gamescom 2024: New records and important impulses for games policy in Germany

• New records for exhibitors, internationality and global reach
• More than 500 politicians from all levels discussed the industry’s issues on site
• “With a clever implementation of tax breaks for games, the Gordian knot in games funding in Germany could finally be cut.”

gamescom 2024 has set new records in all strategically important areas: New records in terms of exhibitors (over 1,400), internationality (guests from 120 countries, 48 country pavilions from 37 countries alone) and, above all, international reach (+ 75 per cent to 310 million views by Saturday evening alone) underline the fact that gamescom has once again made a huge leap forward as the highlight of the global games industry. The number of visitors also rose from 320,000 last year to 335,000 today. gamescom congress also set new records and highlighted the huge potential of games with 150 experts from all over the world. At the gamescom award, the jury and fans honoured games that protect democracy with the ‘The Heart of Gaming Award’, thereby acknowledging the great social commitment of many game studios.

“gamescom 2024 is a success across the board. Among other things, more countries than ever before presented themselves with their own country pavilions and promoted themselves as attractive games locations,” says Felix Falk Managing Director of game – The German Games Industry Association and co-organizer of gamescom. “From the point of view of the German games industry, the commitment to the rapid implementation of tax breaks for games companies, which came from both the Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck and several federal states, including the Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Wüst, therefore stands out in particular. With a clever implementation of tax breaks for games companies, as other countries have been using successfully for years, the Gordian knot in games funding in Germany could finally be cut and reliable and internationally comparable framework conditions could finally become a reality. This would benefit everyone – the games companies and employees, Germany as a digital and business location and last but not least the German tax authorities.”

From the point of view of games policy in Germany, gamescom 2024 is also a success: not only did more than 500 politicians come to Cologne this year to seek dialogue with the games industry and see current developments for themselves. There were also clearer statements than ever before on particularly important topics such as tax breaks for games companies in Germany. In the political opening, Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck held out the prospect of prompt implementation of tax breaks by the federal government, the results of which he would like to discuss at gamescom next year. North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister President Hendrik Wüst also pledged his support for this. At the talk “Games Location No. 1 – How can Germany catch up?”, the participants Franziska Giffey, Berlin Senator for Economic Affairs, Nathanael Liminski, Minister and Head of the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Dr Fabian Mehring, Digital Minister of Bavaria, also gave their full support to tax breaks for games companies. But there were also important discussions on other topics at gamescom, for example in direct talks with politicians at state, federal or EU level or on the numerous guided tours of gamescom. In addition to the potential of games for the economy, culture and digital innovations, the topics included the future-proof protection of minors, accessibility in games and the preservation of games as a cultural asset, for example through the International Computer Game Collection (ICS).

gamescom 2025 will take place from 20 to 24 August. It will open on 19 August 2025 with the gamescom Opening Night Live.

About gamescom

gamescom is the world’s largest event dedicated to computer and video games and Europe’s biggest business platform for the games industry. In 2024, gamescom took place from Wednesday 21 August to Sunday 25 August in Cologne and online. gamescom opened with the big show “gamescom Opening Night Live” on the evening of 20 August. The devcom Developer Conference, Europe’s largest developer conference supported by the developer community, took place directly beforehand from 18 to 20 August. gamescom is jointly organised by Koelnmesse and game – the German Games Industry Association.

game – The German Games Industry Association

We are the association of the German games industry. Our members represent the entire video game ecosystem, from development studios and publishers to esports event organisers, educational institutions and other related entities. We are co-organisers of gamescom, the world’s biggest event for computer and video games. We are a shareholder in the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK), the Foundation for Digital Games Culture, the esports player foundation, devcom and the collecting society VHG, as well as co-host of the German Computer Game Awards. Serving as a central point of contact for media, as well as political and social institutions, we provide comprehensive expertise in areas including market development, game culture and media literacy, and address any inquiries or concerns. Together we are making Germany the heart of gaming worldwide. With games, we enrich the lives of all people.