Gamescom 2026 Playtest
Tides of Annihilation Offers First Global Public Hands-On Demo at Gamescom 2026
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Tides of Annihilation will offer its first extended public hands-on at Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, occupying Hall 6, Booth B-050 at Koelnmesse; the event runs starting August 26, with Opening Night Live on August 25 featuring a new trailer.
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The PC version will be available on Steam and the Epic Games Store, with console versions planned for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.
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Eclipse Glow Games’ development team comprises over 150 developers, including veterans who have previously worked on Assassin’s Creed, For Honor, Yakuza, Persona, and Prince of Persia.
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The game intentionally blends two distinct settings—devastated modern London and the mythical realm of Avalon—against the backdrop of an ongoing 'Outworld invasion'.
Eclipse Glow Games has confirmed that its Arthurian action-adventure, Tides of Annihilation, will be playable for the first time at Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, from August 26 to August 30, according to Noisy Pixel and Games Hub. The studio will also debut a brand-new trailer at Opening Night Live on August 25.
The demo marks the game's first extended public playtest anywhere in the world, following earlier closed previews in Chengdu and a Sony State of Play appearance in 2025. Attendees can find the game at Hall 6, Booth B-050 at Koelnmesse, Noisy Pixel reports.
A Ruined London Meets Arthurian Myth
Tides of Annihilation drops players into a devastated version of modern London, overrun by what the game calls an 'Outworld invasion.' The city is layered with a second setting — the mythical realm of Avalon — creating two distinct worlds to explore, Push Square explains.
Players control Gwendolyn, described as humanity's lone survivor. The game blends familiar London landmarks with fantastical, mythic environments. A central mystery surrounds Gwendolyn's powers and what they mean for the fate of reality itself.
Neo-Medieval Combat Compared to Mahjong Strategy
The game's combat system is built around what Eclipse Glow Games calls 'Neo-Medieval' fighting. Colossal roaming knight enemies stalk the world, and branching paths lead to major boss encounters including Mordred and Geraint, GamingBolt reports.
In a striking comparison, the development team has likened the combat's layered decision-making to Mahjong strategy, according to GamingBolt. Players must read enemies, choose their approach, and adapt — rather than simply button-mash their way through encounters.
150-Person Team Backed by Tencent, Built on Unreal Engine
Eclipse Glow Games is a Chengdu-based studio backed by Tencent. Its team of over 150 developers includes veterans from Assassin's Creed, For Honor, Yakuza, Persona, and Prince of Persia, Game Reactor notes.
The studio is working closely with NVIDIA and Epic Games to push the game's visuals using Unreal Engine. The team says rigorous optimization is a priority across all platforms, aiming for cutting-edge performance on both PC and next-gen consoles.
Where to Play and How to Buy When It Launches
Tides of Annihilation is planned for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, as well as PC via both Steam and the Epic Games Store, GamingBolt confirms. No release date has been announced yet.
For those heading to Cologne, Game Reactor notes the game runs at Gamescom from August 26 to 30, with public access to the demo at Koelnmesse. The Opening Night Live trailer on August 25 will be the first new look at the game since its 2025 State of Play showing.
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