Gamescomis right around the corner, beginning with Opening Night Live (hosted by Geoff Keighley) on August 20 and followed by a week of gaming news, in-person and online events, and more. This year is also special because it marks Gamescom’s 15th anniversary, with the showcase as a brand also growing over the past years with Gamescom Asia andGamescom LATAM. Already, the event has broken several records and is expected to break more once the doors open.
Game Rant recently sat down with the managing editor of the German Games Industry Association called Game, Felix Falk, with Game being the brand owner and co-organizer ofGamescom. During our talk, Falk discussed all the records that Gamescom this year has already broken - even before opening its doors. For example, this year’s event will feature 48 pavilions from 37 countries, representing a new record from last year’s 33 pavilions from across 26 different countries. There are also more than 1400 exhibitors this year, which is a big leap from last year and yet another new record.
Gamescom 2024 Has Already Broken Records
When asked what past experience has led him to believe about this year’s Gamescom, Falk said,
I think we will see some new records, which is astonishing. A record has already been set: we will have more than 1400 exhibitors, and that’s a big leap from last year and a new record.
Having already broken some records, it’s not far-fetched to believe more will also be broken. Whether that record also includes attendance or not remains to be seen, with the previous record being just over 370,000 in 2019. Last year’s attendance came close, capping out at around 320,000. Of course, Game and Falk are also aware that even Gamescom’s convention center can only support so many people, and breaking this record isn’t necessarily a goal. It’s what these goals accomplish that the association is concerned with. For example, because of Gamescom Asia and Gamescom LATAM, more and more people are aware of the Gamescom brand, and that brings in more and more devs from across the world. Further action in terms of diversity, as well as other key elements ofGamescom like accessibility and sustainability, are all possible because of the recognition Gamescom receives on a worldwide scale.
Because it is first and foremost a festival of games and community, we had to ask Falk what he thought gamer’s expectations should be coming into the show. Even the best put-together shows and events can be seen as underwhelming if expectations are not managed properly, and Falk seemed confident not just inOpening Night Livebut in everything fans will see coming out of Gamescom this year, like Gamescom Studio or Gamescom Awesome Indies. Specifically, Falk stated,
I think gamescom Opening Night Live will again be a great show on site. We doubled the capacity of people, so there will be a great atmosphere with more people in a really huge hall. Also, I heard from Geoff that, content wise, it looks really good…It’s not one of those one-off digital shows, but the opening to a full week of games and video game content. No matter if you’re in Cologne or if you are participating online, for example, in Gamescom Studio, Gamescom Awesome Indies, or many, many others.
As a whole, our interview ended on a positive note for Gamescom this year and the industry as a whole as it moves into an eventful fall season and abig year for games in 2025. In short, Falk said, “I think it’ll be a good year, and that’s why I told some members I think it’s a good sign that, after those tough times for the industry, Gamescom is the signal ahead for better times because we are showing the titles that will lift us as an industry again and get us out of the period we have been in. I think it will be a good start to a positive next period.”
Gamescom Opening Night Livetakes place on August 20 at 11 am PT/2 pm ET.
