That was Gamescom 2019: Close visitor record - new formats are convincing

With a new, albeit narrow, visitor record, Gamescom from August 20 to 24, 2019 reached more people than ever before: a total of 373.000 visitors from over 100 countries were there, including estimates from the last day of the fair, including 31.300 trade visitors . In addition, there are millions of gamers who follow the news online worldwide: more than 500.000 viewers worldwide alone watched the new international show "Gamescom: Opening Night Live" with producer and presenter Geoff Keighley in the live stream.

The show thus caught up with the reach of the top international events in the games industry right from the premiere. In the first few days alone, Gamescom video content was viewed well over 100 million times worldwide. Among other things, the offers of the new digital platform "Gamescom now" contributed to this. On site, 1.153 companies (up ten percent) on an enlarged area of ​​218.000 square meters (up eight percent) ensured true gaming diversity in the Cologne exhibition halls.

Gamescom 2019 is much more international 

The foreign share on the exhibitor side was around 70 percent and thus once again underlines the international importance of Gamescom. The area expansion, adjustments to the hall occupancy as well
Improved catering offers made the visit more comfortable and met with a positive response from the guests on site. The new Event Arena convinced eSports fans on all public days with tournaments from various publishers.

Gamescom also celebrated a premiere online:

The Gamescom is continuing its impressive success story this year: on site and online. With "Gamescom: Opening Night Live" we have taken a key step towards becoming an international platform for new products. At the same time, the show was the start of our new digital offering "Gamescom now", with which we offered the digital community additional access to Gamescom. Through the successful combination of a unique gaming offering on site, complementary formats and the extension to the internet, we have further strengthened Gamescom as a 360-degree experience event and leading communication platform. There have never been so many innovations at gamescom - never have we reached as many people as this year.
Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse GmbH

The international relevance of Gamescom has never been greater than it is this year. Our new show “Gamescom: Opening Night Live” in particular showed at its premiere how strong the worldwide interest in Gamescom is. With “Gamescom now" we have also created a meeting point where gamers can get an overview of the many new products and events at the exhibition center. As the largest games event in the world, this year's Gamescom stood for many new products, for the great community and also for topics such as inclusion and diversity.
Felix Falk, Managing Director of game - Association of the German Games Industry

Indie games in demand like never before

“Indies”, one of this year's trending topics, found a new home in the Gamescom Indie Village. More than 150 games by 140 developers from over 30 countries offered more indie games than ever before and made the trend topic tangible for the numerous fans on site.

It is no surprise that the Indie Booth Arena won the award for the best stand construction at Gamescom 2019. The game stations were full, the titles presented were of high quality. The outstanding strategy gameThrough the Darkest of Times' was represented in the indie sector, as was the successor to Everspace by Rockfish Games and the adventure game 'Lunasea' by Bedtime Digital Games from Denmark. 

Organizers and sponsors have set up a gigantic stand this year: 1.500 square meters with over 100 entertaining games. Indie games are no longer marginal phenomena.

Gamescom reaches fans around the world

Anyone who was unable to get a ticket for Gamescom this year had the opportunity to watch numerous live streams and videos from Gamescom 2019 on "Gamescom now". Over the entire duration of the fair, the team provided diverse impressions of the world's largest event for computers and video games: 'booth tours', events captured by the show floor crew, live content from the new event arena and the indie village or interviews and Gameplays from the 'IGN@gamescom now' studio were just a few examples of the new digital offering. In total, far more than 28 hours of live streams were available for gaming fans worldwide.

The completion of the Gamescom-Week 2019 was traditionally the Gamescom City Festival. Until 25 August
It was said on Neumarkt, Rudolfplatz and Hohenzollernring: Clear the stage for games, music, street food! More than 100.000 additional visitors were expected to the Gamescom City Festival in the Rhine metropolis.

That was Gamescom 2019

Because Gamescom would be unthinkable without awards, prizes were given to the best video and computer games: The Gamescom Awards.

The winners of one of the most coveted prizes in the international computer and video game industry have been determined: On Gamescom Saturday, the Gamescom Awards were presented in the categories that were still open. In addition to the decision of the expert jury on the winners in a further six jury categories and the Best of Gamescom Award, the winners of the four fan categories were also announced, including the Gamescom “Most Wanted” Consumer Award. The jury selected the winners from more than 160 submissions.

The coveted Best of Gamescom Award went to the Sony title “Dreams” this year. The simultaneously powerful and accessible game construction kit from British developer Media Molecule also impressed the jury in the categories of Best Sony PlayStation 4 Game and Most Original Game. Gamescom fans voted "Borderlands 3" their hottest title of the year. The 2K title was also named Best Multiplayer Game by the jury. PietSmiet was voted Best Streamer / Let's Player by the fans of Gamescom.

The winners of all categories:

THQ Nordic can look forward to being named Best Games Company at Gamescom 2019. In addition, the best strategy game "Desperados III" by Mimimi Productions will be published by THQ Nordic. The THQ Nordic
The developer and publisher, Handy Games, won the award for Best Mobile Game with “Battle Chasers: Nightwar - Mobile Edition” and publishes the winner of the Gamescom Indie Awards “El Hijo” from Honig Studios.

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