Growing up, E3 was a cornerstone event in the gaming calendar, eagerly anticipated by many. This Electronic Entertainment Expo combined the spectacle of the Oscars, the community spirit of Comic-Con, and the festival vibe of Glastonbury, all within corporate conference settings. It was on this stage that iconic moments unfolded, such as the unveiling of Final Fantasy VII Remake and The Last Guardian at the same conference, the public debut of Nintendo of America`s then-president Reggie Fils-Aimé, and Keanu Reeves` unforgettable declaration that a packed Los Angeles auditorium was “breathtaking.” Despite its reputation for groundbreaking game and console reveals, E3 itself ceased operations after 2020, with its final in-person event held in 2019.
Fortunately for gamers, another world-leading interactive entertainment exhibition consistently offered a vital connection between fans and industry professionals. Germany’s gamescom always delivered exciting demos, significant announcements, and top-tier community engagement. Unlike E3, which primarily targeted media for much of its history, gamescom has consistently been—and remains—a celebration of games and gamers open to the public. It`s a convention equally renowned for inspiring incredible cosplay as it is for fostering connections between journalists, publishers, and industry figures in its business area. While E3 is no more, gamescom has firmly established itself as the world’s largest and most significant gaming event.
Since 2019, gamescom has expanded its scope to host its own major game announcements. The annual Geoff Keighley-hosted gamescom Opening Night Live (ONL) has earned a solid reputation for delivering a continuous stream of thrilling reveals. With gamescom’s annual August celebration now comfortably the biggest gaming event globally—and new gamescom sister events captivating gamers in Brazil and Singapore (with gamescom Asia soon relocating to Thailand)—it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the legacy of this beloved gaming spectacle. Join us as we explore how Cologne’s once-modest convention transformed the gaming landscape forever.
The Origins of gamescom
Launched in 2009, gamescom immediately captured the attention of major publishers in the gaming sector, alongside 228,000 eager attendees. In its inaugural year, 450 exhibitors participated, and the event notably saw Sony announce the PlayStation 3 Slim, while Microsoft revealed Fable 3 for the first time. Since then, gamescom has consistently grown in strength, attracting an increasing number of players, developers, and publishers each year.
Esports quickly became a core component of the Cologne convention. In 2011, gamescom successfully hosted the first-ever DOTA 2 international tournament, paving the way for large-scale Starcraft 2, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike competitions in subsequent years. By 2017, gamescom had welcomed over 100,000 additional visitors, reaching 355,000 attendees, and its doors were officially opened by none other than Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel. Beyond these public demos and reveals, from 2009 to 2016, gamescom also featured a parallel developer-focused event, a European offshoot of San Francisco’s renowned Game Developers Conference.
gamescom`s Breakthrough Moments
By 2018, gamescom boasted over 1,000 exhibitors showcasing their latest innovations. Nvidia made significant headlines that year by revealing their GeForce RTX 20 Series graphics cards at the event, drawing 370,000 gamers, developers, journalists, and publishers to Cologne to experience the world`s best games. Crucially, 2018 marked the last year where the excitement was limited to those physically present. Ten years after its inception, in 2019, gamescom launched its first-ever livestreamed event—gamescom ONL. Hosted by The Game Awards` Geoff Keighley, gamescom ONL instantly became a marquee, industry-shaping showcase, featuring new looks at titles like Gears of War 5, Call of Duty, and Death Stranding, alongside announcements for games such as Little Nightmares 2. With 1,500 people watching live in the auditorium and over 500,000 tuning in online, gamescom ONL proved an immense success.
As the pandemic swiftly canceled events and public gatherings worldwide, gamescom transitioned its entire show online. Its 2020 edition delivered a comprehensive schedule of online developer interviews and new game previews, alongside its second gamescom Opening Night Live. This year also marked the debut of content specifically dedicated to independent gaming, with gamescom awesome indies. The show provided crucial recognition for the diligent and creative indie developers who craft some of the industry`s most unique games, while also offering enticing teasers for gamers who appreciate the independent scene.
The Evolution of gamescom
As the world gradually reopened after the pandemic, so too did gamescom, with its 2022 edition offering attendees a clever blend of online and in-person events. Since then, gamescom has become even more indispensable for the gaming industry—serving as a vital hub for direct game feedback, world-exclusive demos, and highly anticipated game reveals. Over the years, gamescom`s cultural and political influence has continued to expand. Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel`s visit in 2017 was followed by appearances from German ministers such as Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck in 2023 and 2024. Dorothee Bär, the Federal Minister for Research and the government`s representative for games, has also attended. European game associations like Video Games Europe and EGDF regularly leverage gamescom, utilizing it as a platform to invite political leaders; the 2024 gamescom hosted over 500 political guests.
However, it’s not only the in-person spectacle that has flourished. In its relatively short five-year existence, gamescom Opening Night Live has consistently gained momentum, solidifying its position as a pivotal event in the gaming culture calendar. Gamescom ONL has been chosen as the platform for major reveals, including Borderlands 4, Dead Island 2, and Dune Awakening, among many others. The 2024 edition alone saw an astounding 44 million viewers tune in globally to watch the show’s content.
Last year, gamescom significantly increased its exhibitor count, hosting 1,462 exhibitors—a threefold increase from its initial numbers—with even more exhibitors and visitors projected for 2025. With the successful inaugural years of gamescom asia X Thailand Game Show and gamescom latam already attracting considerable industry attention, gamescom is poised to further enhance its reputation for hosting the largest and most impactful events in the world of video games.
