Gamescom Organizers Tim Endres and Felix Falk Discuss Opportunities and the Role of Politics in Gaming

"Gamescom has experienced significant growth this year," notes Tim Endres, the event's director. "We have over 1,500 exhibitors from 72 countries, making it more international than ever." The Cologne-based gaming event has consistently been the largest of its kind globally, with 335,000 visitors attending last year. While final visitor numbers for 2025 are still pending, Endres is optimistic that they may surpass the previous year's figure. "The outlook is positive." The success of Gamescom is not solely attributed to its physical presence. Endres highlights the importance of Gamescom Opening Night Live and Gamescom Studio, which broadcasts highlights from the event worldwide in partnership with IGN. "Gamescom has become a hybrid event, with a strong digital component." Given the physical space constraints, with the show floor already spanning the equivalent of 30 football fields, the primary area for growth lies in expanding its digital presence. Felix Falk, managing director of the German Games Industry Association (Game) and co-organizer of Gamescom, reports "substantial growth" for Opening Night Live this year, with early figures indicating a 30, 40, or 50% increase in concurrent viewers. When asked about the costs associated with participating in Opening Night Live, Falk reveals that publishers do not have to pay for a slot. "The majority of the content is free, regardless of whether you're a AAA title or an indie game. As long as your content is exceptional, Geoff will consider including it in the show, and it won't cost you a thing." The only requirement is that participants must have a presence at Gamescom. Endres adds that Gamescom Studio is being localized for the Chinese and Japanese markets for the first time, and he is eager to gauge the reaction to the content in these regions. There are also satellite events, such as Gamescom Latam in Brazil and Gamescom Asia in Thailand, which offer growth opportunities. Falk notes that Gamescom Latam has already seen 30% growth. In addition to growth, Endres aims to enhance the overall quality of the Gamescom experience, including the quality of partners and the experience for fans. "We strive to meet the needs of our attendees. Growth is one aspect, but it's not the only consideration." The demise of E3 has further solidified Gamescom's position in the industry calendar. Falk emphasizes that Gamescom has always been the largest gaming festival worldwide, and its importance has increased in the absence of E3. Endres credits the COVID pandemic as a crucial period for Gamescom, during which the event maintained momentum and connection with the community and industry. "We continued to host the event each year, never losing touch with our audience, and that has been instrumental in our success." Falk agrees, stating that the investment in exploring the hybrid model has yielded a better position for Gamescom. Despite initial doubts about the need for physical events during the pandemic, Endres believes that COVID has actually highlighted the importance of in-person gatherings. "I think COVID has underscored the value of physical events like Gamescom, as people crave human interaction and emotional experiences that digital events alone cannot provide," Falk highlights a special segment in Opening Night Live that showcased games focused on democracy and civic engagement. He finds it heartening to see games tackling complex topics and promoting positive change. As someone with a background in politics, Falk welcomes the increased politicization of video games. "Games are inherently political, and as the most influential art form, we have a responsibility to use our platform to make a positive impact." Falk also appreciates the support the German government has shown for the gaming industry, including recent initiatives to strengthen the country's gaming sector. "We had a roundtable discussion with top CEOs and the new minister to discuss ways to make Germany an attractive location for game development." While it may be easy to get politicians to attend Gamescom, Falk notes that it's more challenging to ensure they understand the industry's needs and the necessary measures to support its growth. The German games industry requires similar support to other countries, such as better tax breaks. Despite a 6% decline in player spending in 2024, the German games market has reported 4% growth in the first half of 2025. Falk is pleased with the government's increased support, including higher public subsidies, which have been raised from €50 million to €125 million for the next year. After a challenging few years, the games industry in Germany and Gamescom are showing encouraging signs of growth and development.