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Gamescom

Gamescom (stylized as gamescom) is a trade fair for video games held annually at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Gamescom is the world's largest gaming event, with 370,000 visitors and 1,037 exhibitors from 56 countries attending the event in 2018.[3] The event is used by many video game developers to exhibit upcoming games and game-related hardware.[4] The “gamescom - Opening Night Live” (ONL) show takes place every year on the evening before the opening. The show presents the latest trailers and announcements from the international games industry and is hosted by Geoff Keighley.[5]

Alongside the public areas, there is also a closed area for professional visitors, such as publishers, journalists and developers.[6]

Shortly before Gamescom, the associated conference Devcom takes place at the same area and is specifically for the game development sector.[7]

History

The Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment Software [de] (German: Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware, BIU) had previously hosted Games Convention in Leipzig from 2002 to 2008, which was briefly the largest games trade show in the world. However, Leipzig was becoming unsuitable for such a large event owing to limited transport links and hotel accommodation. The BIU and Koelnmesse announced a new event circuit in 2008, to be held in Cologne beginning in 2009. The Leipzig Trade Fair opposed the move and intended to continue Games Convention without the BIU, which led to a five month "standoff" between the two groups. As Leipzig did not allow the Cologne event to be called "Games Convention", the BIU instead adopted "GamesCom". The two events were due to take part on the same weekend, and were each competing to be seen as the "authorative" German trade fair for the industry. In the end, after a deal between Gamescom and GDC, Leipzig announced that Games Convention would be cancelled, and replaced by an online only event that focused on mobile and casual gaming.[8][9][10] Gamescom was first held in August of 2009, and was extremely successful,[11] while Games Convention Online was discontinued after 2010.[12]

The BIU continued to support and administer the event until 2018, when it merged with the industry body GAME. Their successor organisation the German Games Industry Association [de] has continued in the same role.[13][14] Geoff Keighley began hosting Opening Night Live from 2019, a streamed event at the beginning of the show. Opening Night Live has served as a platform for many trailer launches and game announcements.[15]

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the discontinuation of E3, Gamescom has been the largest event of its kind.[16] Gamescom Latam, first held in Brazil in 2024, is also the largest event in the Americas.[17]

Areas

Events

2009

The booth of Electronic Arts in 2009

Gamescom 2009 was held 19–23 August.[1] 245,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]

Exhibitors

Notable press conferences

Wednesday, 18 August:

Thursday, 19 August:

Notable announcements

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announced the PlayStation 3 Slim, a smaller and lighter model of the console and a release date of 1 September 2009. Firmware 3.0 for the PlayStation 3 was also announced, adding new features to the PlayStation Network. Sony announced that the European Video Store would launch in November 2009. Sony also announced that the PlayStation Portable would get smaller games (under 100mb) in the form of 'minis' and that comics would also be available to download in December 2009. A "free game" registration promotion was announced for the PSP Go.

Microsoft Game Studios announced Fable III, along with a release date of 2010. Also, Microsoft announced their intention to release Fable II on the Xbox Live Marketplace in five episodes, the first of which would be free to download.

Media coverage

While most press conferences were not available for live streaming, Electronic Arts streamed its press conference on EA.com.[18] Sony Computer Entertainment Europe also showcased its press conference on its online community-based service PlayStation Home shortly afterwards.[19] Sony also made its press conference available for download on the PlayStation Store. Various gaming websites offered live-blogging of the respective press conferences.

2010

Presentation of the "Best of Gamescom" award in 2010

Gamescom 2010 was held 18–22 August.[1] 254,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]

Exhibitors

Notable announcements

The two main announcements this Gamescom came from Insomniac Games, who announced two sequels from two of their franchises: Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, by revealing some gameplay from the game, and Resistance 3, via a live action teaser trailer. These games will be exclusive to the PlayStation 3. All 4 One has a set release date as late 2011, while Resistance 3 did not have a release date.

2011

Visitors on the fair aisles in 2011

Gamescom 2011 was held 17–21 August.[1] 275,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]

Exhibitors

Notable events

2012

Gamescom 2012 was held 15–19 August.[1] 275,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]

Exhibitors

2013

Gamescom 2013 was held 21–25 August.[1] 340,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]

Exhibitors

Notable events

2014

Trade fair visitors while tryout a game in 2014

Gamescom 2014 was held 13–17 August.[1] 335,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]

Notable events

Exhibitors

2015

Gamescom 2015 was held 5–9 August.[1] 345,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]

Exhibitors

2016

Gamescom 2016 was held 17–21 August.[1] 345,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]

Exhibitors

2017

Various exhibition stands in one of the exhibition halls in 2017

Gamescom 2017 was held 22–26 August.[1] 355,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]

Notable events

Exhibitors

2018

Gamescom 2018 was held 21–25 August.[1] 370,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]

Notable events

Exhibitors

2019

The stage of ESL in 2019

Gamescom 2019 was held 20–24 August.[1] Geoff Keighley has announced that he will help launch a dedicated video game announcement show prior to Gamescom, called "Gamescom: Opening Night Live". Inspired by the response to The Game Awards presentation that includes several new game announcements, Keighley wanted to do the same for Gamescom. The event was streamed on 19 August at 8:00pm (CEST).[35]

Exhibitors

2020

Gamescom 2020 was scheduled to be held from 25 to 29 August in Cologne.[1] However, Germany announced that following lifting of lockdowns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, all public events through August 2020 were banned. Gamescom organizers announced they would move some portions of the planned show online.[36] Organizers confirmed plans for the online Opening Night Live to start on 27 August, with each following day through 30 August featuring a schedule of online developer interviews and events and a wrap-up show.[37]

Exhibitors

2021

Gamescom 2021 was held 25–27 August 2021.[1] The event was preceded by Opening Night Live with Geoff Keighley on 25 August.[38] Gamescom 2021 was a hybrid exhibition experience with online and live events.[39]

Exhibitors

2022

The booth of Saints Row in 2022

Gamescom 2022 was held 24–28 August 2022.[40] The event was both in-person and online.[41] 265,000 people attended that year's visit.

Exhibitors

2023

Gamescom 2023 was held 23–27 August 2023.[43] 320,000 people attended that year's visit. The opening night received media attention after one attendee rushed on the stage and interrupting presenter of the show Geoff Keighley, saying that "Bill Clinton wants to play GTA VI".[44][45][46] The incident occurred 8 months after a similar incident at The Game Awards 2022, in which Keighley also hosted.[47] The same attendee also interrupted several live shows in Germany, asking about the game.[48][49]

Exhibitors

2024

Gamescom 2024 was held 20–24 August 2024.[53] The event attracted more than 335,000 visitors and 1,400 exhibitors on that year.[54][55]

Game Developers Conference Europe

From 2009 to 2016, the Game Developers Conference Europe (GDC Europe), a European spinoff of the Game Developers Conference, has been held in conjunction with the Gamescom. The Conference took place at the Cologne Congress Centre East.[56]

Offshoots

An offshoot of the trade fair has been established for the Asian region in 2021 under the name Gamescom Asia and takes place in Singapore.[57][58] In 2023, Koelnmesse closed an agreement with BIG Festival and Omelete Company for a new offshoot under the name Gamescom Latam, which takes place in Brazil.[59]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "gamescom Cologne". Trade Fair Dates. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  2. ^ <Jeffrey Rousseau> (28 July 2023). "320,000 attendees visited Gamescom 2023". GamesIndustryBiz. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Final Report Gamescom 2018". gamescom.global. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  4. ^
    • "gamescom2018: first exhibitors confirmed". Archived from the original on 16 September 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
    • "Lost Planet 2 to make PS3 debut at GamesCom". Game Zine. 11 August 2009. Archived from the original on 15 August 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
    • "Sony confirms unveiling of new Heavy Rain character for Gamescom". Video Games Republic. 11 August 2009. Archived from the original on 31 January 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
    • Namco Bandai Partners (Press release) (7 August 2009). "Namco Bandai Partners' gamescom line-up". Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  5. ^ "gamescom Opening Night Live 2024". gamescom.global. gamescom. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  6. ^ "For trade visitors". b2b.gamescom.global. Koelnmesse GmbH. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  7. ^ Takahashi, Dean (18 June 2021). "Xsolla teams up with Devcom on year-long strategic partnership". Venture Beat. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  8. ^ "GC Leipzig Canceled As Organizers Announce New Event". www.gamedeveloper.com.
  9. ^ "Leipziger Messe: Games Convention setzt auf Onlinespiele". Der Spiegel (in German). 29 January 2009.
  10. ^ ""GamesCom": Die Games Convention geht nach Köln". Der Spiegel (in German). 25 February 2008.
  11. ^ "gamescom 2009". GamesIndustry.biz. 24 August 2009.
  12. ^ "Gamescom 'wins' as Leipzig cancels August event". MCV. 14 February 2020.
  13. ^ "gamescom". game.
  14. ^ "Game-Verband: Branchenverbände BIU und GAME fusionieren". GamesWirtschaft.de (in German). 29 January 2018.
  15. ^ Billcliffe, James (19 August 2019). "Gamescom 2019: Watch the Xbox, Google Stadia and Opening Night Live streams here". VG247.
  16. ^ "Gamescom 2023: World's biggest games expo proves the value of physical events".
  17. ^ Batchelor, James (27 June 2024). "Gamescom Latam: "With no E3, we're the biggest games event in the Americas"". GamesIndustry.biz.
  18. ^ "EA GamesCom 2009 Press Conference Video Archive". Archived from the original on 14 September 2010.
  19. ^ Linger, Elliott (12 August 2009). "MotorStorm Swerves Into PlayStation Home; The Presentation Podium Opens Its Doors For gamescom". Playstation Blog. Sony Computer Entertainment. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
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External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gamescom.