Gamescom

What is Gamescom?

Gamescom is the largest games fair on Earth, held annually during a four-day period in the second or third week of August at the same location—the Koelnmesse exhibition center in the town of Cologne, which is in the region of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The Gamescom location has always been in Germany and has remained so since its inception.

First held in 2009, it is a crucial showcase for the gaming industry and provides key reveals and updates on games and gaming-related products. Developers and publishers can use Gamescom as a chance to bring awareness of trailers and announcements to journalists as well as the general public. However, some areas at the event are restricted to professional and industry access only.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. What is Gamescom?
2. Key Takeaways
3. Gamescom Quick Facts
4. How Long is Gamescom?
5. History of Gamescom
6. Gamescom's Events and Activities
7. Why is Gamescom Important?
8. Future of Gamescom
9. The Bottom Line
10. FAQs

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. What is Gamescom?
2. Key Takeaways
3. Gamescom Quick Facts
Show Full Guide
4. How Long is Gamescom?
5. History of Gamescom
6. Gamescom's Events and Activities
7. Why is Gamescom Important?
8. Future of Gamescom
9. The Bottom Line
10. FAQs

Gamescom Quick Facts

• Gamescom regularly attracts hundreds of thousands and grows every year.
• Over 1,400 exhibitors fill the venue’s 230,000 square foot space.
• The list of pavilions and countries represented grows year-on-year.

How Long is Gamescom?

Gamescom traditionally runs for four full days and always takes place in August. However, its dates tend to range between the middle and towards the end of the month. The event kicks off with an opening night showcasing the latest games, which are usually announced earlier in the week.

Gamescom reveals are consistent throughout the near-week-long event. There are titles that have been confirmed to be in attendance, but also a handful of surprises from indie developers, AA, and AAA game studios. It’s these events that keep people tuned in from start to finish.

Towards the end of Gamescom, there’s an awards ceremony which is generally held on the final day of the press event. Only games that have appeared at the trade show are eligible, and there are categories in everything from the Best Visuals, Best Audio, Best Gameplay, Most Epic, Most Entertaining, etc.

History of Gamescom

First live in 2009, Gamescom was born from its preceding Games Convention, held in Leipzig from 2002 to 2009. Before Gamescom, the Games Convention was the largest games show, held by Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware (the ‘BIU’—German association for game manufacturers and publishers).

The decision to move from Leipzig was made owing to concerns about transport and infrastructure capacity, such as hotels.

When the BIU and Koelnmesse exhibition center announced the first Gamescom in 2009, the Leipzig Trade Fair was intent on continuing the Games Convention and would not relinquish the name – leading to the new “Gamescom” nomenclature.

An initial determination to proceed on the same weekend led to a five-month standoff. However, an agreement was made that the Leipzig Games Convention would move online and showcase casual and mobile games. Ultimately, Leipzig’s Games Convention would be discontinued beyond 2010.

Since 2009, Gamescome has largely grown year after year, and some key announcements have allowed gamers to chart the course of gaming history. Gamescom dates are always held in August, usually in the middle or towards the end of this month.

Gamescom’s Events and Activities

Exhibitions and Showcases

Gamescom’s events and activities include a mix of elements, such as Opening Night Live, the Gamecom Event Arena, where announcements can be made on a purpose-built stage, the Gamescom Studio, where exhibitors can showcase their products and games, and retro and indie elements for the public to attend—such as the Retro Area. The Cosplay Village celebrates the variety and creativity of gaming fans, too.

Game Announcements and Releases

Game and release announcements are often made from the ‘main stage’ at the event, with the fair being the ideal spot to announce upcoming gaming hardware or software news of note. Opening Night Live is also the focus of much attention, as all eyes are on the latest reveals as the fair kicks off. In 2023, the public got to see Project Mugen, Path of Exile 2, and The First Dwarf.

Esports Tournaments

Gamescom has a history of hosting esports tournaments, with League of Legends (LoL), Starcraft, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike tournaments taking place at and during the event. The attention to Gamescome makes the convention an ideal place to bring more eyes to the world of Esports.

Panels and Keynotes

The fair is also the ideal place for panel discussions covering key topics in the gaming industry. Although there are not always necessarily keynotes in the traditional sense, Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live can be considered a platform for keynotes and important reveals.

Community Events

Community events are a core part of Gamescom, often taking place in the dedicated social area. There, attendees can meet creators, visit the signing area, experience events on the social stage, and engage in other community-focused elements.

Gamescom’s Locations and Venues

Gamescom has been held at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany, since its inception in 2010. Offshoots of the event include Gamecom Singapore (established in 2021) and Gamescom Latam, which takes place in Brazil, with an agreement made in 2023. Gamescom tickets are available to the public, but the press will need backstage passes.

Why is Gamescom Important?

Gamescom is important not only as a publicity and marketing vehicle for the gaming industry but also as an annual focal point for game lovers around the world. Companies have the opportunity to showcase the latest industry news and products, while the public can attend and experience unique proximity to gaming industry experts, reveals, community events, and discussions. Gamescom offers a unique chance for the gaming industry and its public to gather in one spot to share a mutual love of games.

Future of Gamescom

The future of Gamescom would very much seem to be a continuation of growth and in-person events and showcases, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, virtual reality and new gaming technologies will no doubt continue to shape the content and conception of the convention, as well as the industry itself.

With streaming now a key element of gaming and the presentation of games, this will likely impact how gamers play titles and how Gamescom news leads the way in bringing new content reveals to games—similar to how the advent of the Internet and online gaming shifted the presentation and accessibility of games previously.

The Bottom Line

Gamescom is the biggest annual games fair in the world. Running annually, each August, and hosted in Cologne, it continues to grow and evolve. With a brief in-person pause to events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gamescom returned in 2022 and has continued to evolve as a vehicle for game reveals, showcases, community engagement, and even Esports tournaments.

FAQs