With the decline of traditional gaming conventions like E3, Gamescom's role as a core global gaming event is growing. Organizers have confirmed that Gamescom 2025 will officially begin on August 20th, with an "Opening Night Live" event.
This year's show boasts a record number of exhibitors, exceeding 1,500 from 72 countries and regions, also setting a new record for geographic diversity. The total exhibition space at the Koelnmesse exhibition center reached 233,000 square meters, an increase of 3,000 square meters from the previous peak.
Gerald Böse, President and CEO of Koelnmesse, stated that they are "targeted investments in expansion, infrastructure, and ongoing development" to enhance exhibitor profitability. He believes the expanded exhibition area and record-breaking registration numbers "confirm the continued success of the hybrid event model" and predicts that this year's event will feature "unprecedented diversity of content." Felix Falk, Managing Director of the German Games Industry Association, emphasized that industry and player expectations for Gamescom 2025 are "all-time high." He noted that highlights include the opening night livestream, the largest independent games section ever, concerts, esports events, cosplay, and a diverse exhibitor lineup exceeding 1,500 companies for the first time. He asserted that "GameShow Cologne 2025 will be unforgettable."
According to the official website, confirmed exhibitors include game developers such as miHoYo, Ubisoft, Xbox, Grinding Gear Games, Krafton, and Sega, as well as technology companies such as Netflix, Alienware, ASUS, Blackmagic Design, and Samsung.
Some manufacturers also announced their booth plans: Nintendo will showcase Metroid Prime 4 and Hollow Knight Silksong; inZOI Studio confirmed that new DLC for its life simulation game will be playable on-site. The highly anticipated "Opening Night Live" will feature new information and trailers for several games, including Capcom's "exclusive new content" for Resident Evil Requiem and Obsidian Entertainment's "exclusive" theater demo for The Outer Worlds 2.
Notably, Sony has confirmed it will once again skip Gamescom. PlayStation hasn't had a booth at the show since 2019, and this absence was expected by the industry.