Gamescom 2025: The top three trends from the games industry’s biggest event

The gaming industry’s largest showcase, Gamescom, wrapped up on Sunday 24 August, and with over 350,000 attendees, it broke records to become the most attended event in its history. Serving as an annual barometer for the industry, Gamescom helps set expectations for the upcoming holiday season, while offering early glimpses into the year ahead.

Gamescom 2025 delivered a packed lineup of announcements, demos, and surprises that will keep both fans and industry insiders buzzing long after the event’s doors closed. In this week’s blog, we're breaking down the top three trends from the show and what they mean for the future of gaming.

Trend 1: Handheld holiday boom

As we discussed in last week’s blog, the massive success of the Nintendo Switch, and its follow-up, the Switch 2, has reignited a handheld gaming arms race. One of the most significant players entering the scene in 2025 is Microsoft, which, in partnership with PC hardware giant Asus, introduced the Republic of Gamers (ROG) Xbox Ally and Ally X.

While the devices were first announced earlier this year, Gamescom gave us a much clearer picture of what they’re bringing to the table to shake up the industry. With a range of quality-of-life features – including handheld-optimised games, a unified game services library, and flexible storage and streaming options – it is clear Microsoft is aiming for a serious entry into the handheld space.

Both the Xbox Ally and Ally X are set to launch in October 2025 – and while it remains to be seen whether it can dethrone the Switch, gamers will certainly have more handheld gaming options than ever this holiday season.

Regardless of which handheld consumers choose, they format is clearly taking an increased prominence in the industry. Game developers and publishers will need to keep the format in mind as gamers will likely gravitate towards games that can be played whether they are at home or on the go.

Trend 2: Nostalgia trip

It’s no secret that gamers tend to be fans of nostalgia, and this year’s Gamescom leaned into that in a big way. While major franchises like Ghosts of Yotei, Call of Duty 7, and Resident Evil 9 were front and centre, some of the most buzzworthy moments came from long-dormant franchises making a return. Titles like Ninja Gaiden, Turok, and even Bubsy 3D are staging comebacks to the delight of longtime fans.

The retro revival extended beyond individual IPs. Classic genres such as side-scrolling beat ‘em ups, which defined the 1980s and '90s gaming scene, are making a comeback – with one standout being a retro-style He-Man and the Masters of the Universe game. One booth even featured a crowdfunded '80s-style Light Gun peripheral, harkening back to the golden age of gaming.

As gamers grow older and look to reconnect with the titles and genres of their youth, this wave of nostalgia-driven gaming is likely to continue being a powerful force in the market.

Trend 3: You’ve got your video games in my movies

There was a time when movies and TV adaptations of video games were considered hit-or-miss at best. The reverse – games based on film / TV – were also not often well received. However, it seems those days are firmly in the past. This year’s Gamescom confirmed what many already suspected: transmedia has gone from a gimmick to a serious strategy.

The event’s opening night saw major fanfare around the teaser for the second season of Amazon Prime Video’s Fallout series, reinforcing the strong appetite for game-to-screen adaptations.

But the trend goes both ways. Titles like 007: First Light from IO Interactive, and the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Switch 2 port (with new DLC), were among the most hyped games on the show floor. The 007 booth even featured vehicles straight from the James Bond films series.

Sony is emerging as a transmedia leader. One of its headline announcements was Sekiro: No Defeat, an anime adaptation of FromSoftware’s hit gaming title Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Scheduled to premiere on Crunchyroll (Sony’s anime streaming platform), it exemplifies the deepening ties between gaming and other entertainment media.

Final thoughts on Gamescom 2025

From handheld innovation to transmedia crossovers, Gamescom 2025 paints a vivid picture of the future of gaming. The industry is clearly expanding and evolving. Hardware, storytelling, and medium are all developing and if this year’s event is any indication, the next chapter promises to be just as bold and boundary-pushing as the last.