Nintendo has announced that it will return to Cologne, Germany, for the annual Gamescom event later this summer. Although Nintendo did not specifically state which games or products it would show off at the annual event, the gaming giant confirmed that it would be at the Koelnmesse grounds for the entire week that Gamescom will be held.
Gamescom has been held annually on the fairgrounds of the Koelnmesse in Cologne since its inception in 2009. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Gamescom has grown to become the largest expo of its kind across Europe. The annual trade event is usually kicked off by Gamescom Opening Night Live, hosted by Geoff Keighley. Gamescom’s opening broadcast in 2025 saw trailers for games like World of Warcraft: Midnight and Black Myth: Zhong Kui, along with a glimpse at the second season of Amazon’s Fallout TV series.
Nintendo Switch Online Adds 5 More Games for Subscribers
Nintendo Switch Online adds five more retro games for subscribers with the Expansion Pack upgrade to play at their leisure.
After Nintendo made an appearance at Gamescom 2025 following the Switch 2’s launch, the company has revealed that it will be back in Cologne this year. Nintendo confirmed on social media that it will be attending Gamescom for the entire duration of the event, which runs from August 26 to 30. However, Nintendo did not confirm what it would show off at this year’s Gamescom event, but encouraged fans to keep an eye on its official channels for more information. Last year, Nintendo’s Gamescom lineup focused on the Switch 2, which included first-party entries such as Donkey Kong Bananza and Pokemon Legends: Z-A, along with third-party games like Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong.
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As for what Nintendo games could appear at this year’s Gamescom, titles such as Splatoon Raiders and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave seem like possible candidates. As the first spinoff of the Splatoon franchise, Splatoon Raiders is a single-player-focused entry that will see players explore the mysterious Spirhalite Islands. Splatoon Raiders will arrive on July 23. As for Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, the upcoming strategy game from Nintendo and Intelligent Systems still has no definitive launch date other than a 2026 release window. Given the popularity of the Fire Emblem series, it remains to be seen whether Fortune’s Weave will be at Gamescom.
Nintendo’s appearance at Gamescom 2026 will come just days before Nintendo makes an important change for customers to bear in mind. Starting September 1, just two days after Gamescom ends, the price of the Switch 2 will increase from $449 to $499 due to the rising costs of essential components. In light of the imminent price hike, Nintendo has made efforts to ensure that the Switch 2 is a worthwhile investment for all users. As part of its ongoing efforts, Nintendo introduced a new Switch 2 bundle that allows players to pick between Mario Kart World, Pokemon Pokopia, or Donkey Kong Bananza as a digital pack-in game with their $499 purchase.
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Though Nintendo has kept a tight lid on its unannounced projects, recent rumors claimed that a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is currently in development. Time will tell if the Zelda franchise will have any presence on the Gamescom show floor this year.
