Where is Gamescom held and how large is it?
Gamescom is held annually at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany. It is the world's largest gaming event, drawing 370,000 visitors and 1,037 exhibitors from 56 countries at its 2018 edition.
Questions about Gamescom
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did Gamescom start and why was it created in Cologne?
Gamescom first took place in August 2009. It was created after the Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment Software, the BIU, concluded that Leipzig, which had hosted the Games Convention since 2002, lacked sufficient transport links and hotel accommodation for an event of that scale.
What happened to the Games Convention in Leipzig after Gamescom launched?
Leipzig announced it would cancel Games Convention following a deal between Gamescom and GDC. Leipzig replaced it with an online-only event focused on mobile and casual gaming called Games Convention Online, which was discontinued after 2010.
What is Opening Night Live at Gamescom?
Opening Night Live is a streamed show hosted by Geoff Keighley on the evening before Gamescom opens to the public. Keighley launched it in 2019, inspired by the announcement-heavy format of The Game Awards, and it has served as a platform for major trailer launches and game announcements each year since.
Did Gamescom take place during the COVID-19 pandemic?
The 2020 in-person event was cancelled after Germany banned all public events through August 2020. Organisers moved portions of the show online, with Opening Night Live running on the 27th of August 2020. The 2021 edition was a hybrid of live and online events.
What notable non-game announcements have taken place at Gamescom?
Nvidia unveiled the GeForce RTX 20 Series at the Palladium Cologne on the 20th of August 2018. In 2017, BMW and Electronic Arts used the show to reveal the newest generation BMW M5 alongside the launch of Need for Speed Payback, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened that same 2017 event, the first sitting Chancellor to open a Gamescom.