Gamescom 2026 is underway, and there's been a significant increase in new announcements recently, with many popular titles bringing new content. Among them, the collaboration between The Witcher 3 and Diablo IV is undoubtedly a major highlight of this year's Gamescom.
The official release of Path of Exile 2 on December 12th, Eastern dark fantasy ARPG setting of Tarae: The Unbound, and the large-scale free update to Crimson Desert have also made the second half of this year's gaming market even more exciting.
Let's take a look at some of the important announcements from Gamescom 2026.
The Witcher 3 × Diablo IV
On August 26th, CD Projekt Red and Blizzard officially announced that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will collaborate with Diablo IV. The Witcher 3 Remastered is scheduled to launch on Blizzard's Battle.net platform on September 29th, 2026, and pre-orders are currently open.
This Remastered update isn't just a simple graphics upgrade; the full version includes the previously released Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions, along with adjustments to graphics, combat, and multiple game systems.
Upgrades include more modern visuals, improved movement and exploration, a new Witcher Sign effect, redesigned mount controls, and updated monster behavior.
Skill Tree has also been redesigned and includes quality-of-life features like transmogrification, making it easier to customize equipment appearance. For players who have already experienced The Witcher 3, this Remastered update feels like a chance to revisit the original world.
To celebrate The Witcher 3 Remastered's arrival on Battle.net, you'll also have the chance to win a Geralt-themed skin usable in Diablo 4. Currently, information about the collaboration is limited; more details will be revealed at BlizzCon.
According to current information, BlizzCon on September 13th will further explore the collaboration between the two series. Therefore, Diablo 4 may include more The Witcher-themed Diablo 4 Items, skins, or events.
Besides Remastered, The Witcher 3 also announced a new expansion, Songs of the Past, planned for release in 2027. The new expansion will bring a brand new region, Letten, and add enemies not previously seen.
The story takes place after the events of The Witcher 3, so this isn't simply a repackaging of old content, but a further expansion of the original world. While the full story of Songs of the Past hasn't been revealed yet, the new region, new enemies, and content related to future The Witcher titles have garnered significant attention for this expansion.
Diablo Series
Besides the collaboration with The Witcher 3, Diablo series has recently seen recent developments. During Gamescom, the official Blizzard Australia New Zealand X account released Diablo 2 Act 3 opening cut scene along with information about Arise Diablo.
Combined with news about Diablo's 30th anniversary earlier this year, the upcoming BlizzCon, and the fact that some areas and quests in Act 3 are still teased or not fully revealed, this move naturally sparked speculation among players about the future of Diablo 2.
Tarae: The Unbound
During Gamescom 2026, Tarae: The Unbound, an Eastern dark fantasy action RPG, was also announced. Set in East Asian cultures from 15th to 17th centuries, it features Diablo-like classes, loot, build crafting, and an endgame framework.
Its core features include the integration of Eastern Aesthetics, Folklore, Yin and Yang, Five Elements, and Shamanism into its combat and world-building. There are six classes: Samurai, specializing in swordsmanship; Tiger Hunter, wielding gunpowder and traps; and Geomancer, utilizing the power of Five Elements. Each class encompasses both physical and mental skills.
Tarae: The Unbound emphasizes the campaign experience, with a main storyline focused on single-player gameplay. Completing a campaign leads to an endgame emphasizing build crafting and includes co-op content. The development team also plans to incorporate a new farming system and season mechanics based on Eastern culture.
Path of Exile 2
During Gamescom, Path of Exile 2 also announced significant news. The official release of PoE 2 1.0 is confirmed for December 12th, launching on multiple platforms. The long-awaited sword has finally arrived in the game.
The official Path of Exile 2 team plans a new livestream on August 28th, where they will reveal more information about Patch 1.0. Patch 0.5 had already garnered considerable attention, and Patch 1.0 signifies a new phase for the game.
The story content, Sword, and new content added in the official release that were not completed in Patch 0.5 will be gradually revealed in the coming days. For players who have been following PoE 2 closely, December 12th will be one of the most anticipated dates of the second half of the year.
Crimson Desert
Crimson Desert is another game worth watching at Gamescom. The game received a free Enhanced Update, adjusting the story content, improving localization for multiple countries and regions, and optimizing a large amount of other content.
This update is quite significant and is not a paid expansion. With continued adjustments to the story, language, and gameplay, the final experience of Crimson Desert may differ significantly from the initial version.
As Gamescom continues and BlizzCon in September approaches, what other content these popular games will announce and whether they will bring new information will be a key focus from now on. For fans of ARPGs, open-world games, and large-scale RPGs, the second half of 2026 is packed with new content.
