Gamescom 2024 breaks records with 335,000 visitors

Gamescom drew more than 335,000 visitors to Cologne, Germany, last week for a gaming expo extravaganza.

The visitors were up from 320,000 last year annd theycame from around 120 countries to Cologne. The show hit a record 310 million digital engagements, including over 40 million for Geoff Keighley’s Gamescom Opening Night Live.

There were more than 32,000 trade visitors, with the strongest growth from North America and Japan. And there were 2.5 million page views for community adventure Gamescom epix.

The show was preceded by the game dev show Devcom starting on Sunday night and running through Tuesday. That event drew more than 5,000 people, up 45% from a year earlier.

Gamescom started on Wednesday and ran through Sunday, with Friday and Saturday completely sold out. Online viewership for the show program reached an all-time high, with over 310 million video views recorded by Saturday evening alone.

The figures for Gamescom Opening Night Live are particularly impressive, racking up over 40 million video views –double that of the previous year. This year’s numbers significantly exceeded the previous record, setting a new global benchmark.

The number of trade visitors was around 32,000, with North America and Japan showing the largest increases.

Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse, said in a statement, “Gamescom has once again proven its unmatched global reach and significance as the world’s leading event for the gaming industry. Surpassing last year’s figures with record-breaking digital engagement and a rise in on-site visitors, Gamescom, Koelnmesse and the Game association unite gaming fans worldwide through their shared passion, driving innovation and partnerships in the gaming industry in a way no other event has ever done before.”

Felix Falk, managing director of Game, the German Games Industry Association, said in a statement, “Gamescom 2024 was a resounding success. The surge in international participation across multiple sectors firmly establishes Gamescom as one of the most renowned global event brands for years to come. This week has once again underscored the tremendous societal, cultural and technological impact of games, and why countries worldwide are eagerly vying to become the top destination for the gaming industry. Games are the gateway to the future.”

Around 80,000 people gathered in downtown Cologne for a Gamescom city festival on Saturday and Sunday.

Gamescom 2025 will take place from August 20 to August 24, 2025. The event will kick off on August 19, 2025, with Gamescom Opening Night Live.