Gamescom

The Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment Software had previously hosted the Games Convention in Leipzig from 2002 to 2008, which was briefly the largest games trade show in the world. However, Leipzig was becoming unsuitable for such a large event owing to limited transport links and hotel accommodation. The BIU and Koelnmesse announced a new event circuit in 2008, to be held in Cologne beginning in 2009. The Leipzig Trade Fair opposed the move and intended to continue Games Convention without the BIU, which led to a five-month "standoff" between the two groups. As Leipzig did not allow the Cologne event to be called "Games Convention", the BIU instead adopted "GamesCom". The two events were due to take part on the same weekend, and were each competing to be seen as the "authoritative" German trade fair for the industry. In the end, after a deal between Gamescom and GDC, Leipzig announced that Games Convention would be cancelled, and replaced by an online only event that focused on mobile and casual gaming. Gamescom was first held in August 2009, and was extremely successful, while Games Convention Online was discontinued after 2010. The BIU continued to support and administer the event until 2018, when it merged with the industry body GAME. Their successor organisation the game – The German Games Industry Association has continued in the same role. Geoff Keighley began hosting Opening Night Live from 2019, a streamed event at the beginning of the show. Opening Night Live has served as a platform for many trailer launches and game announcements. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the discontinuation of E3, Gamescom has been the largest event of its kind. Gamescom Latam, first held in Brazil in 2024, is also the largest event in the Americas. ==Areas==

The following exhibition areas are located on the site: ==Events==

2009 in 2009 Gamescom 2009 was held 19–23 August. Sony also made its press conference available for download on the PlayStation Store. Various gaming websites offered live-blogging of the respective press conferences. 2010 Gamescom 2010 was held 18–22 August. • Three League of Legends Tournaments were held during the event: • International Wildcard Tournament • Season 4 Spring Promotion Qualifier • European LCS Playoffs 2014 Gamescom 2014 was held 13–17 August. • BMW and Electronic Arts unveiled the newest generation BMW M5 to promote the launch of Need for Speed Payback. Exhibitors 2018 Gamescom 2018 was held 21–25 August. Exhibitors 2019 in 2019 Gamescom 2019 was held 20–24 August. Exhibitors 2020 Gamescom 2020 was scheduled to be held from 25 to 29 August in Cologne. 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. Exhibitors 2021 Gamescom 2021 was held 25–27 August 2021. Gamescom 2021 was a hybrid exhibition experience with online and live events. Exhibitors 2022 '' in 2022 Gamescom 2022 was held 24–28 August 2022. The event was both in-person and online. 265,000 people attended that year's visit. Exhibitors 2023 Gamescom 2023 was held 23–27 August 2023. 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". The incident occurred 8 months after a similar incident at The Game Awards 2022, in which Keighley also hosted. The same attendee also interrupted several live shows in Germany, asking about the game. Exhibitors 2024 Gamescom 2024 was held 20–24 August 2024. The event attracted more than 335,000 visitors and 1,400 exhibitors on that year. Exhibitors 2025 Gamescom 2025 was held 20–24 August 2025. The event attracted more than 357,000 visitors and 1,500 exhibitors that year. Exhibitors == Game Developers Conference Europe ==

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. ==Offshoots==

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. In 2025 Gamescom Asia joins forces with Thailand Game Show and takes place in Bangkok. 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. == See also ==