357,000 People Descended on Cologne, and Even the Politicians Showed Up
The last Cologne-brewed Kölsch has been drunk, the last cosplayer has gone home with sore feet, and the official numbers are in from the German Games Industry Association (game). Gamescom 2025 is officially in the books, and by all accounts, it was a colossal success that shattered previous records and sent a clear signal that the games industry is shaking off the dust from a couple of challenging years. The mood on the show floor felt electric, and now we have the data to back it up.
Credit: Gamescom
Bigger, Louder, and More International Than Ever
The scale of this year's event was something to behold. The organizers reported a staggering 357,000 fans on-site, packing out an exhibition space that spanned 233,000 square meters. The number of companies showing off their wares also hit a new high of 1,568 exhibitors. What's truly wild is the international pull of the show, with exhibitors hailing from 72 different countries and a whopping 70 percent of visitors coming from abroad. The digital reach was just as insane, with over 630 million views worldwide tallied by Saturday evening alone.
The professional side of the event saw a significant boost as well, with the number of trade visitors climbing to 34,000, showing strong growth in attendees from the USA, China, Canada, and Japan. Felix Falk, Managing Director of game, noted that the new records "underline not only the global appeal of gamescom, but also the upward trend in the entire games industry".
Politicians Descend on Cologne
It seems the sheer size and economic clout of the games industry is finally making politicians sit up and pay attention. Over 600 politicians from federal, state, and EU levels swarmed the halls of the Koelnmesse to see what all the fuss is about. According to the game association, this political interest was greater than ever before and resulted in positive signals for the German games industry, particularly regarding tax-based funding initiatives. International delegations also made their presence known, with representatives traveling from as far as Brazil, India, Indonesia, and this year's partner country, Thailand.
With another year in the bag, the organizers are already looking ahead. gamescom 2026 is scheduled to take place from August 26 to August 30, with the Opening Night Live showcase kicking things off on August 25, 2026. Better start booking your hotels now.