Gamescom Latam Aims to Double in Size for Its Second Year

The inaugural Gamescom Latam can be considered a resounding success, with over 100,000 visitors from more than 70 countries attending the São Paulo Expo centre during the last week of June. They had the opportunity to experience a wide range of games, from locally developed indie titles to AAA blockbusters and first-party hits. A total of 124 exhibitors from 66 countries participated, and the industry's presence included over 200 publishers and 700 studios. This is a significant increase from the BIG Festival, which peaked at 50,000 attendees in its final year. Gamescom Latam CEO Gustavo Steinberg notes that the first batch of promotional tickets sold out in just 20 minutes, catching the team off guard. Confident in the event's success, the Gamescom Latam team began preparing for the next year, including a venue change to the Anhembi Convention Center. This new location will provide double the floor space, increasing from 25,000 square meters to 50,000, and is expected to attract at least 150,000 attendees, potentially up to 200,000. Steinberg believes this will solidify Gamescom Latam's position as the largest gaming event in the Americas. The choice of Latin America as the location for Gamescom Latam is strategic, according to Steinberg. He cites the region's growing gaming industry, with over 1,000 studios in Brazil alone, and its Western culture, which makes it an attractive market for game developers and publishers. The merger between Gamescom and BIG Festival has also contributed to the event's growth, providing a shortcut to credibility and traction. Steinberg emphasizes that the focus is on the developers, and joining forces with Gamescom was the obvious choice. The event hosted over 11,000 meetings through its matchmaking platform, a significant increase from the 5,000 meetings at BIG Festival 2023. The presence of influencers and content creators was also notable, with the introduction of a business element for them. The B2B area of the show floor was closed to publishers and developers after the third day, allowing content creators and their agencies to network with exhibitors. The BIG Festival has not disappeared but has instead formed the heart of the show floor, with a substantial area dedicated to indie games and third-party hits. Steinberg's experience in the film industry has influenced his approach, recognizing the importance of festivals in promoting new releases. The event has seen an increase in submissions, with 920 submissions from 70 countries, up from 700 submissions from 50 countries last year. Gamescom Latam is jointly organized by BIG Festival, Omelete Company, and Koelnmesse, with efforts made to integrate it with the other Gamescom events. The Countdown show, streamed in Germany and Singapore, presented an array of trailers, updates, and announcements, making a statement about the event's global appeal. Steinberg emphasizes that Gamescom Latam is not a regional event but a global one, with a focus on English-language content and subtitles, rather than Portuguese. The event's success has laid the foundation for future growth, with plans to further integrate with Koelnmesse and establish itself as a major player in the global gaming industry.