamed the showcase in bed.
Julian mentioned feeling that the pressure to churn out copy might improve his opinion of Keighley’s vision for videogames. However, he ultimately found that the experience did not significantly change his impressions. Key announcements included trailers for “No Law” and “Lego Skylines.” While the latter presented a colorful glimpse in just 42 seconds, “No Law” appeared as a varied immersive sim, although it lacked depth in its montage presentation.
The criticism of the format is evident; Geofffest and similar showcases often emphasize brief, vibes-based trailers, which can make a show feel insubstantial. The pressurized, brief showcases do not lend themselves well to in-depth exploration, especially for games that rely on nuanced gameplay like immersive sims.
On the lighter side, Julian sees optimism in 2027’s upcoming “Duskers 2.” Other contributors shared their mixed experiences with games revealed during the showcase. James confirmed an overall disappointment with the lackluster lineup while noting the appeal of “Lofsöng,” an art-driven puzzle adventure set in a world without words. Oisin was intrigued by “Murals,” an action game distinguished by its vibrant visuals.
Mark expressed enthusiasm for Paradox Interactive’s “Afterworld,” a post-apocalyptic grand strategy game promising strategic depth and tribal management. Jeremy critiqued the sameness of the showcased games but found merit in the trailers for “The Witcher” and “Warlock,” the latter intriguing him as a D&D campaign runner despite departures from traditional mechanics.
Edwin was critical of the overall presentation, citing a lack of exciting new elements and feelings of disappointment regarding the show’s ambiance and content. He echoed enthusiasm for “Afterworld” while discussing new titles like “Exodus” and others, reiterating that players and developers alike deserve more than the current trend of repetitive showcases.
The overarching sentiment suggests a need for innovation in presentation formats that better serve both developers and audiences. Despite the criticism, the ability to experience such announcements from the comfort of one’s bed added a humorous twist to the reaction.
