Among the highlights were Assassin's Creed Mirage, Tekken 8 and Alan Wake 2. Photo: Ubisoft/BNE Entertainment/Epic Games
Among the highlights were Assassin's Creed Mirage, Tekken 8 and Alan Wake 2. Photo: Ubisoft/BNE Entertainment/Epic Games
Among the highlights were Assassin's Creed Mirage, Tekken 8 and Alan Wake 2. Photo: Ubisoft/BNE Entertainment/Epic Games
Among the highlights were Assassin's Creed Mirage, Tekken 8 and Alan Wake 2. Photo: Ubisoft/BNE Entertainment/Epic Games

From Rebel Moon to Tekken 8: highlights from Gamescom 2023 opening night


Faisal Salah
  • English
  • Arabic

The annual gaming convention Gamescom kicked off its 2023 event on Tuesday night with a presentation that included new trailers and release dates for anticipated games.

Taking place in Cologne, Germany, the event runs until Sunday, with gaming fans from Europe and around the world flocking to see the latest games and innovations.

For those unable to attend, during the first night’s presentation segment, named “Opening Night Live”, video game journalist Geoff Keighley hosted a live-stream. Here are the highlights from the presentation.

Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire

A still from the 'Rebel Moon' trailer. Photo: Netflix
A still from the 'Rebel Moon' trailer. Photo: Netflix

The first full trailer for Zack Snyder’s new Netflix film Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire was shown at the event. The film is described as an epic space opera and features Algerian actress Sofia Boutella in a starring role, alongside Hollywood star Anthony Hopkins.

The film will be split into two parts, with the first arriving on Netflix on December 22 and the sequel following on April 19.

Although Snyder is best-known for his work with existing franchises, the film’s story is completely original.

Alan Wake 2

'Alan Wake 2' is a sequel to the 2010 cult classic. Photo: Remedy
'Alan Wake 2' is a sequel to the 2010 cult classic. Photo: Remedy

A new trailer for the horror game Alan Wake 2 was shown, in advance of the game’s release on October 27.

The game is the long-awaited sequel to the 2010 Alan Wake, which has gained a cult following over the years.

The trailer gave a taste of what the gameplay will be like and reveals more details of the story.

Tekken 8

'Tekken' is among the most popular fighting games. Photo: BN Entertainment
'Tekken' is among the most popular fighting games. Photo: BN Entertainment

There was also a trailer and release date announcement for the eighth game in the popular fighting game series Tekken.

First released in 1994 on the PlayStation 1, Tekken has spawned several sequels that have become a mainstay of fighting game tournaments and favourites among fans of the genre.

Tekken 8 will arrive on the PlayStation 5, the Xbox Series X/S and PC on January 26.

Thank Goodness You're Here

Fans of goofy games on the Nintendo Switch were given a game to look forward to with Thank Goodness You're Here.

The new title is developed by Panic Inc – the same studio behind the popular Untitled Goose Game from 2019.

This new game looks to follow the same wackiness gamers experienced in Untitled Goose Game but with added chaos and characters.

Thank Goodness You're Here will be playable on the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC in 2024.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

A still from 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3'. Photo: Activision
A still from 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3'. Photo: Activision

The latest game in the Call of Duty series is a reboot of Modern Warfare 3, which was first released in 2011.

A gameplay trailer screened at the event showed a player extracting someone from a Russian prison.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be released on the PlayStation 5, the Xbox Series X/S and PC on November 10.

Other highlights

Emirati game studio Kashkool Games has set up a booth at Gamescom to show off its upcoming game Sheba: A New Dawn. The title is a side-scrolling action role-playing game set in the Arab world, infused with mythical themes. Although it is still in development, a demo is available on Steam.

Two new games in the Sonic the Hedgehog series were also revealed, including a classic side-scroller called Sonic Superstars, coming out October 17, and an update to the Sonic Frontiers game, titled The Final Horizon, releasing on December 4.

A new trailer for the highly anticipated Assassin’s Creed Mirage was also shown. The new trailer features full Arabic narration, transporting the player to the 9th century Baghdad setting. Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be released on October 5.

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

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Will the pound fall to parity with the dollar?

The idea of pound parity now seems less far-fetched as the risk grows that Britain may split away from the European Union without a deal.

Rupert Harrison, a fund manager at BlackRock, sees the risk of it falling to trade level with the dollar on a no-deal Brexit. The view echoes Morgan Stanley’s recent forecast that the currency can plunge toward $1 (Dh3.67) on such an outcome. That isn’t the majority view yet – a Bloomberg survey this month estimated the pound will slide to $1.10 should the UK exit the bloc without an agreement.

New Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the EU on the October 31 deadline with or without an agreement, fuelling concern the nation is headed for a disorderly departure and fanning pessimism toward the pound. Sterling has fallen more than 7 per cent in the past three months, the worst performance among major developed-market currencies.

“The pound is at a much lower level now but I still think a no-deal exit would lead to significant volatility and we could be testing parity on a really bad outcome,” said Mr Harrison, who manages more than $10 billion in assets at BlackRock. “We will see this game of chicken continue through August and that’s likely negative for sterling,” he said about the deadlocked Brexit talks.

The pound fell 0.8 per cent to $1.2033 on Friday, its weakest closing level since the 1980s, after a report on the second quarter showed the UK economy shrank for the first time in six years. The data means it is likely the Bank of England will cut interest rates, according to Mizuho Bank.

The BOE said in November that the currency could fall even below $1 in an analysis on possible worst-case Brexit scenarios. Options-based calculations showed around a 6.4 per cent chance of pound-dollar parity in the next one year, markedly higher than 0.2 per cent in early March when prospects of a no-deal outcome were seemingly off the table.

Bloomberg

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Tips from the expert

Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.

  1. Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
  2. It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
  3. Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
  4. Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter

1. Dubai silk road

2.  A geo-economic map for Dubai

3. First virtual commercial city

4. A central education file for every citizen

5. A doctor to every citizen

6. Free economic and creative zones in universities

7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes

8. Co-operative companies in various sectors

­9: Annual growth in philanthropy

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

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No Shame

Lily Allen

(Parlophone)

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

UAE squad

Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.

RESULTS
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Updated: August 23, 2023, 11:19 AM