Returning Companies, More Exhibitors, Greater Internationality and Additional Areas at gamescom 2024
– 2 min read
Interest in gamescom 2024 is high, with organisers reporting ten per cent more exhibitors than at the same point in 2023. 2K Games, Blizzard and EA will return, while The Pokemon Company will make its gamescom debut. This year also sees the introduction of the cards & boards area with Hasbro, Konami, Pegasus, Ravensburger and Ulisses, as well as the Social Stage. The event becomes increasingly international.
Five weeks before the start of gamescom, the organisers are very pleased with the level of interest, which underlines the importance of the global gaming event in Germany. Compared to the last gamescom, ten per cent more exhibitors from over 60 countries have already registered for the 230,000 m² of exhibition space. Internationality is also on the rise, with the number of national pavilions rising to 43, representing 33 countries. In 2023, there will be 33 pavilions from 26 countries. New areas such as the Social Stage and the cards & boards area will make their debut.
"After the strong growth last year, we are heading for new records at this year's gamescom with even more exhibitors and even more international participation," says Tim Endres, Director of gamescom (Koelnmesse). "Fans, trade visitors and our partners from all over the world can look forward to an even more diverse gamescom this year, which will be enhanced by our new Social Stage, the cards & boards area and the artists' area."
"One thing is already clear: gamescom 2024 will once again be the games festival of superlatives. What is particularly striking is that gamescom is becoming even more international. The establishment of the satellite events gamescom asia and gamescom latam also contributes to this. This means that gamescom will be present on three continents, making the fascination of the games world more tangible than ever before," says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game - the German Games Industry Association, co-organiser of gamescom.
The following exhibitors, partners and sponsors have already confirmed their attendance: 2K Games, 9gag, aerosoft, Amazon Games, AMD, astragon, Bandai Namco, Bethesda, Bilibili, Blizzard Entertainment, Capcom, Electronic Arts, ESL Faceit Group, Focus Entertainment, Giants Software, Hoyoverse, Konami, Krafton, Lego, Level Infinite, Meta Quest, NetEase Games, Nexon, Pearl Abyss, Plaion, Rocket Beans Entertainment, Sega, SK Gaming, Sony Germany (not Sony Interactive Entertainment), Square Enix, Team17, The Pokémon Company, THQ Nordic, TikTok, Ubisoft and Xbox. Additional exhibitors will be announced in the coming weeks. 2K Games, Blizzard Entertainment and Electronic Arts will be returning to gamescom this year, while The Pokémon Company will be making its debut on the show floor in Cologne. Nintendo and Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation) will not be present as exhibitors this year.
The cards & boards area is a new focal point for the growing number of board game and trading card game fans. Exhibitors include ADC Blackfire Entertainment, Hasbro Germany, Konami, Pegasus Spiele, Ravensburger Verlag and Ulisses Spiele. The Social Stage is another new addition. The stage in Hall 11.3 will host a free, curated programme for all visitors, featuring a variety of show acts, creators live on site and selected music acts. Meanwhile, the gamescom congress will take place for the first time in the newly opened Confex, which offers participants more space and opportunities for networking.
On 20 August, gamescom Opening Night Live will kick off the event in Cologne, once again hosted by Geoff Keighley. This year's co-host is Belgian Eefje "sjokz" Depoortere, who is well known as an esports presenter. The gamescom Opening Night Live ticket shop is now open.
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