ZOOPUNK debuts at Opening Night Live

TiGames used gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25 to give ZOOPUNK its latest high-profile showcase, putting the studio’s next game in front of a global audience during Geoff Keighley’s opening event in Cologne. The Shanghai developer described the project as a third-person action RPG and a prequel to F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch. (prnewswire.com) TiGames said the new trailer introduced three playable heroes, new environments and a first glimpse of a fourth character. gamescom lists Opening Night Live as the festival’s opening show for 2026. The reveal also clarified where ZOOPUNK sits in TiGames’ existing universe. Company materials say the game is set decades before F.I.S.T. and follows the origins of Torch City, which TiGames describes as an animal metropolis facing upheaval. (prnewswire.com) A separate gamescom-era writeup from Gematsu, citing TiGames’ details, described the project as a 3D action-adventure game expanding the “Animal Punk” setting established by F.I.S.T. ### How does ZOOPUNK connect back to F.I.S.T.? TiGames said ZOOPUNK is set “decades before” F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch and centers on the “turbulent origins of Torch City.” The studio framed it as a prequel rather than a direct sequel, placing it earlier in the same fiction and using the trailer to show locations, factions and conflicts tied to that world. (prnewswire.com) F.I.S.T. already established Torch City as a setting shaped by conflict between animals and machines. In ZOOPUNK, TiGames said that conflict broadens: the studio’s materials say the Machine Legion is a major enemy force, but rival animal factions and shifting alliances also shape the story. (prnewswire.com) ### Who are the playable characters shown so far? The August 25 trailer introduced Rayton the Rabbit, Braton the Rhino and Trixie the Chipmunk as the three playable heroes shown by name. TiGames said Rayton is built around fast melee combat and aerial combos, Braton uses a chainsaw and defensive abilities, and Trixie mixes acrobatics with ranged “gun-fu” and ammo management. (prnewswire.com) Gematsu, again citing TiGames’ material, said the trailer also offered a first look at a fourth protagonist, identified only as a serval whose identity was left unrevealed. That same report said the footage showed the first animal enemy bosses, marking an expansion beyond the original game’s animal-versus-machine framing. (prnewswire.com) ### What did the trailer actually show? TiGames said the Opening Night Live trailer highlighted combat, worldbuilding and several environments, including forests and airships. The studio also said the setting revolves around the “Spark,” a power source that shapes technology, civilizations and conflict in the game’s world. (prnewswire.com) IGN’s gamescom video listing described ZOOPUNK as an “upcoming third-person action-adventure game” and said the extended gameplay trailer showed action, boss fights and traversal. A separate gameplay listing on IGN described the game as centered on a war between beast and machine and called it a team-based co-op PvE game. (gematsu.com) ### Was there a demo or hands-on showing at gamescom? Cerebral-Overload’s September 1 post said ZOOPUNK was being shown in Cologne beyond the stage reveal, with TiGames presenting behind-closed-doors demos to media at Tencent Games’ booth in the business area, Hall 4.2 – B035. The post did not describe a public show-floor demo for general attendees, but it did say the latest build was being shared with press. (prnewswire.com) TiGames’ PRNewswire release also said the studio would release an additional five-minute gameplay video on IGN on August 26. That provided a second beat after the live reveal and gave viewers a longer look at combat and movement. (ign.com) ### What comes next for the game? TiGames’ official ZOOPUNK page says the game is planned for PC and console, but the materials surfaced in the gamescom rollout did not give a release date. The company’s website currently presents the project as part of its lineup, and the gamescom coverage points players to the trailer and extended gameplay footage as the latest public materials. As of September 2, the most specific next-step details tied to the reveal remain the August 26 IGN gameplay video and the media demo presence in Cologne at Tencent Games’ booth during gamescom. (cerebral-overload.com) (tigames.com) (prnewswire.com)