Gamescom

Gamescom is a major annual trade fair for video games held at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany. Since 2018, the event has been organized by game – Verband der deutschen Games-Branche. This prominent platform allows video game developers to showcase their upcoming games and related hardware. With 370,000 visitors and 1,037 exhibitors from 56 countries in 2018, it stands as the largest gaming event globally in terms of exhibition space and visitor numbers.

The event has grown significantly over the years. In 2009, Gamescom attracted 245,000 visitors and featured major press conferences from Electronic Arts, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Microsoft Game Studios, Konami, and Namco Bandai Games. That year included notable announcements such as the unveiling of the PlayStation 3 Slim and new games for the PlayStation Portable.

Gamescom's expansion continued unabated. In 2011, it introduced the Dota 2 International championship, cementing its status as a hub for major esports tournaments, including those for StarCraft II and League of Legends. The event has consistently been a platform for big game announcements, with sequels to popular franchises like Ratchet & Clank and Resistance debuting there.

Beyond video games, Gamescom has also been a key venue for technology announcements. For example, Nvidia used the 2018 event to introduce their GeForce RTX 20 Series. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Gamescom demonstrated flexibility by transitioning to an online format in 2020.

From 2009 to 2016, Gamescom was held alongside the Game Developers Conference Europe (GDC Europe) at the Cologne Congress Centre East. This partnership further enhanced the event's significance within the gaming industry.