It’s 2022, and I’m the newly appointed information editor at PCGamesN. I’d been within the put up for lower than a month, then Gamescom rolled round. I’d by no means accomplished reside occasion protection – I joined video games media mid-pandemic – however I knew it was a possibility for the ages. Lower to a month late; I’m working round Kolnmesse sweating, slicing by means of crowds to get to the Steel Hellsinger present with Trivium’s Matt Heafy and Arch Enemy’s Alissa White-Gluz. It was the most effective type of chaos, and I’d by no means skilled something prefer it. Certain, it was a trial by hearth, however I felt like getting burned.
However that was two years in the past – Gamescom has continued to develop since then. As titans like E3 fell, and new children like Summer time Sport Fest rose from the ashes, Gamescom has remained a staple, bringing collectively business veterans and videogame fans from throughout the globe. I’ve watched it develop in scale, and 2024 definitely feels so much larger than earlier years.
From Borderlands 4 to Mafia: The Outdated Nation; the Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle launch date announcement to Dying Mild: The Beast – my record of ‘upcoming PC games I need to buy’ appeared to develop with every passing second. Opening Night time Dwell was stacked, and the assorted Xbox showcases all through the week additionally delivered a slew of thrilling goodies (Redacted being my private favourite). I ask Gamescom administrators Tim Endres and Stefan Heikhaus if 2024 was, certainly, the present’s greatest yr but, and the reply is a powerful “yes.”
“Definitely. With 1,462 exhibitors showcasing upcoming games and projects, we reached a new record,” Endres tells me. “During the first post-COVID show in 2022, where we started off with more than 200,000 visitors. We reached another 335,000 visitors in 2024.”
Other than the numbers, nonetheless, Endres highlights that it’s “the standard and number of these attending Gamescom that makes it so particular. On the one hand, we’re very proud to see many triple-A publishers returning with their very own sales space to Gamescom like 2K, EA, Capcom, and Sq. Enix.
“On the other hand, we have an increased number of international participants,” he continues, referring to Gamescom’s country-specific stands that showcase nationwide efforts. “These nation pavilions provide the distinctive risk for smaller studios to come back to Gamescom and current upcoming video games and initiatives to commerce guests, journalists, and creators alike.
“To sum it all up, it’s not just a record number, but it’s also the variety of exhibitors that helps us to represent the whole ecosystem of gaming culture. Those who attend Gamescom do so because they want to experience the biggest gaming festival in the world. And that is what Gamescom is.”
It’s clear that Gamescom simply retains getting larger, then, however what does the longer term appear to be? Are Endres and Heikhaus targeted on exponential progress, or offering unforgettable experiences?
“With Gamescom continuing to progress, we want to make sure that each aspect we offer gets better; that we reinvent ourselves and stay in touch with our community,” Endres tells me. “And that is, ultimately, why Gamescom is growing and getting bigger – because we care about all gaming communities and we want to create a unique experience for everyone every year.”
“It is as they say: after Gamescom is before Gamescom,” Heikhaus continues. “So right now, we’re not just putting together lists of all the different things we did or creating reports but we’re also evaluating feedback. Feedback we receive from our industry partners, private, or trade visitors, and feedback we internally collect. With all these different opinions and views, we’ll try to see what worked well and where there is room for improvement.”
“We try to identify certain areas [of growth],” Endres notes. “For instance, in final yr’s analysis, we noticed {that a} majority of holiday makers needed to see extra board recreation and tabletop content material at Gamescom. One yr later, we have been efficiently in a position to implement the playing cards and boards space for the primary time with many famend manufacturers being current.
“To us, feedback is one of the main pillars when it comes to ensuring that the event meets the fans’ and industry’s needs.”
If you happen to weren’t at Gamescom this yr, listed here are six nice PC video games we performed on the present – I’ve my eye on Titan Quest 2. Alternatively, should you’re simply searching for one thing to play proper now, right here’s our record of the most effective PC video games ever made, in addition to a rundown of some free PC video games should you’re wanting to avoid wasting money.
