‘The biggest community in the world’ gathers at gamescom

• ‘The biggest community in the world’ is the theme of gamescom 2024
• ‘Games protect democracy’ is one of the trends at this year’s gamescom
• With the featured trend ‘Games – access to the future’, a focus is placed on the huge economic and technological importance of the games industry
• Numerous high-ranking politicians have announced visits to gamescom
• gamescom 2024 takes place from 21 to 25 August in Cologne, Germany and online

Berlin, 16. July 2024 – When the grand kick-off show ‘gamescom Opening Night Live’ begins on the evening of 20 August 2024, thousands of visitors on-site in the gamescom event arena in Cologne, Germany and millions of video game players online worldwide will once again witness the highlights of this year’s gamescom first-hand. Just how strongly games connect people across all continents will be made clear not only in the opening show, but everywhere at the world’s largest games event – which is why gamescom 2024 is taking place under the banner ‘The biggest community in the world’. Along with the trends being spotlighted at this year’s gamescom, this theme was presented today at a press conference jointly organised by game – The German Games Industry Association and Koelnmesse.

Games are the most social medium of our time. Whether enthusiasts are playing them together or engaging in active exchange about them, computer and video games connect over 3 billion people worldwide – a number that is steadily growing. Together, players build entire worlds, put their skills to the test and overcome great dangers. Lifelong friendships take root and grow, across all borders. This makes games the best antidote to loneliness and isolation. Nowhere else do people work together as intensively, exchange ideas with such excitement or celebrate with such enthusiasm. The games community is especially open, creative and passionate, and this is nowhere more evident than at gamescom – the biggest event for ‘The biggest community in the world’. From esports tournaments in the event arena, to the cosplay village and old games in the retro area, to such new highlights as the cards & boards area and the artist area – everywhere at gamescom, people from all over the world celebrate game culture together. All of which demonstrates what a strong and unique community games create around the globe.

‘Anyone who has ever been to gamescom themselves knows the unique feeling,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game – The German Games Industry Association, a co-organiser of gamescom. ‘You immediately recognise the joy, curiosity and passion in people’s faces. Long-standing friendships are celebrated and new friends are made – because games connect people in an incomparable way, creating the biggest community in the world. This social component of games is still overlooked far too often, yet it’s so valuable. In times when isolation has become a serious societal challenge and there’s more and more focus on what divides rather than unites us – in these times, games connect billions of people around the world every day in a special way. At gamescom this year, we therefore decided on a theme that highlights this unique community – the players of video games.’

gamescom featured trend: ‘Games protect democracy’

Democracies around the world are under pressure. Disinformation, historical amnesia and general hostility towards democracy are spreading in a wide variety of ways. While traditional educational campaigns often only have a limited effect, especially among younger people, more and more social institutions are using games to convey and defend the values of democracy. These organisations include, for example, the Federal Agency for Civic Education, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the Federal Foreign Office and a wide variety of memorials in Germany. All of them utilise video games in a range of contexts to communicate and protect democratic values. With the topic of ‘Games and Democracy’, this year’s gamescom congress, Europe’s leading conference on the potential of games in a digitalised world, will devote special attention to the vital role that games can play.

gamescom featured trend: ‘Games – access to the future’

The most valuable companies of our time are competing for games like never before. Why? In the early years of game development, blockbuster games could be created by a handful of people within a few months, whereas today it takes hundreds of highly qualified professionals and budgets well in excess of 100 million euros. But this enormous effort is worth it: games are the key that opens up the latest and best technology. Those who position themselves strategically will benefit from the most dynamic media market of our time and reach the biggest community in the world. The world’s most valuable companies have long recognised this and are working harder than ever to secure their place in the global game market. Because one thing is clear: games are the access point to the future.

Top-ranking politicians at gamescom

Last year, more than 270 politicians visited gamescom to find out about the latest developments in the game industry and discuss these with game companies. Numerous high-level public officials are expected again this year. gamescom will be opened by Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Robert Habeck, and Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Wüst, among others. Other politicians who have announced plans to attend include Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Federal Minister of Education and Research; Alexander Schweitzer, Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate; Saskia Esken, Chairwoman of the SPD; Fabian Mehring, Bavaria’s State Minister for Digital Affairs; Franziska Giffey, Berlin’s State Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises; and Nathanael Liminski, North Rhine-Westphalia’s State Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs and Media and Head of the State Chancellery.

About gamescom

gamescom is the world’s largest event for computer and video games, as well as Europe’s largest business platform for the games industry. gamescom 2024 will take place from Wednesday, 21 August, to Sunday, 25 August, in Cologne and online. It will open with the big ‘gamescom Opening Night Live’ show on the evening of 20 August. This will be directly preceded by devcom, Europe’s largest developer conference, which will be held from 18 to 20 August. gamescom is jointly organised by Koelnmesse and game – The German Games Industry Association.

game – The German Games Industry Association

We are the association of the German games industry. Our members represent the entire video game ecosystem, from development studios and publishers to esports event organisers, educational institutions and other related entities. We are co-organisers of gamescom, the world’s biggest event for computer and video games. We are a shareholder in the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK), the Foundation for Digital Games Culture, the esports player foundation, devcom and the collecting society VHG, as well as co-host of the German Computer Game Awards. Serving as a central point of contact for media, as well as political and social institutions, we provide comprehensive expertise in areas including market development, game culture and media literacy, and address any inquiries or concerns. Together we are making Germany the heart of gaming worldwide. With games, we enrich the lives of all people.

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