The upcoming Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show has just revealed the full roster of exhibitors slated to appear at the 2026 edition, confirming the participation of industry heavy‑weights like Capcom, Bandai Namco and The Pokémon Company, alongside representatives for Nintendo and PlayStation that will be present through local partners. While Sony’s own booth was absent from last month’s Gamescom event—a contrast to the visible presence of Nintendo and Xbox—its influence will still be felt through affiliated showcases. In addition to the marquee names, the line‑up features a diverse mix of developers, hardware manufacturers and technology providers. Attendees can expect to visit booths from 4Divinity, Elementa, Gryphline, Kuro Games, Razer, AMD, Lenovo and a host of other innovators who are shaping the future of interactive entertainment.
This eclectic collection underscores the event’s commitment to presenting both established franchises and emerging talent. The business area of the show will be markedly international, hosting pavilions from 25 different countries and regions. Among the highlighted national showcases are Austria, Germany, the Philippines, South Korea, Spain and the host nation Thailand. Each pavilion will serve as a cultural and commercial hub, allowing local developers and publishers to display their work to a global audience while fostering cross‑border collaborations.
Beyond the exhibition floor, Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show 2026 will run a series of pitch and reverse‑pitch competitions designed to connect creators with financiers and distribution partners. Xsolla, a leading video‑game commerce platform, will sponsor the "Invest Circle and VIP XPerience," a curated networking environment where developers, publishers and investors can meet face‑to‑face, discuss funding opportunities, and explore strategic partnerships.
The conference program is robust, featuring more than 70 speakers drawn from over 20 countries. Presentations will take place across four stages, covering topics ranging from game design theory to emerging technologies like cloud gaming and AI‑driven content creation.
Notably, John Romero—co‑founder of Id Software—has been confirmed as a keynote speaker. His talk, titled "Why We Still Make Games," will delve into his personal journey and the enduring passion that drives veteran creators. Romero will also be honored with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his seminal contributions to the industry.
Other distinguished speakers include 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 at Tencent, Emilio Coppola, Executive Director of the Godot Engine, and Yoan Fanise, Creative Director and founder of DigixArt. Their sessions will provide insights into independent development, large‑scale platform management, open‑source engine advancement, and the creative processes behind award‑winning titles.
The event is a joint effort between Koelnmesse, Show No Limit and Online Station. "This year, we are placing an even stronger emphasis on internationality," said Prakash Ramajillu, General Manager for Asia‑Pacific at Koelnmesse.
He added that the show aims to bring leading global gaming brands into the entertainment area while expanding the business zone with additional country pavilions, enhanced networking opportunities, and greater support for indie creators through a dedicated indie area and a Thailand Pavilion backed by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) and the Thai Game Software Industry Association (TGA). Show No Limit CEO Pongsuk Hiranprueck highlighted the rapid growth of the Thai market: "Last year's success, with over 200,000 attendees, is clear proof that Thailand is not merely a consumer market, but a key driving force of culture and the creative economy at the Asian level." The numbers reflect a thriving ecosystem where local talent is increasingly recognized on the world stage. The 2026 edition will take place 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, press briefings and partnership negotiations.
For context, the inaugural Gamescom x Thailand Game Show attracted 206,159 visitors from 95 countries, while its business area hosted 5,590 professionals representing 81 nations over four days. Those figures set a high benchmark for the upcoming event, which aims to surpass previous attendance and deepen the global connections that make the Asian gaming market a vibrant hub of innovation and cultural exchange.