World of Warcraft is returning to gamescom 2025 with a full slate of announcements, demos, and community programming—centered around the highly anticipated Midnight expansion and the debut of the game’s long-requested Player Housing system. Whether you’re attending in person in Cologne or tuning in online, Blizzard is setting the stage for a week filled with updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and fan-focused content.
The show kicks off with the global reveal of Midnight’s cinematic trailer during Opening Night Live on Tuesday, August 19 at 11am PT / 7pm BST / 8pm CEST. The trailer marks the beginning of a deeper look at the upcoming expansion, which promises new zones, quests, and systems.
Perhaps the most notable addition to the show floor this year is WoW Player Housing, which will be playable for the first time ever. Fans visiting Hall 8 will have the chance to test drive the new system, showcasing just how much customization and creativity players will soon be able to bring to their homes in Azeroth.
Beyond the game demos, the World of Warcraft Community Stage will host a packed schedule from Wednesday through Sunday. Attendees and online viewers alike can expect a mix of developer panels, creator spotlights, esports, cosplay, and interactive programming streamed via WoW’s official social channels.
Two major developer panels will offer more in-depth discussion around the Midnight expansion. On August 21 at 1pm CEST, Senior Game Director Ion Hazzikostas and Associate Design Director Maria Hamilton will explore the zones, quests, and narrative in “The World of Midnight.” Then on August 23 at 11am, the “Systems Download” panel will take a closer look at the new features coming with the expansion. Full video-on-demand recordings of both sessions will be available shortly after the events.
For those hoping to meet the developers, several Meet & Greet sessions will take place at the booth, including signing events directly following each panel, plus additional sessions on August 22 at 1pm and August 23 at 12:15pm.
The excitement continues on Saturday with the WoW Cosplay Contest at 3pm. Cosplayers from around the world will gather at Hall 8 to showcase elaborate recreations of Azeroth’s most iconic characters. Judging the event will be cosplay legend Kamui, community creators Taliesin & Evitel, Executive Producer Holly Longdale, and Art Director Ely Cannon.
Content creators will also play a central role throughout the weekend. On August 23, Taliesin & Evitel will host a world-building discussion with Hamilton and Cannon at 1:45pm, followed by a live performance from Austrian rapper and WoW fan Dame at 4:45pm. Later that evening, MrGM will sit down with Hazzikostas for a conversation about the game’s future.
Other highlights include a live WoW housing design challenge on August 24 at 12:30pm featuring creators Metashi, Mcky, and KDRKitten, plus two dedicated creator meet & greet blocks on August 22 at 11:15am and August 24 at 11:30am.
For fans tuning in remotely, the Creator Clash livestream will run from August 20 to 22 across Warcraft’s Twitch and YouTube channels. This event will include live showcases of Player Housing, Mythic Dungeon matches, Delve content, and a Cross-Region Arena bracket featuring top Arena World Championship (AWC) teams from Season 2.
Whether you’re attending in person or watching from home, gamescom 2025 will offer the most extensive World of Warcraft presence to date, with the Midnight expansion and player housing at the center of it all. With community engagement, global gameplay reveals, and new systems on display, Azeroth is ready to take the spotlight once again.
