- Kicks off with a spectacle before an audience of thousands at Gamescom
Kicking off at Gamescom, the worldwide leading video game and computer game expo, an audience of approximately 4,000 spectators watched as exhibitors unveiled a range of upcoming games at a Cologne exhibition center.
The "Opening Night Live" segment took audiences on a journey through historical settings, bleak contemporary scenarios, and chilling apocalyptic visions, where heroes must combat evil forces. Trailers premiered for the medieval knights game "Kingdom Come Deliverance II", the shooter game "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6", and the zombie destruction fest "Dying Light: The Beast".
In "Dune Awakening", participants initially battle for existence on the desert planet Arrakis, eventually pursuing power and influence. This game promised to entice enthusiasts of the films, who previously saw sandworms on the silver screen and now have an opportunity to witness them on computer screens.
Prominent US tech companies were represented
The presence of notable US companies was ubiquitous, with Amazon Prime's "Secret Level" series and Netflix's "Squid Game: Unleashed" being featured. The action game "Batman: Arkham Shadow", influenced by the comic series, required the Meta-owned Quest 3 virtual reality headset for optimal experience.
The nostalgic returned with the strategy game "Civilization VII", first debuted in 1991. Its creative director, Ed Beach, applauded the player's journey through history as they crafted their civilizations on stage.
Tim Miller, producer of "Secret Level", was visibly moved on stage: "We just can't get enough of video games." The series seamlessly blended various video game worlds.
Following the evening event, the doors to other exhibition halls opened on Wednesday morning, granting access to the booths of various companies.
Gamescom as a popular event
Gamescom serves as a public trade fair with purchased tickets, attracting numerous industry representatives for networking and business deals. On Saturdays, tickets are already sold out, and the event ends on Sundays.
Last year, around 320,000 attendees from various countries graced the event, and this year's turnout could potentially surpass that number. The highest attendance was in 2019, with 373,000, but then a decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic occurred. However, this year's projections are optimistic, boasting an expansion in offerings: more than 1,400 exhibitors from 64 countries showcasing new video and computer games, technical innovations, and services, marking a 15% increase from the previous year.
The industry faces challenges
The event's host, Geoff Keighley, acknowledged that the industry is currently encountering challenges. In fact, many, particularly smaller studios, are grappling economically. Post-COVID, demand for games has dropped, but manufacturing costs have escalated, dissuading investors.
As per the "Game Industry Layoffs" blog, approximately 11,540 industry jobs have been lost worldwide this year, a slight increase from the 10,500 jobs lost last year. Several indie studios in Germany have also closed down.
Visitors at Gamescom were thrilled to learn about the new computer game "Dying Light: The Beast", which allows players to engage in a zombie destruction fest. Amidst all the excitement, many attendees also showed interest in the upcoming computer game release of "Kingdom Come Deliverance II", a medieval knights game.
