Gamescom | |
---|---|
Status | Active |
Genre | Video games Interactive entertainment |
Venue | Koelnmesse |
Location(s) | Cologne, Germany |
Coordinates | 50°56′33″N 6°57′32″E / 50.94257°N 6.958976°E |
Country | Germany Singapore (Gamescom Asia) Brazil (Gamescom Latam) |
Inaugurated | 19 August 2009[1] |
Most recent | 23 August 2023[1] |
Next event | 21 August 2024 |
Attendance | 320,000 (2023)[2] |
Organized by | game – Verband der deutschen Games-Branche |
Website | gamescom.global |
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 (measured by exhibition space and number of visitors), 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]
Alongside the public areas, there is also a closed area for professional visitors, such as publishers, journalists and developers.[5]
Shortly before Gamescom, the associated conference Devcom takes place at the same area and is specifically for the game development sector.[6]
• 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 |
Gamescom 2009 was held 19–23 August.[1] 245,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]
Wednesday, 18 August:
Thursday, 19 August:
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.
While most press conferences were not available for live streaming, Electronic Arts streamed its press conference on EA.com.[7] Sony Computer Entertainment Europe also showcased its press conference on its online community-based service PlayStation Home shortly afterwards.[8] Sony also made its press conference available for download on the PlayStation Store. Various gaming websites offered live-blogging of the respective press conferences.
Gamescom 2010 was held 18–22 August.[1] 254,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]
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.
Gamescom 2011 was held 17–21 August.[1] 275,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]
Gamescom 2012 was held 15–19 August.[1] 275,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]
Gamescom 2013 was held 21–25 August.[1] 340,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]
Gamescom 2014 was held 13–17 August.[1] 335,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]
2014 exhibitors | ||
---|---|---|
Asteroid Base
Blowfish
Chainsawesome Games
Deco Digital
Excamedia
|
Gateway Interactive
Grey Box
Grimm Bros
Ironward
Mastertonic
Ndemic Creations
Nevernaut Games
Other Ocean Interactive
Phoenix Online Studios
|
SeithCG
TinyBuild
Witchbeam
|
Gamescom 2015 was held 5–9 August.[1] 345,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]
2015 exhibitors | |
---|---|
Studio Wildcard
Abbey Games
EuroVideo Medien
Grey Box
|
KING Art
Motiga
Teotl Studios
|
Gamescom 2016 was held 17–21 August.[1] 345,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]
Gamescom 2017 was held 22–26 August.[1] 355,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]
2017 exhibitors | |
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|
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
|
Gamescom 2018 was held 21–25 August.[1] 370,000 people attended that year's visit.[1]
2018 exhibitors | |
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Buka Entertainment
|
|
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).[24]
2019 exhibitors | |
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2x2 Games
All In! Games
Dear Villagers
Fabraz
Forever Entertainment
Frecle
Gwen Frey
Intrepid Studios
Kasedo Games
Lionbite Games
|
Rockfish Games
Surgical Scalpels
Triband
V1 Interactive
|
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.[25] 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.[26]
2020 exhibitors | |
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Next Studios
Neowiz
|
Gamescom 2021 was held 25–27 August 2021.[1] The event was preceded by Opening Night Live with Geoff Keighley on 25 August.[27] Gamescom 2021 was a hybrid exhibition experience with online and live events.[28]
2021 exhibitors | |
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This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2023)
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Gamescom 2022 was held 24–28 August 2022.[29] The event was both in-person and online.[30] 265,000 people attended that year's visit.
2022 exhibitors[31] | |
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Assemble Entertainment
Build a Rocket Boy
Embark Studios
Everstone Studios
Lucid Dreams Studio Neowiz
Something Wicked Games
|
Gamescom 2023 was held 23–27 August 2023.[32] 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".[33][34][35] The incident occurred 8 months after a similar incident at The Game Awards 2022, in which Keighley also hosted.[36] The same attendee also interrupted several live shows in Germany, asking about the game.[37][38]
2023 exhibitors[39][40][41] | |
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Dear Villagers
Frost Giant Games
Game Science HoYoverse Inflexion Games
Lost Native
Neowiz Games
Nuverse Panic Inc.
People Can Fly
Wired Productions
|
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.[42]
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.[43][44] 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.[45]
The Gamescom supersedes Games Convention, held in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.