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Gamescom, Not SGF, is Now the Biggest Video Games Event
Polygon.com • • technology
Key Points:
- Gamescom, held in Cologne, Germany, is becoming the premier video game convention, focusing on playable code and tangible game prospects for late summer and fall releases, unlike the trailer-heavy early summer events.
- After the collapse of E3, Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest has filled the early summer slot with virtual showcases and trailers but lacks the in-person industry networking and substantive meetings that E3 once provided.
- Gamescom surpasses E3 in attendance due to its public access and maintains strong industry support from major companies like Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and PC-focused firms such as Riot and Blizzard.
- The convention has gained credibility and stability by avoiding the industry politics that contributed to E3’s decline and is now even becoming a preferred venue over the Game Developers Conference for business meetings.
- While internet hype remains important, Gamescom’s strength lies in its role as a physical gathering place for the industry and community to connect, celebrate gaming, and shape its public image.
