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Gamescom Co-Organizer Says 'Maybe There's No Need' for a US Version of the Show
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Every year, nearly half a million games developers, publishers, journalists, and gamers descend upon Cologne, Germany for Gamescom, the world's largest gaming event. The show has been running for over 15 years, and is set to return next week, with a massive turnout expected.
In the years since Gamescom's inception, the show has expanded outside of just Europe — in 2021, Gamescom expanded to Asia, and now holds an annual show in the region, while 2023 saw the introduction of Gamescom Latam in Brazil, which has been expanding ever since.
A photo shows visitors at the Gamescom video games trade fair in Cologne, western Germany on August 22, 2024.
A photo shows visitors at the Gamescom video games trade fair in Cologne, western Germany on August 22, 2024.
Ina FASSBENDER / AFP
With Gamescom seemingly becoming the only name left in the game for big gaming events around the world, many have wondered if a US Gamescom show could be on the cards, especially in the wake of the collapse of E3. Unfortunately for many in the US, that doesn't seem to be on the cards anytime soon, in part because, as its organizers say, Gamescom is already reaching a global audience without it.
In an interview with DBLTAP, Felix Falk, the managing director of co-organizer German Games Industry Association – also known as game – said that a US version of Gamescom could happen if the US industry really wants it, but that it probably wasn't necessary.
"I don't know honestly," Falk told DBLTAP. "If the industry in the US wants a global event with us – that would be something they would need to decide if they do want this. Maybe there's no need for it while everyone comes to gamescom, and this is the global main event. Because, as [Gamescom director Tim Endres] just said, after having 64 countries participating in gamescom last year, it's 72 now – the international reach is growing every year. It's the global event for the games industry already."
Falk said that there was an opportunity in Southeast Asia and Latin America to reach a network of developers and games associations that otherwise wouldn't be included in these big gaming events, creating an appetite for more localised events. The result was Gamescom Asia, which is set to take place in Thailand later this year, and Gamescom Latam, which was held in Sao Paulo in May.
"I think it's a question of what the industry needs," Falk said. "In Southeast Asia and Latin America, we were in close contact with our partners there and with the industry, not only our members, but also the local industry, with the associations, noticing that there is a need for a global event like gamescom joining forces with local events and making a gamescom Asia and gamescom LATAM."
Gamescom is set to take place in Cologne, Germany next week, from August 20 to August 25, 2025. The show will officially open with a livestreamed presentation from The Game Awards' Geoff Keighley called Opening Night Live, set to take place at 2pm EDT on August 19.
