Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show has released the full list of exhibitors slated to appear at its 2026 edition, confirming the participation of heavyweight developers and publishers such as Capcom, Bandai Namco, and The Pokémon Company. In addition, the presence of Nintendo and PlayStation will be felt through their official partners, ensuring that fans and industry insiders alike will have ample opportunity to interact with the most recognizable brands in the interactive entertainment sector. It is noteworthy that Sony, which chose not to operate a dedicated stand at the previous month’s Gamescom event in Cologne, will also be absent from this year’s Asian‑Thai showcase, a contrast to the active involvement of rivals Nintendo and Xbox. Nonetheless, the roster remains robust, featuring a diverse mix of companies ranging from indie studios to hardware manufacturers.
Among the additional participants are 4Divinity, Elementa, Gryphline, Kuro Games, as well as technology partners such as Razer, AMD and Lenovo, each bringing their own expertise in peripherals, graphics solutions and computing platforms to the exhibition floor. The business area of the show will be markedly international, hosting booths from 25 different countries and regions. Dedicated pavilions will represent Austria, Germany, the Philippines, South Korea, Spain and the host nation Thailand, creating a multicultural environment that encourages cross‑border collaboration and market exploration. This broad geographic representation underscores the event’s ambition to serve as a true hub for the global games ecosystem, linking developers, publishers, investors and service providers from across continents.
Beyond static displays, the programme includes a series of pitch and reverse‑pitch competitions designed to foster dialogue between creators and financiers. Xsolla, a leading provider of publishing and payment solutions, will sponsor the "Invest Circle and VIP XPerience" segment, offering a curated setting where developers can pitch their projects directly to publishers, venture capitalists and other potential backers. These sessions are intended to accelerate funding cycles and help emerging studios secure the resources needed to bring their visions to market.
The conference component of the business area will feature more than 70 speakers drawn from over 20 countries, spread across four distinct stages. Among the headline presenters is John Romero, co‑founder of Id Software, who will deliver a keynote titled "Why We Still Make Games." Romero will also be honoured with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his lasting influence on the medium. Complementing Romero’s talk are presentations from industry veterans such as Nick Herman and Dennis Lenart of AdHoc Studio, Zhen Fang – Vice President of Roblox and head of its international division, Jane Lau – head of production for Tencent, Emilio Coppola – executive director of the Godot Engine, and Yoan Fanise – creative director and founder of DigixArt.
Their sessions will cover topics ranging from narrative design and indie development strategies to the technical evolution of game engines and the business dynamics of large‑scale online platforms. The event is jointly organised by Koelnmesse, Show No Limit and Online Station, three entities with extensive experience in staging large‑scale trade shows.
Prakash Ramajillu, General Manager for Asia‑Pacific at Koelnmesse, emphasized the growing international focus of the 2026 edition, stating, "We are placing an even stronger emphasis on internationality this year. We are bringing leading global gaming brands to the entertainment area while expanding the business area with more country pavilions, networking opportunities, and greater support for independent developers through the indie area and the Thailand Pavilion, which is backed by Thailand's Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) and the Thai Game Software Industry Association (TGA)." Show No Limit’s CEO, Pongsuk Hiranprueck, highlighted the strategic importance of Thailand as more than a consumer market, noting that the previous year’s attendance of over 200,000 visitors demonstrated the country’s role as a cultural and creative engine within the Asian region.
This sentiment is reflected in the expanded indie zone, which aims to give emerging Thai studios a platform to showcase their work alongside international peers. The 2026 Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show will be held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, running from October 29 to November 1.
The business area will be open exclusively to industry professionals and media representatives on October 29 and 30, providing a focused environment for B2B meetings, partnership negotiations and press briefings. For context, the inaugural Gamescom x Thailand Game Show in 2025 attracted 206,159 visitors from 95 countries, and its business area welcomed 5,590 professionals from 81 nations over four days.
Those figures illustrate the rapid growth and increasing relevance of the event within the global games calendar, and set a high bar for the 2026 edition to surpass both in scale and impact. Overall, the 2026 lineup promises a vibrant blend of established giants, innovative independents, cutting‑edge hardware partners and a rich slate of educational sessions.
Attendees can expect not only the chance to see upcoming titles and technologies but also to engage in meaningful conversations that could shape the future direction of the gaming industry across Asia and beyond.