2024-07-27 09:15:00
At the end of August, hundreds of thousands of gamers travel to Cologne for Gamescom. All info on tickets, program, and more at a glance.
Gamescom is an annual highlight for gamers. It will take place in Cologne at the end of August 2024. Last year, the organizers reported 320,000 visitors from over 100 countries. Tickets were sold out on three of the four visitor days. The program includes, among other things, an opening stage show and large exhibition booths. Here’s what visitors need to know about Gamescom, tickets, and the program.
When does Gamescom take place?
Gamescom will take place this year from August 21 to 25 in Cologne. Private visitors can enter the halls only from August 22 to try out the displayed video games. The first day of Gamescom is designated as the Trade Visitor and Media Day.
On this day, only accredited visitors are allowed to enter the exhibition halls. This includes industry representatives and journalists, among others. However, private visitors have the chance to attend Gamescom on August 21 thanks to wildcard tickets.
What are the opening hours of Gamescom?
Gamescom opens its doors at 10:00 AM on August 22 and 23. On the exhibition weekend, that is, on August 24 and 25, entry begins at 9:00 AM. On all days, the event ends at 8:00 PM.
Are there still tickets for Gamescom?
Good news for interested parties: Tickets for Gamescom are still available for purchase. Prices vary depending on the day and entry time. Day tickets and evening tickets can be purchased through the official Gamescom shop.
A day ticket costs €29.50 for August 22, 23, and 25. For Saturday, a day ticket costs €39. These tickets allow entry as soon as Koelnmesse opens for Gamescom.
Evening tickets cost €9.50 for August 22, 23, and 25, and €11.50 for August 24. Private visitors can access Gamescom with these tickets starting from 4 PM. A wildcard allows participation in Gamescom on the Trade Visitor and Media Day. This ticket costs €64. Family tickets for a maximum of five people range between €65 and €81.50.
What can visitors expect at Gamescom?
Gamescom visitors can look forward to many video games, shows, and merchandise. The exhibition halls are thematically divided and offer a wide range of options. On August 23, an awards ceremony will be held where the Gamescom Awards will be presented for the best exhibition appearance and the most entertaining game, among others.
Inside the halls, exhibitors like Microsoft and Electronic Arts will showcase their booths with playtesting stations. These stations will feature already released titles for play, as well as playable demos of selected games set to release in the coming months. Visitors should be prepared for very long wait times. Lines for blockbuster games may last several hours.
The list of playable titles at Gamescom includes some of the major games expected to release in 2024 and 2025. These include “EA Sports FC” (formerly “FIFA”), the monster-hunting action game “Monster Hunter Wilds,” and the anime fighting game “Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero.”
Additionally, Gamescom offers a space for fans of board and party games. In the “Cards & Boards Area,” they can play together. The Pokémon Company will also have a presence in this area with their trading card game.
In the Retro Area, visitors can play on platforms and games from the last decades, such as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) or the Commodore 64 (C64). For fans of indie games, there are two specific spots in the “Indie Area”: the “Indie Arena Booth” and the “Home of Indies.” Here, smaller developer studios will showcase their games. For those interested in the development of video games, developers are often available at their booths for discussions. In the merchandise halls, visitors have the opportunity to purchase items such as shirts, hats, statues, and plush toys.
For many fans and content creators, cosplay is one of the highlights of the event each year. Visitors dress up in elaborate costumes as characters from video games, series, or movies. The so-called “Cosplay Village” will have its dedicated space in Hall 5. There will also be a “Cosplay Contest” held there.
World premieres at Gamescom Opening Night Live
During Gamescom Opening Night Live, several video games will celebrate their world premiere. Viewers can also expect new trailers for already announced games from home. In recent years, it has been part of the program that some revealed titles are playable at Gamescom.
The show will take place on August 20 at 8:00 PM and will be streamed live on YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, X, and Facebook. Geoff Keighley will host the event, with co-host Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere, an e-sports commentator. Last year, the show garnered over 20 million views across various platforms.
Who will be present at Gamescom?
Among the well-known video game manufacturers at Gamescom are Microsoft, Ubisoft (“Star Wars Outlaws”), and Bandai Namco (“Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero”). Other exhibitors include Square Enix (“Final Fantasy XIV”), Blizzard Entertainment (“World of Warcraft”), and Capcom (“Monster Hunter Wilds”).
Besides the larger manufacturers, companies like Giants Software (“Farming Simulator 25”) and Astragon Entertainment (“Construction Simulator”) from Germany will also be present. Hardware enthusiasts can look forward to manufacturers like AMD and Asus.
Fans of “Mario” and “Zelda” may search in vain for new adventures of their favorites, as Nintendo will not be attending Gamescom. PlayStation players are in a similar boat, as Sony Interactive will also not be participating in the fair. Interestingly, the hardware branch of the company, Sony Germany, will be represented at Gamescom.