Gamescom 2020 will take place digitally: No major events until August 31 for the time being

With the announcement of the "lockdown light" by the federal and state governments, including the announcement that major events would be canceled for the time being until August 31, it was clear: Gamescom 2020 will not take place in Cologne as an on-site trade fair. Now the organizers are making it official and announcing Gamescom as a purely digital event. Visitors and exhibitors will receive refunds, processing information to follow.

Gamescom 2020 will be a purely digital gaming event

Now the federal and state governments have taken the decision from the trade fair organizers: The current decree of the state government prohibits major events until August 31st, including Gamescom. Also affected is the developer conference "devcom", which is not completely canceled, but its format will be adjusted.

The nationwide ban on major events hits the event industry hard. If fans and organizers still had a glimmer of hope for a Gamescom at Koelnmesse, this was stifled when the changes to the pandemic containment measures were announced. Neither the business area nor the entertainment area will be in the tried and tested form this year.

“However, this does not change the fact that Gamescom will definitely take place digitally,” say those responsible. The formats, which are already geared towards a digital spectacle Gamescom: Opening Night Live or Gamescom now will be expanded accordingly, and new modules will be introduced to bring a Gamescom experience to fans at home. In any case, the organizers are working hard on implementing the digital event structure.

First details in mid-May

However, mid-May remains an important period: that is when those responsible want to provide “the first concrete information on the digital Gamescom“ announced.

Koelnmesse boss Oliver Frese explains that the cancellation is painful - at the same time, however, people are now looking forward to the digital Gamescom 2020. The managing director hopes that later trade fairs will then be held again in "analogue form" on the Koelnmesse site. Felix Falk, Managing Director of the Game Association, is also looking forward to the digital event: "Opening Night Live and Gamescom now and will also present new and exciting digital formats".

Our goal is clear: Gamescom will again be 'The Heart of Gaming' for millions of fans around the world this year.
Felix Falk, managing director of game

It is already clear that not only will the visitors be reimbursed for tickets already paid, but also that the exhibitors will be reimbursed 100 percent of the payments made to Koelnmesse. More information will be available in the coming weeks on how to process reimbursements for tickets and bookings.

The special Gamescom 2020 will take place on August 25th for trade visitors and on August 26th for private visitors.

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