Xbox Takes Over gamescom 2025: Over 20 Upcoming Games Playable, Hollow Knight: Silksong Demo, and Major World Premieres

Xbox Takes Over gamescom 2025: Over 20 Upcoming Games Playable, Hollow Knight: Silksong Demo, and Major World Premieres

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Written by Dave W. Shanahan

July 28, 2025

Xbox is set to make a massive splash at gamescom 2025, returning to Cologne, Germany, from August 20th to 24th with an impressive line-up of over 20 new and upcoming games, hands-on hardware experiences, and exclusive world premieres. Whether you’re attending in person or tuning in from home, this year’s presence offers something memorable for every Xbox fan.

Over 20 Playable Games on the Show Floor at gamescom 2025

Xbox Takes Over gamescom 2025: Over 20 Upcoming Games Playable, Hollow Knight: Silksong Demo, and Major World PremieresIn the heart of Koelnmesse’s Hall 7, Xbox’s booth will house more than 120 gaming stations, featuring hands-on opportunities with upcoming titles and the latest hardware. This year’s lineup promises a diverse range of blockbusters and indie gems—including the world’s first public demo for highly anticipated titles like Hollow Knight: Skillsong and hardware.

Highlighted Playable Titles

  • Hollow Knight: Silksong – Attendees get the first-ever hands-on with a new demo, playable both on PC and the new ROG Xbox Ally X, a breakthrough handheld device built in partnership with ASUS.

    Xbox Takes Over gamescom 2025: Over 20 Upcoming Games Playable, Hollow Knight: Silksong Demo, and Major World Premieres
    Hollow Knight: Silksong
  • Grounded 2 – Obsidian Entertainment and Eidos Montreal bring the miniature co-op survival adventure to gamescom 2025, inviting players to explore the shrunken world in fresh new ways.

  • Ninja Gaiden 4 – Marking the franchise’s return, fans will go hands-on in a blend of classic action and next-gen style.

  • Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – MachineGames and Lucasfilm Games invite fans to try the base game and compete in daily scavenger hunts for special prizes.

You can expect appearances by beloved franchises showcased by World’s Edge—Age of Empires and Age of Mythology: Retold—giving both veteran strategists and newcomers something to love.

ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X: Hands-On With Xbox’s Next-Gen Handhelds

Xbox Takes Over gamescom 2025: Over 20 Upcoming Games Playable, Hollow Knight: Silksong Demo, and Major World Premieres
Xbox ROG Ally

One of gamescom’s biggest attractions will be the debut of the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X handhelds. Attendees can experience Xbox-quality gaming in the palm of their hands—with demos for titles like Sea of Thieves, Roblox, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, plus more games at the ASUS ROG booth. These devices aim to blend console power with Windows flexibility, offering a new way to play Xbox on the go.

Exclusive Theater Experience: The Outer Worlds 2

The Outer Worlds 2, sequel to the award-winning sci-fi RPG, gets an exclusive theater presentation. Dive into Protectorate territory and get a guided look inside the Tomb of the Matriarch—exploring how the sequel tackles questions of society, loyalty, and history with Obsidian’s signature wit and charm.

More Big Games from Third-Party Partners

Xbox Takes Over gamescom 2025: Over 20 Upcoming Games Playable, Hollow Knight: Silksong Demo, and Major World PremieresThe Xbox booth will not disappoint fans of third-party blockbusters either. Playable demos include:

  • Borderlands 4

  • Onimusha: Way of the Sword

  • Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

  • EA Sports FC 26

  • Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade

  • Final Fantasy XVI

  • PowerWash Simulator 2

  • Super Meat Boy 3D and many more surprises.

The list underscores Xbox’s ongoing efforts to bring the most anticipated global titles to its ecosystem—much like previous weeks where we saw launches and previews for Towerborne, SubwaySim 2, and MotoGP 251.

Xbox Play Anywhere and Game Pass Demos

Xbox continues its push for accessibility and value through the Xbox Digital Passport Quest—an interactive event inviting attendees to try out titles playable across Xbox, PC, and supported handhelds. Participants can win exciting prizes from Xbox, Amazon, Meta, LG, NVIDIA, and more. The company is also highlighting the unbeatable value of Game Pass, offering access to hundreds of titles—many of which are on display at the show.

A Festival for All: Xbox FanFest 2025 and Accessibility Initiatives

Xbox Takes Over gamescom 2025: Over 20 Upcoming Games Playable, Hollow Knight: Silksong Demo, and Major World PremieresCelebrating ten years of Xbox FanFest, 2025 will be marked by unique events, exclusive giveaways, and a strong sense of community. Accessibility remains a top priority, with wheelchair-friendly stations, adaptive controllers, adjustable desks, and a team of “Here to Help” staff ensuring everyone feels welcome.

Not Just Xbox—World Premieres and Community Stages

  • World of Warcraft: Midnight—In Hall 8, Blizzard will unveil WoW’s next expansion with hands-on demos and the highly anticipated Housing system, developer panels, esports competitions, and more.

  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 7—Premieres live on August 19, promising epic new chapters and exclusive behind-the-scenes content immediately after.

Tune In From Anywhere: Xbox gamescom Broadcast

Xbox Takes Over gamescom 2025: Over 20 Upcoming Games Playable, Hollow Knight: Silksong Demo, and Major World PremieresIf you can’t make it to Cologne, don’t worry—Xbox will stream two days of live shows (in multiple languages and with accessibility features) on August 20 and 21. These broadcasts will feature coverage of the ROG Xbox Ally devices, Grounded 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, Overwatch 2, The Outer Worlds 2, and even developer interviews and trailers. You can follow along on YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook via Xbox’s official regional channels.

Xbox Takes Over gamescom 2025: Over 20 Upcoming Games Playable, Hollow Knight: Silksong Demo, and Major World Premieres
Bethesda

Bethesda will also bring three days of community-focused streams, interviews, and show floor tours via its dedicated Twitch channel.

Plan Your Visit

Find the Xbox booth in Hall 7, North entrance. Gamescom opens:

  • Thursday, Aug 21: 10am–8pm CEST

  • Friday, Aug 22: 10am–8pm CEST

  • Saturday, Aug 23: 9am–8pm CEST

  • Sunday, Aug 24: 9am–8pm CEST

Keep Up With Ongoing Coverage

For breaking updates throughout gamescom week, keep your eyes on Xbox’s social channels and Xbox Wire for the latest news, event highlights, and developer stories. For even more coverage—and recaps of the latest games coming to Xbox each week—visit msftnewsnow.com, where we continue to report on the biggest stories and the newest releases as they hit the Xbox platform.

As Xbox makes its biggest gamescom showing yet, 2025 looks poised to be a landmark year for Xbox fans worldwide. Whether you’re after hands-on demos, exclusive premieres, or just eager to see what’s next, this is one event you won’t want to miss.


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I'm Dave W. Shanahan, a Microsoft enthusiast with a passion for Windows 11, Xbox, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Azure, and more. After OnMSFT.com closed, I started MSFTNewsNow.com to keep the world updated on Microsoft news. Based in Massachusetts, you can find me on Twitter @Dav3Shanahan or email me at davewshanahan@gmail.com.

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