History of Gamescom in Timeline
Gamescom, held annually in Cologne, Germany, is the world's largest video game trade fair. Attracting hundreds of thousands of attendees and over a thousand exhibitors globally, it serves as a platform for game developers to showcase upcoming games and hardware. A highlight is the "gamescom - Opening Night Live" (ONL), hosted by Geoff Keighley, featuring the latest trailers and industry announcements.
2002: Games Convention Begins
The Games Convention, organized by the BIU, was first held in Leipzig in 2002.
2008: Games Convention Ends, Gamescom is Announced
Due to logistical issues, the BIU and Koelnmesse announced a new event in Cologne to begin in 2009, ending Games Convention.
September 2009: Sony Announces the Playstation 3 Slim and Other Updates
At Gamescom, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announced the release of the PlayStation 3 Slim, a smaller, lighter model; the release of Firmware 3.0 for the PlayStation, adding new features to the PlayStation Network; the European Video Store, which was set to launch in November 2009; and that the PlayStation Portable would be getting smaller games and downloadable comics.
November 2009: European Video Store Launch
As announced at Gamescom, the European Video Store launched in November 2009.
December 2009: PlayStation Portable Updates
In December 2009, Sony released smaller games, called "minis," and downloadable comics for the PlayStation Portable.
2009: Game Developers Conference Europe Held Alongside Gamescom
Beginning in 2009, the Game Developers Conference Europe was held alongside Gamescom.
2009: Gamescom 2009
Gamescom 2009 was held August 19-23, 2009 and had 245,000 attendees.
2009: Gamescom's First Year
The first Gamescom was held in Cologne. In 2009, after pushback from Leipzig Trade Fair regarding the use of "Games Convention" for the Cologne event, the BIU chose the name "Gamescom."
2010: Microsoft Game Studios Announces Fable III and Fable II's Release on Xbox Live Marketplace
At Gamescom 2010, Microsoft Game Studios announced the release of Fable III, which was set for 2010, and the release Fable II on the Xbox Live Marketplace.
2010: Games Convention Online Ends
Gamescom was so successful that its competitor, Games Convention Online, was discontinued after 2010.
2010: Gamescom 2010
This year, Gamescom was held August 18-22, 2010 and had 254,000 attendees.
2011: Gamescom 2011
Gamescom 2011 was held from August 17-21, 2011. It had 275,000 attendees, making it the largest Gamescom up to that point.
2011: Insomniac Games Announces Sequels
Insomniac Games announced sequels for the Ratchet & Clank and Resistance franchises at Gamescom 2011.
2012: Gamescom 2012
Gamescom 2012 was held August 15-19, 2012 and had 275,000 attendees.
2013: Gamescom 2013
Gamescom 2013, held August 21-25, 2013, broke previous attendance records with 340,000 attendees.
2014: Gamescom 2014
Gamescom 2014 was held August 13-17, 2014. 335,000 people attended.
2015: Gamescom 2015
Gamescom 2015 was held August 5-9, 2015 and had 345,000 attendees.
2016: Game Developers Conference Europe Ceases to be Held Alongside Gamescom
After 2016, the Game Developers Conference Europe was no longer held in conjunction with Gamescom.
2016: Gamescom 2016
Gamescom 2016 was held August 17-21, 2016 and had 345,000 attendees.
2017: Gamescom 2017
Gamescom 2017 was held August 22-26, 2017. 355,000 people attended.
2018: BIU and GAME Merge
After the BIU merged with GAME in 2018, the German Games Industry Association became responsible for supporting and administering Gamescom.
2018: Gamescom 2018
Gamescom 2018 took place in 2018 and had 370,000 attendees and 1037 exhibitors from 56 different countries.
2018: Gamescom 2018
Gamescom 2018 was held August 21-25, 2018. 370,000 people attended.
2019: Gamescom: Opening Night Live Launches
Geoff Keighley launched "Gamescom: Opening Night Live," a video game announcement show that takes place before Gamescom. It was inspired by The Game Awards and was streamed on August 19, 2019.
August 2020: Gamescom 2020 Moves Online
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany banned public events through August 2020. This caused Gamescom's organizers to move some of the events from the planned in-person show, which was to be held August 25-29, to an online format.
August 2021: Gamescom 2021
Gamescom 2021 adopted a hybrid format with both online and in-person events. It was held August 25-27, 2021 and was preceded by Opening Night Live with Geoff Keighley.
2021: Gamescom Asia Launched
Gamescom Asia, an offshoot of Gamescom, was established and held in Singapore.
August 2022: Gamescom 2022
Gamescom 2022 was held August 24-28, 2022. Like the previous year, it had both in-person and online events. 265,000 people attended in person.
2022: The Game Awards 2022 Stage Crashing Incident
An attendee at The Game Awards 2022 rushed the stage during the show, similar to an incident that would later take place at Gamescom 2023.
August 2023: Gamescom 2023 Stage Crashing Incident
At Gamescom 2023, an attendee rushed the stage and interrupted Geoff Keighley while he was presenting. This happened 8 months after a similar incident at The Game Awards 2022, which Keighley also hosted, and after the same attendee interrupted several other German live shows.
2023: Gamescom Latam Launched
Koelnmesse, BIG Festival, and Omelete Company partnered to launch Gamescom Latam, an offshoot of Gamescom, in Brazil.
2024: Gamescom Becomes the Largest Gaming Event, Gamescom Latam Launches
With the discontinuation of E3, Gamescom became the largest event of its kind. That same year, the largest gaming event in the Americas, Gamescom Latam, launched in Brazil.