Gamescom Expands to Latin America with New Event in 2024

The world's largest gaming event, Gamescom, is set to launch a new convention in Latin America, merging with the popular BIG Festival in Brazil. This new event, dubbed Gamescom Latam, will be the third under the global Gamescom brand, following the successful launch of Gamescom Asia in 2021. The first iteration of Gamescom Latam will take place from June 26 to 30, 2024, in São Paulo, Brazil, and is the result of a partnership between Koelnmesse, Game, BIG Festival, and Omelete Company. According to Felix Falk, managing director of Game, the ongoing success of Gamescom demonstrates the need for events that bring together the entire gaming ecosystem, including developers, publishers, investors, and service providers. Falk believes that a local presence is essential for the success of such events, and that Gamescom's strong global reputation will help achieve this objective, particularly with the support of partners like BIG Festival and Omelete Company. BIG Festival founder and executive director Gustavo Steinberg notes that his event will continue to be a key part of Gamescom Latam, primarily as the stage for the indie games competition and awards ceremony, as well as showcasing a selection of games from around the world and the best talent from the region. Steinberg believes that the partnership with Gamescom will help connect local talent with global publishers and investors, and that the event will become a major platform for the release of new titles from around the world. In addition to the BIG Festival and other components of Gamescom Latam, the event will feature an industry meeting point to facilitate networking between industry professionals. The organizers also plan to transform São Paulo into a 'city of games' for the duration of the event. With a proven track record of establishing successful events, including Gamescom Asia, which debuted digitally in 2021 and hosted a physical edition last year, the potential for Gamescom Latam is significant. Koelnmesse president and CEO Gerald Böse notes that the key to success lies in adapting the event to the needs of the local community and industry, and that local partners are essential for achieving this goal. With the support of the Brazilian Koelnmesse subsidiary, BIG Festival, and Omelete Company, the organizers are confident that Gamescom Latam will become a major gaming convention in the region, attracting a large international audience and providing a platform for the release of new titles from around the world.