Gamescom’s Popularity Continues to Rise

The early bird registration for Gamescom 2025, the world’s largest gaming exhibition, closed on February 21.
Gamescom continues to set new records each year, with increasing exhibitors and visitors. In 2024, a lot of game companies, including Hoyoverse, Bandai Namco, and Krafton, showcased their latest titles to European gamers. Let’s take a look at some of last year’s impressive numbers:

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3,060,000 sqft exhibition space
335,000 attendees from 120 countries
1,462 companies from 64 countries
1.5 million ONL live viewers
540 million ONL total online views

We attended Gamescom in 2023 and 2024 as part of exhibition projects, witnessing firsthand the event’s massive impact on the gaming industry. With growing anticipation for this year’s participating companies, we’ve compiled key information to help businesses prepare for Gamescom 2025.

Gamescom 2025 Schedule & Key Programs

Gamescom 2025 will take place from August 20 to 24 in Cologne, kicking off with Opening Night Live (ONL) on August 19.
Since B2B and B2C schedules differ, check the table below for details.

 

Gamescom Date	Devcom	ONL (Opening Night Live)	B2B	B2C	Event
8/18 (MON)	9:00-19:00
8/19 (TUE)		20:00-22:00
8/20 (WED)			9:00-19:00 (7:00-20:00 for exhibitors)	Media Day 9:00-19:00 (7:00-20:00 for exhibitors)
8/21 (THU)			9:00-20:00 (7:00-21:00 for exhibitors)	9:00-20:00 (7:00-21:00 for exhibitors) General adminssion from 10am	12:00- Varies by event schedule
8/22 (FRI)
8/23 (SAT)				9:00-20:00 (7:00-21:00 for exhibitors)
8/24 (SUN)
*Gamescom City Festival: 8/22(FRI)-8/24(SUN)

Beyond the exhibition halls, Gamescom is a festival featuring diverse events across the city. Since last year, the Gamescom City Festival has taken over Rudolfplatz and Hohenzollernring, with live performances, gaming showcases, and food markets adding to the excitement.

Additionally, many game developers and publishers leverage the Gamescom Awards as a major marketing tool. Game studios can submit their upcoming titles online throughout July, with nominees announced on opening day in August. The awards ceremony, typically held on the final Friday of Gamescom, is a powerful way to generate buzz before a game’s release.

Gamescom Opening Night Live (ONL)

Gamescom ONL: A Global Branding Opportunity

ONL isn’t just an opening ceremony—it’s a global marketing event live-streamed on Twitch, YouTube, and Gamescom’s official website. Major game studios use ONL to debut trailers, with developers taking the stage to share insights about their games.

In 2024, Hoyoverse showcased Zenless Zone Zero, Bandai Namco unveiled Tekken 8, and Krafton introduced Dark and Darker. The event’s massive reach makes it a prime opportunity for game marketing.

Gamescom 2025 ONL Sponsorship & Costs

Only exhibitors with a minimum booth size of 100m² can apply for ONL sponsorship. Pricing is based on video length:

While the cost is significant, the exposure is unparalleled—ONL viewership exceeds 540 million. Because ONL shapes the first impression of a game, developers should create high-impact trailers and strategically plan content if showcasing multiple IPs.

Gamescom’s Massive Exhibition Hall – Koelnmesse

Gamescom takes place at Koelnmesse, spanning 3,060,000 sqft, making it one of the largest gaming expos in the world.
For comparison, Anime Expo is held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, which is 720,000 sqft—Gamescom’s venue is more than four times larger.

Gamescom Hall Plan

• [B2B Area] → Hall 2, 3, 4
• [B2C Area] → Hall 6, 7, 9, 10
• [Merchandise Area] → Hall 5
• [Event Area] → Hall 8

📍 Note: B2C hall assignments may change based on exhibitors and booth sizes. In 2023, Halls 6, 8, 9, and 10 were used for B2C, while Hall 7 hosted events.

📍 Tip: Koelnmesse is huge and maze-like, so save a digital map on your phone. The venue has multiple entrances (East, West, North, South)—plan your route accordingly.

How to Get the Best Booth Location at Gamescom 2025

Game companies planning to exhibit should apply during the early bird period (~Feb 21) to secure a better booth location and save on costs.

High-Traffic Booth Placement

Companies with well-placed booths gain higher visitor engagement. Last year, HYBE’s booth strategically positioned near key traffic zones saw strong foot traffic.

Booths can only be registered through Gamescom’s official website.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll cover step-by-step booth application tips and expert insights!

Eidetic Marketing – Your Gamescom B2B Partner

We are an experienced agency specializing in Gamescom marketing, helping game companies maximize their global reach and KPIs with strategic planning and execution.

Having worked with major gaming companies from the US, Korea, and China, EIDETIC offers unique advantages:

Why Work with EIDETIC for Gamescom 2025?

• ✔️ In-House Expertise: Unlike ad agencies or third-party event firms, EIDETIC has dedicated teams for planning, marketing, and design, ensuring seamless communication and execution.
• ✔️ Local Team in Germany: With staff based in Cologne, we navigate complex local regulations and logistics, minimizing risk for exhibitors.
• ✔️ Multilingual Event Staff: Gamescom attracts diverse attendees, making experienced multilingual staff essential. Our team ensures smooth interactions with international gamers and industry professionals.

💡 Behind-the-Scenes at Gamescom with EIDETIC!

With a track record of delivering exceptional results, EIDETIC ensures your vision aligns with execution for a successful Gamescom experience.

✨ Stay tuned for exclusive insights from our Gamescom 2025 projects!

Eidetic Marketing Gamescom Works

Game Booth Ideas for Successful Gaming Conventions

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Introduction

Gaming conventions offer developers and publishers a prime opportunity to showcase their products, engage with fans, and build a loyal community. This article explores various game booth ideas focusing on interactive events, cosplay, integrated IPs, user experience, and technology to create a memorable and successful presence.

Game Booth Ideas 1)
Events

Creating successful game booths involves hosting a variety of events that engage attendees and connect them with the game IPs. Attendees can enjoy instagrammable moments throughout the event with the photo booth, cosplay zone, and giant game character displays.

Successful Events for Game Booth

• • Tournaments
• • Autograph Sessions
• • Inviting Streamers
• • Lucky Draw
• • Developer Meet and Greets
• • Photo Booth

Enjoyable experiences throughout these events can increase user retention time at the booth.

Game Booth Ideas 2)
Cosplay

Detailed Design for Cosplay

High-quality cosplay that accurately represents game characters is crucial. Focus on authentic accessories, accurate costumes, and detailed hair and makeup to replicate in-game characters.

Audition for Cosplay Model

Select models who not only resemble the characters but also understand and convey their personalities. Assess character understanding, performance skills, and the ability to match the character’s appearance and demeanor.

👉 TERBIS G-STAR Cosplay

Game Booth Ideas 3)
Integrated IPs

Well Integrated IPs

Maintaining a cohesive brand identity across different games is essential for game publishers. Despite the variety in genres, themes, and characters, it’s important to ensure all games are aligned with the publisher’s branding.

Unified Messaging

Ensure that promotional materials and communications reflect the publisher’s overall brand message and values, using consistent visual elements like logos and color schemes.

Zone Planning

Effective zone planning enhances attendee experience and optimizes space by guiding smooth attendee movement through the booth and ensures easy access to different areas.

Different Styles for Different Hardware

Design each zone to showcase the specific hardware, such as high-end PC setups for desktop gaming, casual setups for mobile gaming, and immersive lounge areas for console gaming.

Game Booth Ideas 4)
User Experience

Brining the Game to Life

Enhancing user experience involves creating a booth that replicates the real game environment, allowing attendees to feel as if they are inside the game. This can be achieved by transforming the digital experience into a physical one.

For example, EA SPORTS is an online soccer game. We created an entrance tunnel similar to the one the players use to access the field. It is complete with realistic sounds like cheering, grass, and flags, to maximize the user experience.

👉 EA SPORTS G-STAR Booth

Game Booth Ideas 5)
Technology

Blockchain-based NFT

Showcase the integration of NFT technology in games, allowing attendees to test new tools and technologies. Highlight successful NFT implementations and provide interactive workshops on creating and managing NFTs.

👉 WEMADE GDC Booth

Expanding Platforms: From Traditional to Automotive

In recent times, the concept of ‘infotainment’ has gained popularity, referring to the enjoyment of various entertainment options within a vehicle. Game platforms are evolving beyond traditional hardware like PCs, mobile devices, and consoles, and are now integrating into automotive systems.

👉 BMW Gamescom Booth

For Successful Gaming Conventions

By implementing these ideas, you can attract a large audience, provide memorable experiences, and build a strong community around your game. Careful planning and execution can make your game booth a highlight of any gaming convention, leaving a lasting impression on attendees and fostering long-term engagement with your game and brand.

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