The Gamescom, the world’s largest video game fair, has opened its doors in Cologne, Germany, with impressive figures. This year, the attendance of more than 300,000 visitors is expected, surpassing the 335,000 of last year.
The current edition features a record participation of more than 1,500 exhibitors from 72 different countries. A total of 40 pavilions, including representations from Spain, Chile, and Brazil, occupy an area of 233,000 square meters, an increase of 3,000 meters compared to the previous year.
During the opening ceremony, trailers for anticipated games such as ‘Call of Duty – Black Ops 7’, ‘World of Warcraft – Midnight’, ‘Bloodlines 2’, and ‘Requiem’, a new version of ‘Resident Evil’, were premiered.
On Wednesday, the fair was reserved for industry professionals. Starting Thursday, the public will be able to try games that will be released in the coming months, including the anticipated second part of ‘Silksong’.
One of the most outstanding events will be the ‘cosplay’ competition, sponsored by Google, with the presentation of the winners next Friday.
Attendees will also be able to participate in eSports tournaments, meet industry personalities, and enjoy musical performances in the center of Cologne.
Among the countries debuting this year at Gamescom are Argentina, Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Japan (with Nintendo), Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, and Thailand, the guest country, which seeks to establish itself as an international hub for video game development.
The organizers highlighted that Thailand is one of the fastest-growing video game markets in Asia.
Government Support for the Video Game Sector
Despite the success of the fair, the video game sector in Germany faces challenges. The Minister of Research, Dorothee Bär, visited the exhibition and announced an increase in public aid.
In 2025, 88 million euros will be allocated for tax incentives, and in 2026, the figure will rise to 125 million euros.
After the boom during the pandemic, the sector’s billing decreased by 6% in 2024, but with approximately 9.4 billion euros, Germany remains the largest market in Europe and the fifth worldwide.
