Gamescom Explained

Gamescom
Status:Active
Genre:Video games
Interactive entertainment
Venue:Koelnmesse
Location:Cologne, Germany
Coordinates:50.9426°N 6.959°W
Country:Germany
Singapore (Gamescom Asia)
Brazil (Gamescom Latam)
First:[1]
Attendance: 320,000 [2]
Organizer: (2009-2018)
(2018- present)

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 1037 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 (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 accomodation. 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 focussed 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 has continued in the same role.[13] [14]

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the discontinuation of E3, Gamescom has been the largest event of its kind.[15] Gamescom Latam, first held in Brazil in 2024, is also the largest event in the Americas.[16]

Areas

• Entertainment area • Business area • Gamescom event area
• Social area • Indie area • retro area
• family & friends • gamescom campus • cosplay village
• outdoor area • merchandise area • creator co-working space

Events

2009

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

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. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe also showcased its press conference on its online community-based service PlayStation Home shortly afterwards.[17] 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

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

Notable announcements

The two main announcements this Gamescom came from Insomniac Games, who announced two sequels from two of their franchises: , 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

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

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]

Notable events

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

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

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).[33]

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.[34] 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.[35]

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.[36] Gamescom 2021 was a hybrid exhibition experience with online and live events.[37]

Exhibitors

2022

Gamescom 2022 was held 24–28 August 2022.[38] The event was both in-person and online.[39] 265,000 people attended that year's visit.

Exhibitors

2023

Gamescom 2023 was held 23–27 August 2023.[41] 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".[42] [43] [44] The incident occurred 8 months after a similar incident at The Game Awards 2022, in which Keighley also hosted.[45] The same attendee also interrupted several live shows in Germany, asking about the game.[46] [47]

Exhibitors

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.[51]

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.[52] [53] 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.[54]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: gamescom Cologne. Trade Fair Dates. 13 January 2016.
  2. Web site: 320,000 attendees visited Gamescom 2023 . . 2023-07-28 . GamesIndustryBiz . 2023-07-28.
  3. Web site: Final Report Gamescom 2018. gamescom.global. 21 May 2018.
  5. Web site: gamescom Opening Night Live 2024 . gamescom . gamescom.global . 2024-08-19.
  6. Web site: For trade visitors . Koelnmesse GmbH . b2b.gamescom.global . 2024-02-17.
  7. Web site: Xsolla teams up with Devcom on year-long strategic partnership . Dean . Takahashi . June 18, 2021 . August 30, 2021 . .
  8. Web site: GC Leipzig Canceled As Organizers Announce New Event . www.gamedeveloper.com . en.
  9. Web site: Leipziger Messe: Games Convention setzt auf Onlinespiele . Der Spiegel . de . 29 January 2009.
  10. Web site: "GamesCom": Die Games Convention geht nach Köln . Der Spiegel . de . 25 February 2008.
  11. Web site: gamescom 2009 . GamesIndustry.biz . en . 24 August 2009.
  12. Web site: Gamescom ‘wins’ as Leipzig cancels August event . MCV . en . 14 February 2020.
  13. Web site: gamescom . game.
  14. Web site: Game-Verband: Branchenverbände BIU und GAME fusionieren . GamesWirtschaft.de . de-DE . 29 January 2018.
  15. Web site: Gamescom 2023: World's biggest games expo proves the value of physical events .
  16. Web site: Batchelor . James . Gamescom Latam: "With no E3, we're the biggest games event in the Americas" . GamesIndustry.biz . en . 27 June 2024.
  17. Web site: MotorStorm Swerves Into PlayStation Home; The Presentation Podium Opens Its Doors For gamescom . . Elliott . Linger . 12 August 2009 . 24 August 2018 . Playstation Blog.
  18. Web site: K-game's spark in European market . Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United States of America . 24 August 2012 . 3 October 2012.
  19. Web site: WCS Season 2 Finals Begin August 23 . Adrian . Harris . 31 July 2013 . 24 August 2018 . . https://archive.today/20130808132941/http://wcs.battle.net/sc2/en/articles/wcs-season-2-finals-begin-august-23 . 8 August 2013 . live .
  20. Web site: Gamescom and PAX schedule announcement . . Riot . Jayway . 6 August 2013 . 24 August 2018 . . https://archive.today/20130819184526/http://na.lolesports.com/season3/split2/articles/gamescom-and-pax-schedule-announcement . 19 August 2013 . live .
  21. Web site: Check out Nintendo's Gamescom 2015 line-up. 25 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160521052359/http://wiiudaily.com/2015/07/nintendo-gamescom-2015-lineup/. 21 May 2016. dead.
  22. Web site: Dark Souls, Tekken Publisher Will Announce New IP in August. Eddie. Makuch. GameSpot. 18 July 2016. 19 July 2016.
  23. Web site: Focus Home Interactive Unveil Gamescom 2016 Line-Up. Jordan. Helm. Hardcore Gamer. 16 July 2016. 19 July 2016.
  24. News: Barrett. Ben. Elite Dangerous patch 2.2 will introduce dual flying, new space stations and aliens in October. 20 August 2016. 18 August 2016.
  25. News: Barrett. Ben. Planet Coaster release date set for November 17, cheap pre-orders end August 25. 20 August 2016. 17 August 2016.
  26. News: Skrebels. Joe. Gamescom 2016: Konami Announces Metal Gear Survive. 20 August 2016. IGN. 17 August 2016.
  27. News: Konami announces demo launch date and releases new trailer for PES 2017. 24 August 2016. gamereactor.com. 17 August 2016.
  28. Web site: Xbox at gamescom 2016. Aaron. Greenberg. Microsoft Studios. 13 July 2016. 19 July 2016.
  29. Web site: Green Man Gaming At Gamescom 2016 – Green Man Gaming Blog. www.greenmangaming.com. 3 August 2016 . 15 August 2016.
  30. noobde. Ed Boon. 765686851239874561. 16 August 2016. A couple of fun reveals coming soon for Injustice 2.
  31. Web site: Chancellor Merkel is opening gamescom for the first time . 22 June 2017 . Gamescom . 23 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170626011525/http://news.gamescom.de/en/2017/06/chancellor-merkel-is-opening-gamescom-for-the-first-time/ . 26 June 2017 . dead .
  32. News: NVIDIA Announces the GeForce RTX 20 Series: RTX 2080 Ti & 2080 on Sept. 20th, RTX 2070 in October. Anandtech.
  33. Web site: Nunneley . Stephany . 16 April 2019 . Gamescom 2019 will kick off with a live show hosted by Geoff Keighley . . 16 April 2019.
  34. Web site: Gamescom hit by German ban on events . Brendan . Sinclair . 15 April 2020 . 15 April 2020 . .
  35. Web site: Gamescom: "We can seize the opportunity to prove how digital events can work" . Matthew . Handrahan . 18 May 2020 . 18 May 2020 . .
  36. Web site: gamescom: Opening Night Live . gamescom . 17 April 2021.
  37. Web site: gamescom 2021 was an online event . gamescom . 17 April 2021.
  38. News: Gamescom will return as biggest in-person game expo in August. VentureBeat. Takahashi. Dean. March 10, 2022. March 11, 2022.
  39. Web site: Gamescom 2022 Will Be Both In-Person and Online. Siliconera. Lada. Jenni. March 10, 2022.
  40. Web site: Everything Announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live. IGN. August 23, 2022. Dinsdale. Eyan. August 24, 2022.
  41. Web site: Gamescom Opening Night Live Set For August 22 With News And Reveals Expected. GameSpot. Makuch. Eddie. April 6, 2023. April 6, 2023.
  42. Web site: Watts. Steve. Gamescom Opening Night Live Interrupted By Stage Crasher. GameSpot. August 22, 2023. August 26, 2023.
  43. Web site: Plant. Logan. Someone Already Invaded the Stage at gamescom Opening Night Live. IGN. August 23, 2023. August 26, 2023.
  44. Web site: Del Rosario. Alexandra. Gamescom opening is crashed by attendee. Game Awards déjà vu, anyone?. Los Angeles Times. August 23, 2023. August 26, 2023.
  45. Web site: The Game Awards Stage Crasher Arrested After Invading Elden Ring's GOTY Speech . . . December 8, 2022 . December 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221209050915/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-game-awards-stage-crasher-arrested-after-invading-elden-rings-goty-speech . December 9, 2022 . live .
  46. Web site: Fan interrupts German live show to ask where GTA 6 is . Saed . Sherif . . . 30 August 2021 . 24 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210830125516/https://www.vg247.com/german-fan-where-is-gta-6-interrupt-live-tv-show . 30 August 2021 . live .
  47. Web site: GTA 6 fan storms live TV demanding to know about Vice City . Smith . Ed . . Network N . 21 August 2023 . 24 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230821142209/https://www.pcgamesn.com/grand-theft-auto-vi/tv-show . 21 August 2023 . live .
  48. Web site: gamescom Opening Night Live 2023: Everything Announced. Bankhurst. Adam. IGN. August 22, 2023. August 22, 2023.
  49. Web site: The Talos Principle II Has "A Lot More" Characters, Says Developer. McClure. Deven. 28 August 2023. Screen Rant. 12 September 2023.
  50. Web site: Drie redenen om The Talos Principle 2 te spelen. Janssen. Roland. 28 August 2023. Xgn.nl. 12 September 2023. Dutch. Three reasons to play The Talos Principle 2.
  51. Web site: About Game Developers Conference Europe . 15-16 August 2016 . Cologne, Germany . . . https://archive.today/20130124040649/http://www.gdceurope.com/aboutgdc/ . 24 January 2013 . 24 August 2018 . live .
  52. Web site: World's biggest gaming festival coming to Singapore . Surekha . Ragavan . May 29, 2019 . February 17, 2024 . campaignasia.com.
  53. Web site: Gamescom Asia 2023 Sets New Record as Singapore's Leading Gaming Event . Harith . Adam . October 26, 2023 . February 17, 2024 . sea.ign.com.
  54. Web site: BIG Festival se une a Gamescom Latam a partir de 2024. The Enemy. pt-br. Helena. Nogueira. November 28, 2023. March 19, 2024.

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