gamescom 2023 is just around the corner, and it promises to be a spectacular event for gamers and geeks alike. The world’s largest trade fair and event highlight for interactive games and entertainment – especially now that E3 is dead – will take place from 23 – 27 August 2023, both on-site in Cologne and digitally worldwide.

This year, gamescom 2023 is set for a record-breaking five-day run, with more exhibitors from 60 different nations spread across an even larger show floor than last year’s extravaganza. In addition, gamescom organisers confirmed today that 2023’s event will play host to 33 country pavilions, accounting for 26 different nations. As such, the gross exhibition space will jump by 10,000 square meters compared to 2022, reaching a total of 230,000 square meters – a new record for gamescom. Similarly, the 60 different states represented are up from 53 last year.

gamescom has also confirmed strong publisher and developer interest in what is set to be a “showstopping Opening Night Live” – hosted by Geoff Keighley – whilst IGN has once again signed up to produce gamescom Studio, the event’s official live stream featuring the best gameplay, demos, news, interviews and game releases direct from the show floor.

“Last year, thanks to its unique community and strong support from many game companies, gamescom celebrated a great comeback”, offers Tim Endres, Director of gamescom at Koelnmesse.

“This year, we’re taking it up a notch in several ways because gamescom is growing in various areas. I am particularly pleased that we have received so much support from the industry and that large companies that have been absent for the past few years are participating this year… But the fact that our further opening to related industries, such as the streaming sector, is bearing fruit shows the great appeal of gamescom. Ultimately, our significance as the world’s most important game event is evident not only in being more international than in 2022 but even before the pandemic! Like our community, I can’t wait for gamescom 2023 to start” – Tim Endres

In the past few weeks, several companies have announced their presence at gamescom 2023, including, but not limited to: 9GAG, Aerosoft, Amazon Games, Amazon Prime, AMD, Assemble Entertainment, astragon Entertainment, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment, Bethesda Softworks, Crunchyroll, Devolver Digital, ESL FACEIT Group, Focus Entertainment, Frontier Developments, GIANTS Software, Headup Games, Hoyoverse, The LEGO Group, Level Infinite, MINI, Netflix, Nexon, Nintendo, Pearl Abyss, PLAION, Raw Fury, Rocket Beans TV, Samsung, SEGA, Star Wars Ashoka (Disney+), Team17, TikTok, Ubisoft, and Xbox.

“Games are an international phenomenon: Around 3 billion people worldwide play across borders,” adds Felix Falk,
Managing Director of game – the German Games Industry Association.

“For this international community, gamescom is the highlight event. Especially in such a global industry as ours, central events are needed where the community and industry come together. Games are celebrated together, and the outstanding importance of the game industry becomes clear to everyone. The positive development of exhibitors and the increased internationality demonstrate how important gamescom is in this regard. Already, millions of people worldwide are looking forward to the end of August when gamescom opens its doors again – onsite in Köln and digitally worldwide” – Felix Falk

gamescom 2023 in Facts & Figures:

  • gamescom 2022 had already occupied almost the entire Koelnmesse site, and in 2023, the event will be even larger in terms of space. 
  • The growth to a total of 230,000 square meters comes, among other things, from the addition of Hall 1, where this year the “social area” with Creator Co-Working Space and signing area will be located. 
  • The entertainment area and indie area are also expanding. Details about hall occupancy can be viewed in the official hall plan at b2b.gamescom.global
  • Greater internationality: This is particularly evident when comparing it to the last event before the COVID-19 pandemic, gamescom 2019: While exhibitors from 48 countries with a foreign share of 70% were represented at that time, exhibitors from 60 countries with a foreign share of 78% are participating in gamescom 2023. 
  • Furthermore, for gamescom 2023, 33 country pavilions from 26 countries have registered, compared to 27 stands from 25 countries in 2022. 
  • The annually changing partner country also contributes to the internationality of gamescom. The official partner country of gamescom 2023, Brazil, will bring almost 50 Brazilian companies to the event – the largest Brazilian presence since the beginning of gamescom. 
  • The grand opening show, gamescom: Opening Night Live, will be produced again in collaboration with Geoff Keighley and has already generated significant interest from many game companies, just like in previous years. 
  • The gamescom studio, which covers the event’s happenings on a daily basis and broadcasts them digitally worldwide, will also be produced in collaboration with the renowned media company IGN in 2023.

gamescom 2023 is certainly shaping up to be an epic event. Whether attending in person or online, gamers can expect a lot of exciting announcements, reveals, and surprises from the biggest names in the industry.

Stay tuned to Vamers for more coverage of gamescom 2023, and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest updates.

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Owner, founder and editor-in-chief at Vamers, Hans has a vested interest in geek culture and the interactive entertainment industry. With a Masters degree in Communications and Ludology, he is well read and versed in matters relating to video games and communication media, among many other topics of interest.