Inside Xbox at Gamescom 2019 live report Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Inside Xbox at Gamescom 2019 live report All the news as it happened from today's show. Blog by Martin Robinson Editor-in-chief Updated on 19 Aug 2019 341 comments Hi, hello and welcome to Gamescom 2019, which is being kicked off by a special episode of Inside Xbox that promises some small treats. What exactly will they be? Join us at 4pm BST to find out. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings Our live coverage of this event has finished. Coverage 14:23 pm UTC Well hi, hello and how do you do? – Martin Robinson 14:24 pm UTC Just getting set up - I'm not over in Cologne (that honour this year goes to Aoife, Emma and Tom who are all en route as I type). – Martin Robinson 14:25 pm UTC And I am going to be very onbrand and watching via the Xbox One X in my living room. Don Mattress, your multimedia, Microsoft-endorsed future finally arrived. – Martin Robinson 14:26 pm UTC Would b up 4 dat. – Martin Robinson 14:37 pm UTC bumtooth: My money is on a new studio acquisition, I can feel it in my bones! Because there's nothing gamerz love more than an acquisition! – Martin Robinson 14:37 pm UTC God, video game conferences are weird things aren't they? – Martin Robinson 14:38 pm UTC Well, this isn't even a conference, but you know what I mean. – Martin Robinson 14:38 pm UTC In terms of setting expectations - well, best set them quite low, and then you might just be pleasantly surprised. – Martin Robinson 14:40 pm UTC We're getting new gameplay looks at Gears of War 5, a lil bit on Battletoads as well as a look at the new Destiny 2 expectations. – Martin Robinson 14:41 pm UTC Anything beyond that would be just gravy, quite honestly. – Martin Robinson 14:41 pm UTC EA aren't even doing a show this year, which I think counts as a pleasant surprise? – Martin Robinson 14:50 pm UTC Lol my Xbox stopped working does anyone know if you can watch videos on a Switch. – Martin Robinson 14:51 pm UTC No wait it's all good. But also this is the first time I've ever watched anything on Mixer, and I obviously thought setting it up ten minutes before the show starts would be the wise thing to do. – Martin Robinson 14:52 pm UTC It's making it all *very* exciting right now. – Martin Robinson 14:52 pm UTC Oh wait, I'm in. We've got Skynet by the balls now, don't we? – Martin Robinson 14:53 pm UTC Just under 10 minutes to go, and in a portentous moment the skies above Lewisham open up for a thunderous downpour. – Martin Robinson 14:54 pm UTC This is honestly the most dramatic opening to a conference/show I've ever had. – Martin Robinson 14:54 pm UTC And also Ori in Smash when? – Martin Robinson 14:56 pm UTC Also I'm not saying we're just getting E3 reheats - but I'm pretty sure this music that's being pumped out before the show was also used in LA earlier this year. – Martin Robinson 14:59 pm UTC Less than a minute to go! – Martin Robinson 15:00 pm UTC Or maybe more or maybe less depending on where your stream is at IDK. – Martin Robinson 15:00 pm UTC And. – Martin Robinson 15:00 pm UTC Here. – Martin Robinson 15:00 pm UTC We. – Martin Robinson 15:01 pm UTC Go. – Martin Robinson 15:01 pm UTC Kicking off with a Borderlands 3 trailer. – Martin Robinson 15:01 pm UTC And a nice shot of the cathedral in Cologne. – Martin Robinson 15:01 pm UTC Oh I'm almost sad about not being there. – Martin Robinson 15:01 pm UTC *Almost* – Martin Robinson 15:02 pm UTC We have an youthful presenting team, with no Major Nelson to be seen. – Martin Robinson 15:02 pm UTC I'm partly impressed that Microsoft has chosen to front a big show with some young, energetic presenters. – Martin Robinson 15:02 pm UTC Also sad about no Larry. – Martin Robinson 15:03 pm UTC Getting big Number 73 vibes from this gaggle of presenters. – Martin Robinson 15:03 pm UTC And really compliments don't come much bigger than that. – Martin Robinson 15:03 pm UTC Still can't believe Andrea Arnold used to be part of that Number 73 ensemble. – Martin Robinson 15:04 pm UTC It's like finding out Werner Herzog used to be part of Mickey Mouse Club. – Martin Robinson 15:04 pm UTC He wasn't, was he? – Martin Robinson 15:04 pm UTC Oh hang on there's a games show I'm supposed to be writing about. And a Blair Witch trailer! – Martin Robinson 15:05 pm UTC It's got a dog in it. – Martin Robinson 15:05 pm UTC I honestly can't remember a thing about The Blair Witch Project. I think it was about someone standing in the corner of a dark room? – Martin Robinson 15:06 pm UTC Quite up for more Herzog facts to pepper today's show with. – Martin Robinson 15:07 pm UTC Here's some Games Pass details - Kingdom Come: Deliverance first. – Martin Robinson 15:07 pm UTC And that's landing on August 20th. – Martin Robinson 15:07 pm UTC Not landing are some of the ad libs here. – Martin Robinson 15:08 pm UTC Bard's Tale 4 and Ape Out also coming - as is The Blair Witch Project when it comes out on August 30th. – Martin Robinson 15:08 pm UTC Oh and three new games coming to Games Pass today - Age of Empires on PC, Stellaris on Xbox One and.... Wait, what? Devil May Cry 5! – Martin Robinson 15:08 pm UTC Cripes. – Martin Robinson 15:08 pm UTC That's quite a good game, that. – Martin Robinson 15:09 pm UTC Games Pass is quite good, innit. – Martin Robinson 15:10 pm UTC Did he keep his cigarette packet in the sleeve? Because respect if so. – Martin Robinson 15:11 pm UTC A quick trailer for free DLC for the lovely - and phenomenally successful - Human Fall Flat. – Martin Robinson 15:12 pm UTC It's deffo more CITV than CBBC. – Martin Robinson 15:13 pm UTC Would like and subscribe to that content. – Martin Robinson 15:13 pm UTC Oh no I just remembered that Gears of War Pop exists. – Martin Robinson 15:14 pm UTC It's out on August 22nd (and a reminder that it's a mobile game that's also playable on Windows 10). – Martin Robinson 15:14 pm UTC blarts: Audience behind presenters? Significant Cringe. It's like Top Gear innit. – Martin Robinson 15:15 pm UTC Yeah Gears Pop looks absolutely horrendous. – Martin Robinson 15:15 pm UTC INSOMANiAC: Whatever happened to Roland Rat? Cancelled. – Martin Robinson 15:16 pm UTC We've got a small section on netball now. – Martin Robinson 15:16 pm UTC And in a moment of quite incredible cruelty, some netball playing lad is having his in-game score revealed live to himself. – Martin Robinson 15:16 pm UTC INSOMANiAC: Whatever happened to Bonnie Langford? Cancelled. – Martin Robinson 15:17 pm UTC And it's quite a mediocre score too. – Martin Robinson 15:17 pm UTC I quite like the twisted mind that thought it'd be good to reveal to this chap that he's considered a '76'. – Martin Robinson 15:17 pm UTC Not even sure that's a Recommended. – Martin Robinson 15:18 pm UTC An odd choice having American Netball featuring in a European show, but hey ho. – Martin Robinson 15:19 pm UTC For a horrible second I thought Bonnie Langford was dead, but it turns out she's fine. – Martin Robinson 15:20 pm UTC She's just doing panto and has a guest role in Eastenders, which is kind of a bit like what I imagine being dead is like anyway. – Martin Robinson 15:20 pm UTC belziah: What's going on? Who is this aimed at? We, the gamers. – Martin Robinson 15:21 pm UTC The American Netball has finished! – Martin Robinson 15:22 pm UTC So now it's the Nasty Hard Right American Man's Apolitical Gun Game now. – Martin Robinson 15:22 pm UTC And to top it all off, the trailer is soundtracked by a funky, modern ironic cover of Song 2. – Martin Robinson 15:23 pm UTC TheStoneRoses: It great we have so many obnoxious smart arses on the comments. And doing the live report, pal. – Martin Robinson 15:23 pm UTC Anyway, Ghost Recon Breakpoint has multiplayer. – Martin Robinson 15:24 pm UTC AddressUnknown: Ghost Recon will be pretty great. Wildlands was a blast. I keep hearing this, but I could never get past a dozen hours because it was so blaaaaand. I probably am a bit impatient. – Martin Robinson 15:24 pm UTC Randy from Gearbox is here to take us through Borderlands 3. – Martin Robinson 15:24 pm UTC No, not that Randy. He's almost definitely cancelled. – Martin Robinson 15:27 pm UTC Borderlands is looking very Borderlands, which will excite some while maybe not inspiring others. – Martin Robinson 15:28 pm UTC Borderlands 3 has a couple of characters who are livestreamers, if you wondered if its tone could be any more unbearable. – Martin Robinson 15:28 pm UTC ... – Martin Robinson 15:30 pm UTC A bit more on Bonnie Langford - she's currently taking part in a West End revival of the musical 42nd Street. – Martin Robinson 15:31 pm UTC Oh, she was also in the recent West End version of 9 to 5. She's very much alive and seems to be doing really well! – Martin Robinson 15:31 pm UTC Really pleased for her. – Martin Robinson 15:32 pm UTC Always thought she was great as Mel Bush in Doctor Who. – Martin Robinson 15:32 pm UTC Meanwhile at Inside Xbox, they're talking PUBG. – Martin Robinson 15:32 pm UTC AddressUnknown: Martin, pace the Bonnie Langford trivia. We have got Stadia stream to get through. ;) Who's saying I don't have *loads* more. – Martin Robinson 15:33 pm UTC INSOMANiAC: Whatever happened to to Slyvester McCoy? DEFINITELY NOT CANCELLED. – Martin Robinson 15:33 pm UTC Oh wait, crossplay is coming to PUBG which is pretty cool. – Martin Robinson 15:33 pm UTC INSOMANiAC: Very much the thinking mans Tom Baker Preach! – Martin Robinson 15:33 pm UTC PUBG is also getting lore? – Martin Robinson 15:34 pm UTC Crossplay is coming late September. Genuinely big and brilliant news. – Martin Robinson 15:35 pm UTC Wasteland 3 now - which is a sort of/not quite first party thing now that InExile are part of the Microsoft family. – Martin Robinson 15:36 pm UTC jetsetwillie: Bob Carolgees died after he got mauled by Spit. He's definitely cancelled. So is that dog. – Martin Robinson 15:36 pm UTC weebleman: Just logged in to catch up and it looks like its been absolutely thrilling to behold...anyway, did you know her real name is Bonita Melody Lysette Langford. Great trivia! – Martin Robinson 15:37 pm UTC INSOMANiAC: Bonnie Langford for Smash! The campaign starts here. – Martin Robinson 15:37 pm UTC Wasteland 3 actually looks lovely. – Martin Robinson 15:37 pm UTC Some new controllers now - a new type of camo controller. – Martin Robinson 15:38 pm UTC That and there's a blue one, I think. Dunno, was looking up Neil Buchanan on Wikipedia. – Martin Robinson 15:39 pm UTC There's an unboxing of those videos going live on the Xbox YouTube channel straight after this, FYI. – Martin Robinson 15:39 pm UTC Apparently Carolgees was doing panto a couple of years back in Sevenoaks. – Martin Robinson 15:40 pm UTC Pleased he's still alive, but surely that's no way to spend your 70th year on this earth. – Martin Robinson 15:40 pm UTC Hang on shhhh it's a video game that's new and looks so god and that I can't wait to play. – Martin Robinson 15:41 pm UTC It's Romero Games' Empire of Sin. – Martin Robinson 15:41 pm UTC What on earth is a yankee candle shop? – Martin Robinson 15:42 pm UTC Brenda and John are here to talk us through Empire of Sin. – Martin Robinson 15:42 pm UTC This is good content - Brenda Romero telling us how an old local bar inspired Empire of Sin. – Martin Robinson 15:43 pm UTC weebleman: Its a shop that sells yankee candles martin Haha, thanks. – Martin Robinson 15:44 pm UTC Is that true? That's almost more tragic than being in panto in Sevenoaks. – Martin Robinson 15:44 pm UTC Sorry, back to Empire of Sin - I think the reason it looks so exciting is there are all this amazing systems bubbling along together. – Martin Robinson 15:45 pm UTC All delivered with a really nice sense of flavour. – Martin Robinson 15:45 pm UTC I've genuinely never stopped to think. – Martin Robinson 15:46 pm UTC Empire of Sin is out next spring, and it's one of the games I'm most excited about in 2020. – Martin Robinson 15:47 pm UTC Vigor, which I previously had no idea existed, is coming out of preview on Xbox One. – Martin Robinson 15:48 pm UTC It's a survivally multiplayer loot and shoot thang, which does look a little generic. – Martin Robinson 15:48 pm UTC It's alive and well in the home counties, I'm sure. – Martin Robinson 15:50 pm UTC Aaron Greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenberg is here for what I can only imagine is a look at Gears' Horde mode. – Martin Robinson 15:51 pm UTC Cancelled? – Martin Robinson 15:51 pm UTC I hope not. – Martin Robinson 15:51 pm UTC minky-kong: Potpourri has been "pivoted" into health food like Kale Crisps. That explains a lot. – Martin Robinson 15:53 pm UTC INSOMANiAC: Potpourri is very much the non thinking mans Bombay mix The wisdom in here today is off the charts. – Martin Robinson 15:54 pm UTC A reminder, too, that XO19 is in London this November. – Martin Robinson 15:54 pm UTC We'll be there. They can't even stop me as it's on my doorstop. – Martin Robinson 15:54 pm UTC I will come bearing bowls of pot pourri. – Martin Robinson 15:54 pm UTC Major Nelson will be there, so try and stop me. – Martin Robinson 15:55 pm UTC (Also that's a man who still has pot pourri around the fireplace). – Martin Robinson 15:55 pm UTC And Phil Spencer will be there too. It'll be quite exciting! – Martin Robinson 15:56 pm UTC Benny from Xbox just inadvertantly channelled Alan Partridge as he repeatedly shouts 'Aaron. Aaron! AARON!' in an attempt to get Greenberg's attention. – Martin Robinson 15:56 pm UTC Well you'll always be welcome here. – Martin Robinson 15:57 pm UTC INSOMANiAC: You've made the schoolboy error of thinking potpourri is two words. We've all been there. I apologise. But I'm also too lazy to go and edit that old comment. – Martin Robinson 15:58 pm UTC INSOMANiAC: clap THAT you cunts. It was *cheer* that, but thanks for typing that out so I don't have to. – Martin Robinson 15:59 pm UTC It originally started in that Bethesda conference with all the hollering and screaming. And it's probably the highlight of my life. – Martin Robinson 16:00 pm UTC We're approaching the hour point, which I'm hoping will be the cutoff. – Martin Robinson 16:01 pm UTC No wait I think there's another 30 minutes of this - we've got Metro Exodus, The Surge, Destiny 2 and gears all inbound. – Martin Robinson 16:01 pm UTC On the plus side, 5pm means beer o' clock, so go raid your fridges. – Martin Robinson 16:02 pm UTC The Surge 2 looks wonderful, although it does look like one of those games that's destined to live away from the limelight. – Martin Robinson 16:03 pm UTC It's almost a full-time job keeping up with FromSoft's output, so personally speaking I find it hard to find room for another similar game. I really should though, as there's a lot to like about The Surge 2. – Martin Robinson 16:04 pm UTC Well, funny you ask. I went to the pub for fish and chips for lunch as I knew I'd be working through 'til late. – Martin Robinson 16:04 pm UTC And yes, I'm afraid that means it is me for Google and Geoffffff. – Martin Robinson 16:04 pm UTC Make it four and I agree. – Martin Robinson 16:04 pm UTC Yeah it's an odd way to present the game, but you can't fault them for showing off the detail. – Martin Robinson 16:05 pm UTC I feel like I've already played and completed The Surge 2 after this. – Martin Robinson 16:06 pm UTC That was The Surge 2. Now we're going to talk about a sequel to Destiny! – Martin Robinson 16:06 pm UTC That's awesome - I loved the first Destiny and was hoping they'd make a second one. – Martin Robinson 16:07 pm UTC Finishers are new to Destiny 2: Shadowkeep - and they're class specific. – Martin Robinson 16:09 pm UTC Looking at the light levels for peole in Shadowkeep just reminds me how long it's been since I've played Destiny - and how unlikely it is I'll ever return. – Martin Robinson 16:10 pm UTC This is all a bit Smash Hits live, though. – Martin Robinson 16:11 pm UTC Oh god maybe I'm just too old and cynical for all this. – Martin Robinson 16:11 pm UTC October 1st is the release date for Shadowkeep - which I think we knew already. – Martin Robinson 16:11 pm UTC INSOMANiAC: Whatever happened to 'Look-in' magazine? My sister got her birthday mentioned in Look-in! It was the closest to fame we ever got. – Martin Robinson 16:14 pm UTC _Alan_Cartridge_: Whatever happened to sun-roofs in cars? I was thinking the other day you just don't see them anymore and they used to be all the rage. They're buried, along with all the white dog pooh. – Martin Robinson 16:14 pm UTC Is that an actual, bonafide fact? Don't make me spend the entire Google Stadia show working through every single cover to verify this. – Martin Robinson 16:15 pm UTC Gears time - but before we can see gameplay, here's an overwrought montage telling you all what Gears means to people. – Martin Robinson 16:15 pm UTC Fat necks and big guns. – Martin Robinson 16:16 pm UTC INSOMANiAC: It was a lie. So disappointed. But thanks for saving me an hour of looking through Look-in covers. – Martin Robinson 16:17 pm UTC Gears 5, though, should be good - Gears 4 was wilfully conservative, and it'll be fascinating to see how 5 stamps its own sense of identity. – Martin Robinson 16:17 pm UTC With fat necks and big guns, I reckon. – Martin Robinson 16:17 pm UTC Gears 5 Horde Mode trailer, which is the climax of this whole thing, is now being shown off. – Martin Robinson 16:18 pm UTC Character-based abilities make it seem a bit more like a hero shooter. – Martin Robinson 16:18 pm UTC Also, graphics. Lots and lots of graphics. – Martin Robinson 16:20 pm UTC Gears 5: Fatter Necks and Bigger Guns. I would buy the crap out of that. – Martin Robinson 16:21 pm UTC Taps and ultimates are the big new things for 5's Horde mode - it's a slightly more flexible, dynamic brand of Horde. – Martin Robinson 16:21 pm UTC Still mostly bigger necks and fatter guns though. – Martin Robinson 16:22 pm UTC There's upgradeable collectible cards too because 2019. – Martin Robinson 16:23 pm UTC Oh, and JACK - the bot, that is - is now playable in Horde. – Martin Robinson 16:23 pm UTC I presume as a support-focussed character? – Martin Robinson 16:23 pm UTC Haha, amazing. – Martin Robinson 16:24 pm UTC And that was Gears 5's horde mode. – Martin Robinson 16:25 pm UTC And this has been 90 minutes. – Martin Robinson 16:28 pm UTC There's a nice focus on accessibility in Gears 5, with lots of different control options - inculding single stick - and with Jack intended for players who don't necessarily feel so cosy with a gun. – Martin Robinson 16:28 pm UTC INSOMANiAC: It really is a talent to feign interest as enthusiastically as this lady manages. She did seem genuinely excited by different difficulty levels, which was quite something. – Martin Robinson 16:29 pm UTC A Gears 5 limited edition console it here too. To take us through the last 60 seconds. – Martin Robinson 16:30 pm UTC It's a laser etched monstrosity of a thing that will look great in your room, if your room is in the basement of your parent's house somewhere in Oregon. – Martin Robinson 16:31 pm UTC INSOMANiAC: I think its just you and me left Martin. Nice and romantic. Bring out the scented candles. – Martin Robinson 16:32 pm UTC Gears 5 is also on Steam, and you can pre-order from today. – Martin Robinson 16:32 pm UTC What about that Epic Games Store though? – Martin Robinson 16:33 pm UTC Two Halo: Reach characters - Kat and Emile - are also coming to Gears 5. – Martin Robinson 16:33 pm UTC weebleman: Is sony bothering themselves to do anything this year? They'll have a slim presence at Geoff's show tonight! – Martin Robinson 16:34 pm UTC It's been over 90 minutes. Stop talking. – Martin Robinson 16:35 pm UTC AddressUnknown: Apparently, Sony has a surprise tonight. Demon Souls remake is my dream. Oooh. Well, it's happening, so it's only a matter of when. Tonight would be an odd choice, but I'd take it. – Martin Robinson 16:36 pm UTC Apologies for not talking about the Gears hoodie they've been chatting about the last five minutes. – Martin Robinson 16:37 pm UTC I think my brain melted and started dripping through my nose. – Martin Robinson 16:37 pm UTC That was 90 minutes. And a bit more. – Martin Robinson 16:38 pm UTC Sorry about all that, but thanks as ever for being here and making it all that bit more bearable. – Martin Robinson 16:38 pm UTC Highlights? Empire of Sin looks great, Devil May Cry 5 is on Games Pass now. – Martin Robinson 16:39 pm UTC I don't think we can sign off one of these anymore without that. See you for Google in 20 minutes. – Martin Robinson Comments Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More Blogs Digital Foundry DF Direct Weekly: do we really need a Horizon Zero Dawn remake? Plus: path-traced Quake, PSVR2 and the new Need for Speed. 34 VR Corner 13 confirmed PSVR2 games we cannot wait to play Pleasing to the eye. 53 Digital Foundry DF Direct Weekly: Stadia is dead - so what will it take to make cloud gaming a success? 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