The inaugural GamingUp Showcase highlighted more than 35 upcoming and recent games from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, offering new trailers, gameplay reveals and developer insights across a wide range of genres
The first GamingUp Showcase has concluded, providing a digital platform for over 35 games in development or recently released by studios and publishers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The event, streamed internationally, was designed to spotlight the DACH region's growing games industry and included world premieres, new trailers, gameplay demonstrations and developer commentary. Both independent teams and established publishers such as Ivy Juice Games, Assemble Entertainment and astragon Entertainment contributed to the line-up, which spanned genres from RPGs and horror to simulation and racing.
Key Announcements and Reveals
Among the most notable announcements was The Medieval Journey, an MMORPG set in a historically inspired German world, featuring a multi-generational dynasty system where players can form relationships, raise families and continue their legacy through successive generations. The game promises a player-driven economy, professions and regional trade, though no specific release date has been confirmed.
Mica King, a top-down 3D action adventure from LAB132, made its first public appearance, showcasing a magical kingdom, character customisation and a combat system built around melee, ranged and arcane abilities. Other highlights included a deeper look at Babushka, a narrative 2D farming roguelite, and a developer segment for Tiny Capsule Collector, which offers a desktop companion experience.
Genre Variety and Gameplay Focus
The showcase emphasised the breadth of projects underway in the region. Dawn of Defense was introduced as a strategy title combining tower defence, RTS mechanics and roguelite progression, with a PC release targeted for Q4 2026. Asterfel, inspired by early-2000s RPGs, is planned for PC and consoles in Q1 2027 and features open-world exploration, faction alignment and a mix of combat styles. EVERGUEST: The Veiled Inn blends turn-based roguelite RPG combat with an active dodge system, while Code: 9 and KEROGEN offer detective and horror experiences respectively.
Cozy and creative projects were also present. Cat Me If You Can reimagines the hidden-cat genre as a 3D exploration game, launching on PC on 8 September 2026, with Switch and Xbox Series versions to follow later in the year. Beeing Hive tasks players with managing a beehive's internal structure and defences, while Plant Everywhere and Forefeathers explore urban gardening and atmospheric puzzle adventure. CAAAHR! stands out as a cooperative racing game where acceleration is controlled by voice.
Simulation and Showcase Participation
Simulation fans saw new entries from astragon Entertainment, including Construction Simulator: Evolution, which expands the series with over 180 licensed machines from 35 manufacturers. Seafarer: The Ship Sim and Firefighting Simulator: Ignite were also presented, focusing on maritime navigation and emergency response scenarios respectively.
Several games from the showcase are set to appear at gamescom 2026 in Cologne. Asterfel will be playable at the Home of Indies booth, while Media Circus will feature its updated demo at the Indie Arena Booth following its Steam release on 24 August. The event's timing positions it as a digital lead-in to the wider gamescom week, with more titles expected to be available for hands-on play at the exhibition.
Future Plans and Industry Context
The GamingUp Showcase was established to provide a unified international stage for developers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, aiming to increase visibility for both emerging and established studios. The organisers have confirmed that the showcase will return in 2027, again aligning with gamescom and offering further opportunities for regional developers to present their work to a global audience. Details on the next event, including submission guidelines and participation, are expected to be announced closer to the date.
The DACH region's presence in the global games industry continues to expand, with events like GamingUp Showcase offering a concentrated look at the diversity and ambition of local projects. For those interested in the horror genre, the region has also produced titles such as FEED IT, a psychological horror game recently covered by NGB in a feature on its Steam launch: PSX-style horror arrives on PC with FEED IT.
Showcases like GamingUp are increasingly important for independent and mid-sized studios, providing a platform to reach international players and media without the constraints of physical events. As the industry continues to evolve, digital presentations are likely to remain a key part of the release and marketing cycle, especially for regions seeking greater global recognition.
Showcase events often feature a mix of cinematic trailers, in-engine demonstrations and edited gameplay footage. While these materials can offer a sense of a game's direction and ambition, they do not always represent the final playable experience. Players should be aware that features, performance and even release timing can change between a showcase reveal and the eventual launch, especially for projects still in active development. It is common for games to undergo further optimisation, content adjustments and technical refinement before release, making it important to distinguish between early presentations and final builds.
