The PC Gaming Show 2025 delivered a wide array of new game announcements, exclusive reveals, and hardware showcases, marking a highlight for enthusiasts eager to glimpse the year’s most anticipated projects. Fans and industry observers watched as over 70 trailers and 15 first reveals were presented, featuring studios ranging from established names like Remedy Entertainment and IO Interactive to indie developers breaking new ground. This year, the event’s focus extended not just to software but also to hardware, with a spotlight on “The Rig,” a custom-built PC crafted in partnership with AMD, Gigabyte, and Havn. The diversity and ambition of this showcase underscored both the evolving tastes of PC gamers and the industry’s technical advancements. Notably, this year’s show expanded its reach through streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube, encouraging wider community participation.
Compared to previous years, the PC Gaming Show 2025 incorporated a broader spectrum of genres and formats, moving beyond traditional reveals to include more in-depth developer interviews and community-focused engagement. In past editions, hardware segments received less prominence, while now they stand as central elements. This adjustment reflects a strategic shift in appealing to both tech enthusiasts and casual players. Additionally, the event has embraced more early-access games and demos, reflecting a changing market where players expect interaction and feedback opportunities during development cycles. The inclusion of major franchises, like Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition and titles such as Warhammer 40K: Darktide, maintained the event’s appeal to long-term fans, while new IPs evidenced an ongoing commitment to innovation and risk-taking in the PC ecosystem.
What new games and trailers stood out this year?
The event was packed with fresh game debuts, including action-oriented and narrative-driven experiences. Notable highlights include Blumhouse’s multiplayer horror “Eyes of Hellfire,” Failbetter Games’ farming sim “Mandrake,” and Soft Rains’ sci-fi adventure “Ambrosia Sky.” IO Interactive offered insights into “007: First Light,” their take on the James Bond franchise, and Remedy Entertainment discussed “FBC: Firebreak,” set in the “Control” universe. The showcase also introduced co-op shooters such as “Den of Wolves,” rhythm-roguelikes like “Ratatan,” and the management sim “Kaizen: A Factory Story,” created by the team behind “Opus Magnum.” Fans witnessed the premieres of sequels and expansions for favorites like “Moonlighter 2,” “Barotrauma: Home and Harbor,” and “Anno 117: Pax Romana.”
How did hardware and major partnerships feature in the show?
Hardware gained more attention than before, with the project “The Rig” drawing interest from performance-focused players. Constructed with top-spec components, including parts from AMD, Gigabyte, and Havn, “The Rig” was both a technical demonstration and the centerpiece of a major giveaway. By emphasizing the technical foundation of modern gaming, the show continued “a decade of telling you about all the PC games you should play, so it only felt right to do the same this year while also exploring the hardware that makes all of that possible.” This focus connected software announcements directly to the tools and setups gamers use, further blurring the line between creativity and capability.
What trends define this year’s show and what does it mean for PC gaming?
Several broad trends emerged, most notably the push toward cooperative and community gameplay, as seen in multiplayer shooters and shared-world survival sims like “Necesse,” “Enginefall,” and “Railborn.” Developers also leaned into blending genres, producing crossovers such as deckbuilding-cooking hybrids (“Arcane Eats”), rhythm-action rogue-likes, and strategic management city-builders. The show’s expanded early-access releases, demo availability, and community input signals a shift towards inclusive, player-driven development processes. Additionally, diverse world premieres spanned from whimsical adventures (“Capy Castaway,” “Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth”) to psychological horror and innovative puzzle games, illustrating the medium’s creative range.
World premieres and exclusive first looks remained central, but the inclusion of behind-the-scenes content, developer insights, and glimpses at in-progress builds gave the audience more context for upcoming launches. Integration with streaming platforms and interactive giveaways extended the event’s reach. When discussing future trends, a Remedy Entertainment representative remarked,
“If you can hold a gun and use a tool, Firebreak needs you.”
This highlights the hands-on, participatory ethos now infused throughout PC game development and community engagement.
The PC Gaming Show 2025 offered a comprehensive look at both the ambitions and changing realities of the PC gaming scene. New game announcements spanned nearly every genre and style, accommodating both niche interests and mainstream expectations. Through strengthening the partnership between hardware and software innovation, and cultivating direct player-developer interaction, the show cemented its role as a central stage for the medium. For players and industry watchers alike, observing these evolving trends offers guidance not only for the games to anticipate but the platforms and communities that will support them. For readers, staying informed about upcoming demos, hardware advancements, and early-access opportunities can facilitate closer involvement with development cycles and industry changes, while also tailoring personal setups to match future gaming requirements.
