Xbox announced, on July 28, 2025, its participation in Gamescom, Europe’s largest gaming event, taking place from August 19 to 24 in Cologne, Germany. The highlight is Hollow Knight: Silksong, the highly anticipated sequel to the acclaimed indie game, which will be available for testing for the first time. The company will bring over 20 games, with 120 playable stations, including demonstrations on the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, new portables developed in partnership with ASUS. The initiative reinforces Xbox’s strategy to attract players with exclusive titles and hands-on experiences, while Sony maintains its absence for the sixth consecutive year. The event also marks the reveal of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 during the Opening Night Live.
Silksong’s presence at the event is a milestone, as the game, announced in 2019, still has no confirmed release date. The opportunity to test it indicates development progress and heightens fan expectations. Additionally, Xbox is betting on an immersive experience at the booth, with other titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and The Outer Worlds 2.
- Xbox’s main attractions at Gamescom:
- Hollow Knight: Silksong playable on ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X.
- Debut of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 at Opening Night Live.
- Over 120 stations with 20 games, including Grounded 2 and Ninja Gaiden 4.
Silksong finally makes an appearance
After years of waiting, Hollow Knight: Silksong takes center stage at Gamescom 2025. The title, initially planned as an expansion to the original Hollow Knight, evolved into a full sequel, with a new protagonist, Hornet, and an expanded world. The playable demo at the event will be the public’s first chance to experience the game, which promises more dynamic combats and enhanced visuals. The lack of a release date, however, keeps fans anxious, but its presence at the fair suggests that Team Cherry is close to revealing more details.
The anticipation for Silksong is fueled by the success of the first game, launched in 2017, which captivated millions of players with its challenging gameplay and unique aesthetic. The sequel, announced six years ago, has gone through delays, but the demonstration at Gamescom may signal significant progress.
- What to expect from Silksong:
- New protagonist, Hornet, with agile movements and unique abilities.
- New areas in the kingdom of Pharloom, with metroidvania design.
- Faster and more fluid combat, maintaining the essence of the original.
- Soundtrack composed by Christopher Larkin, reprising his role.
Xbox bets on portables to attract players
The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X portables will be the main stage for Silksong demos, along with other games like Roblox, Sea of Thieves, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4. The partnership with ASUS reflects Xbox’s bet on the portable devices market, which is gaining strength with the success of devices like the Steam Deck. These devices promise optimized performance for AAA games, with direct integration into the Xbox ecosystem, including Game Pass and cloud streaming.
The ROG Xbox Ally X, an improved version of the Ally, brings enhancements in battery, screen, and processing, aiming to compete directly with other high-performance portables. Choosing Silksong for the demonstrations highlights the devices’ ability to run visually complex games smoothly.
- Highlights of the ROG Xbox portables:
- High-resolution AMOLED screen for vibrant visuals.
- Compatibility with the Xbox Game Pass catalog.
- Ergonomic design for long gaming sessions.
- Support for cloud games and online multiplayer.
Gamescom as a stage for major announcements
Gamescom 2025 promises to be a crucial event for the gaming industry, and Xbox is positioned to capitalize on Sony’s absence. In addition to Silksong, the company’s booth will feature demonstrations of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Grounded 2, The Outer Worlds 2, and the highly anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. The reveal of the latter, scheduled for Opening Night Live on August 19, is expected to draw significant attention, with details on campaign, multiplayer, and possible innovations in the franchise.
The event also reinforces Xbox’s strategy of offering hands-on experiences, allowing players to test titles before launch. With over 120 playable stations, the booth will be one of the largest at the fair, ensuring visibility for the games and the new portables.
- Confirmed games at Xbox’s booth:
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, with exploration and action.
- Grounded 2, sequel to the cooperative survival game.
- The Outer Worlds 2, open-world RPG.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, with reveal at Opening Night Live.
The impact of Sony’s absence
Sony’s decision not to participate in Gamescom for the sixth consecutive year opens space for Xbox to consolidate its presence. While Sony focuses on its own events, like State of Play, Xbox uses the fair to connect directly with fans. The strategy includes not only demonstrations but also panels and interactions with developers, creating an engaging environment for visitors.
Sony’s absence also highlights the pressure on Xbox to deliver memorable experiences. Games like Silksong and Black Ops 7 are safe bets to attract audiences, but the company needs to maintain the pace of announcements and launches to compete in the market.
- Xbox’s strategies at Gamescom:
- Focus on hands-on experiences with playable demos.
- Promotion of the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X portables.
- Integration with Game Pass to attract subscribers.
- Exclusive announcements during Opening Night Live.
The future of Hollow Knight: Silksong
Although the demo at Gamescom is a milestone, the lack of a release date for Silksong keeps fans in suspense. Team Cherry, known for its perfectionism, has been working on the sequel carefully, but the delays have generated speculation. The game’s presence at the event may indicate that development is in an advanced stage, possibly with a launch window to be revealed soon.
The gaming community remains optimistic, driven by the impact of the first Hollow Knight, which sold over 2.8 million copies by 2020. The sequel has the potential to surpass these numbers, especially with the visibility provided by Gamescom and multiplatform support, including Xbox’s new portables.
- Why Silksong is so anticipated:
- Success of the first game, with millions of global fans.
- Promise of a larger and more detailed world.
- Unique visual and sound style, praised by critics.
- Expectation for innovations in the metroidvania genre.