Overview
- Geoff Keighley and Gamescom organisers explained on Thursday that Opening Night Live (ONL) uses a hybrid model in which some trailers are editorially selected and run free while others are paid placements.
- Keighley said editorial selection is decided as a group and is driven by the scale or newsworthiness of an announcement, with many small indie teams also chosen for visibility.
- Organisers emphasized that most digital slots are offered free to partners and that the livestreams serve as a global extension of on-site exhibition rather than a main income source.
- Keighley confirmed several headline appearances for ONL on August 25, including Gears of War: E-Day, Final Fantasy VII Revelation, Metro 2039, Ananta, and new details for The Witcher 3 expansion.
- The clarification follows earlier reporting that cited substantial fees for trailer spots at Keighley-hosted events, and observers are watching ONL and Xbox's Gamescom broadcasts for any further high-profile reveals.