'Call of Duty', 'Black Myth' wow Gamescom trade show
A two-hour showcase of upcoming releases, including "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7" slated for November 14, belied an industry that has been weathering a rough patch with tens of thousands of job cuts.
The first-person shooter has enlisted American actor Milo Ventimiglia (known for TV series "Heroes" and "This Is Us") as its protagonist in a near-future conflict against psychedelic backdrops evoking the movie "Inception".
More than 5,300 packed one of the giant halls of western German city Cologne's convention centre Tuesday, a record opening night according to organisers.
The event showed off footage from titles like "Requiem" -- the next instalment in the long-running "Resident Evil" horror series -- and rambunctious space adventure "The Outer Worlds 2".
Set for a 2026 release, a new "Lego Batman" will take fans back to "iconic moments and deep-cut references from decades of Batman TV shows, comics and games" in humourous plastic brick form, director Jonathan Smith told the audience.
And there was a surprise reveal for "Black Myth: Zhong Kui" -- a follow up to Chinese 2024 smash hit "Wukong".
Gaming's influence on the broader culture was also on show, as the stars of hit game-to-TV adaptation "Fallout" introduced the Amazon Prime series' second season with a December 17 release.
Hands-on testing
While last year's Gamescom drew 335,000 visitors, organisers hope 2025 can recover to pre-Covid levels of around 370,000 between Wednesday and Sunday.
The show brings together industry professionals and lovers of the medium, with around 1,500 exhibitors laying on large stands -- many offering the opportunity to try out the latest, or even unreleased, titles.
Nintendo is back after staying away last year, surfing on the success of its record-breaking Switch 2 console launch in June.
And Microsoft's Xbox division will be showing off its own portable console, slated for release towards the end of the year.
But Japanese PlayStation maker Sony has elected to stay away in 2025.
Fans' interest on opening night was especially piqued by horror titles, as "Resident Evil" battles for the horror crown with a new episode for the "Silent Hill" saga.
Organisers also spotlighted "Hollow Knight: Silksong" -- the sequel to a beloved indie platformer finally on the doorstep after an eight-year wait.
With budgets far lower than multiple-hundred-million behemoths like "Call of Duty", such games "prove something important: small teams with big ideas can change the industry," the event's master of ceremonies, Canadian TV presenter Geoff Keighley, said Tuesday.
The impact indie games can have on fans was clear from the small clusters and individuals wearing the red beret and striped shirt sported by characters in French indie hit "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33".
"It's a little bit of a community, so when you see each other... you say hi, and everyone is smiling," Cologne-based fan Vera Sperber, 36, told AFP.
The hall's bright lights, lasers and crowd noise were on hold for a moment as Lorien Testard, who crafted the entrancing music for "Expedition 33", gave a live performance with singer Alice Duport-Percier.
'Not pretty'
Exhibitors may be less ecstatic than fans at this year's show as the industry endures an extended rough patch.
"The sector hasn't had an easy time of it in the last two years, there was a lot of consolidation, job cuts, some studios closed, some projects were ended prematurely," Felix Falk, managing director of Germany's GAME industry association that co-organises Gamescom, told AFP.
"That's not unusual for the highly dynamic games industry but it's nevertheless not pretty when it happens," he added.
Tracking website Game Industry Layoffs has tallied almost 30,000 job cuts since early 2023, with more than 4,000 this year alone.
But revenue in the global games market should hold steady at just under $190 billion this year, data firm Newzoo has forecast.
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Jordan Times
6 hours ago
- Jordan Times
'Call of Duty', 'Black Myth' wow Gamescom trade show
COLOGNE, Germany — A twisted futuristic version of "Call of Duty", Batman in Lego form and the "Resident Evil" series' ghoulish monsters had gamers salivating Tuesday as the vast Gamescom trade show opened in Cologne. A two-hour showcase of upcoming releases, including "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7" slated for November 14, belied an industry that has been weathering a rough patch with tens of thousands of job cuts. The first-person shooter has enlisted American actor Milo Ventimiglia (known for TV series "Heroes" and "This Is Us") as its protagonist in a near-future conflict against psychedelic backdrops evoking the movie "Inception". More than 5,300 packed one of the giant halls of western German city Cologne's convention centre Tuesday, a record opening night according to organisers. The event showed off footage from titles like "Requiem" -- the next instalment in the long-running "Resident Evil" horror series -- and rambunctious space adventure "The Outer Worlds 2". Set for a 2026 release, a new "Lego Batman" will take fans back to "iconic moments and deep-cut references from decades of Batman TV shows, comics and games" in humourous plastic brick form, director Jonathan Smith told the audience. And there was a surprise reveal for "Black Myth: Zhong Kui" -- a follow up to Chinese 2024 smash hit "Wukong". Gaming's influence on the broader culture was also on show, as the stars of hit game-to-TV adaptation "Fallout" introduced the Amazon Prime series' second season with a December 17 release. Hands-on testing While last year's Gamescom drew 335,000 visitors, organisers hope 2025 can recover to pre-Covid levels of around 370,000 between Wednesday and Sunday. The show brings together industry professionals and lovers of the medium, with around 1,500 exhibitors laying on large stands -- many offering the opportunity to try out the latest, or even unreleased, titles. Nintendo is back after staying away last year, surfing on the success of its record-breaking Switch 2 console launch in June. And Microsoft's Xbox division will be showing off its own portable console, slated for release towards the end of the year. But Japanese PlayStation maker Sony has elected to stay away in 2025. Fans' interest on opening night was especially piqued by horror titles, as "Resident Evil" battles for the horror crown with a new episode for the "Silent Hill" saga. Organisers also spotlighted "Hollow Knight: Silksong" -- the sequel to a beloved indie platformer finally on the doorstep after an eight-year wait. With budgets far lower than multiple-hundred-million behemoths like "Call of Duty", such games "prove something important: small teams with big ideas can change the industry," the event's master of ceremonies, Canadian TV presenter Geoff Keighley, said Tuesday. The impact indie games can have on fans was clear from the small clusters and individuals wearing the red beret and striped shirt sported by characters in French indie hit "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33". "It's a little bit of a community, so when you see each other... you say hi, and everyone is smiling," Cologne-based fan Vera Sperber, 36, told AFP. The hall's bright lights, lasers and crowd noise were on hold for a moment as Lorien Testard, who crafted the entrancing music for "Expedition 33", gave a live performance with singer Alice Duport-Percier. 'Not pretty' Exhibitors may be less ecstatic than fans at this year's show as the industry endures an extended rough patch. "The sector hasn't had an easy time of it in the last two years, there was a lot of consolidation, job cuts, some studios closed, some projects were ended prematurely," Felix Falk, managing director of Germany's GAME industry association that co-organises Gamescom, told AFP. "That's not unusual for the highly dynamic games industry but it's nevertheless not pretty when it happens," he added. Tracking website Game Industry Layoffs has tallied almost 30,000 job cuts since early 2023, with more than 4,000 this year alone. But revenue in the global games market should hold steady at just under $190 billion this year, data firm Newzoo has forecast.
Al Bawaba
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All You Need to Know About NVIDIA's Announcements at GamesCom 2025
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NVIDIA Blackwell Comes to GeForce NOW The NVIDIA Blackwell architecture is coming to GeForce NOW in the platform's biggest update yet, delivering NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080-class GPUs to the cloud and introducing NVIDIA DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation for streaming up to 5K resolution at 120 frames per second, along with new AI-powered features and more. With this hardware leap, the GeForce NOW game library will double to over 4,500 titles through the launch of Install-to-Play, giving members access to more of their PC collections and upcoming AAA games in the cloud. Additionally, a new Cinematic Quality Streaming mode uses Blackwell-powered technology to significantly enhance graphical fidelity, providing stunning color accuracy, supersmooth streaming, and crystal-clear graphics. The platform's support for devices is also expanding—now including racing wheels, performance up to 90fps on the Steam Deck, 4K at 120Hz on supported LG TVs, and more. And NVIDIA is partnering with Discord and Epic to enable Fortnite players to invite friends directly in Discord with a free, one-hour trial of a GeForce NOW Performance session, transforming game discovery and social gaming. Related links: GeForce NOW Press Release: 2. DLSS 4 is Now Available in Over 175 Games and Apps, and Coming to Another 10+ Highly Anticipated Games More than 175 games and apps now feature DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, giving GeForce RTX 50 Series gamers higher resolutions and faster frame rates. Launched with GeForce RTX 50 Series earlier this year, DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation generates up to three additional frames per rendered frame and works with the complete suite of DLSS technologies to multiply frame rates by up to 8X. Each DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation game supports DLSS Frame Generation to accelerate frame rates on GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs, with DLSS Super Resolution boosting performance for all GeForce RTX owners. In many titles, our latest DLSS Super Resolution transformer AI model can also be enabled through the NVIDIA app to instantly enhance image quality. NVIDIA is working with developers to bring DLSS 4 and RTX technologies to your most anticipated games. At Gamescom, we've announced that Resident Evil Requiem will launch with DLSS 4 and Path Tracing, Borderlands 4 is launching September 12th with DLSS 4, PRAGMATA will launch with DLSS 4 and Ray Tracing—and many more! Related Links: 3. Borderlands® 4 GeForce RTX 50 Series Bundle Available Now Video Link: Starting today, NVIDIA is introducing a new Borderlands® 4 GeForce RTX 50 Series Bundle, where players will receive a copy of the game and the Gilded Glory Pack with the purchase of qualifying GeForce RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 Ti, or 5070 desktops or graphics card, or laptops with a GeForce RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 Ti, or 5070 Laptop GPUs at participating retailers and etailers*. Enjoy smoother gameplay and clearer graphics in Borderlands with a GeForce RTX 50 Series GPU, boosted by DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation for higher frame rates and DLSS Super Resolution's AI transformer model for enhanced image quality. With the included Gilded Glory Pack, players can customize their Borderlands 4 look with a new style for each of the four Vault Hunters, weapons, and the ECHO-4 Drone. The offer is available through Monday, Sept. 22. Related Links: 4. NVIDIA App Update Adds Global DLSS Overrides, Smooth Motion for GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs, Project G-Assist Enhancements & More Tomorrow, August 19th, at 9 AM PT, our newest NVIDIA app beta update launches, accompanied by a new Game Ready Driver, which is required for several new features. Download the app update by opting into beta and experimental feature Early Access in Settings > About, or grab the non-beta version the following week. And download our new driver from the app's Drivers tab. Image Link: The NVIDIA app is essential for users with NVIDIA GPUs in their PCs and laptops, making it easy to stay updated with the latest GeForce Game Ready and NVIDIA Studio Drivers, and quickly discover and install NVIDIA apps like GeForce NOW, RTX Remix, Project G-Assist, and NVIDIA Broadcast. Beginning August 19th at 9 AM PT, Project G-Assist will be available for all GeForce RTX GPUs with 6GB or more of VRAM, offering PC optimization through voice or text commands. The latest version is powered by a more efficient model, using 40% less memory and updated performance, stability, and UX improvements. Video Link: Additionally, NVIDIA Smooth Motion is now available for GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs, a streamlined NVIDIA Surround setup screen has been added, and top requested 3D settings have been brought over from the NVIDIA Control Panel. Related Links: 5. 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Al Bawaba
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Oscar-Nominated English actor Terence Stamp dies at 87
ALBAWABA - The English actor Terence Stamp has died at the age of 87. He played the bad guy General Zod in the Superman movies. Also Read Taylor Swift breaks record previously held by Donald Trump The actor who was considered for an Oscar was in over sixty movies, such as The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Far From the Madding Crowd, and Valkyrie. In a message to Reuters, Stamp's family said that he died early Sunday morning. "He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and a writer, that will continue to touch people for years to come," they noted. Terence Stamp, the English-born actor celebrated in the 1960s for 'Billy Budd,' 'The Collector' and 'Far From the Madding Crowd,' later known for playing General Zod in the 'Superman' films and starring in Steven Soderbergh's 'The Limey,' died Sunday. He was 87.… — Variety (@Variety) August 17, 2025 Stamp was born on July 22, 1938, in Stepney, east London, to working-class parents. He went to high school before becoming an advertising executive. He became famous in the 1960s after getting a scholarship to go to drama school. In the 1962 film about a young sailor in the eighteenth century, he played Billy Budd. He was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actor and won a Golden Globe for best rookie for his role. He became famous as a bad guy, with roles like General Zod in Superman and Superman II, thief Freddie Clegg in The Collector, and Sergeant Troy in Far From the Madding Crowd. In the 1960s, Stamp was at the top of his game. He was praised for his good looks, fashion sense, and famous girlfriends, such as supermodel Jean Shrimpton and actress Julie Christie, whom he later appeared with in Far From the Madding Crowd. That he was dating Christie only lasted a year, but the Kinks made a song about them called Waterloo Sunset, and the line "Terry meets Julie" is thought to be a reference to them. Stamp was asked to take over for Sean Connery as James Bond when he quit, but he turned down the offer because of his extreme ideas about how he should play the part, according to director Harry Saltzman. "I believe my thoughts about the role intimidated Harry," he confided in me. "I didn't get a second call from him." He worked with directors Pier Paolo Pasolini and Federico Fellini while he was in Italy, but when he came back to London at the end of the 1960s, he found that his fame had faded. He later said on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, "When the 1960s ended, I think because I'd been so into it, I kind of ended as well." "I thought that everything would be fine if I were really pretty, successful, and well-known." I thought to myself, "It's been fun, but there hasn't been any real, deep internal satisfaction." After taking a break from acting for a while, he bought a ticket around the world and ended up in India, where he studied yoga and lived in a spiritual retreat. In 1976, he received his most renowned role as General Zod in Superman. British actor Terence Stamp (Photo by VALERY HACHE / AFP) After going back to movies, he was in many movies over the next few decades, such as Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace, A Song for Marion, The Adjustment Bureau, and Last Night in Soho. In the 1994 Australian movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, he played a transgender woman, which was one of his most famous and praised roles. The movie's director revealed last year that Stamp was interested in returning for a Priscilla sequel. Stamp, who was 85 years old at the time, was called the "fittest man I've ever met in my life" by Elliott. Stamp "has never drunk and basically eats grass." "He thought about it for a long time until he got there," he told The Guardian. "Then he told me, 'You know what? That's right. We're still not done. The story hasn't been told.'"
