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- Gamescom 2024 takes place between August 21-25, 2024.
- Tickets start at €29.50 or €9.50 after 4 PM for the public.
- Expect plenty of game reveals and announcements.
If you’re a gaming fan in Europe, you’ll be pleased to hear that the annual Gamescom event returns in 2024. With E3 no longer in the picture, it’s easily one of the largest gaming events of the year. Here’s a quick roundup of when it’s happening, what to expect, and why it’s worth your attention.
When is the Gamescom 2024 start date?
Gamescom 2024 starts on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, and ends on Sunday, August 25, 2024. While the first day is reserved for media and business folk, the public can access the event from August 22-25. It takes place at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany.
Tickets start at €29.50 or €9.50 after 4 PM for the public. Family packs lower this rate if you’re travelling in a group. These cost more on Saturday and you can get a comprehensive look over at the Gamescom ticketing section.
Gamescom 2024 opening hours
Keep track of the opening hours to ensure that you make the most of the event. Here’s when you’ll be able to access all the booths at the event:
| Date | Business area (trade visitors) | Business area (exhibitors) | Entertainment area | Entertainment area (visitors) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 21 August | 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
| Thursday, 22 August | 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Friday, 23 August | 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, 24 August | Closed | Closed | 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. | 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, 25 August | Closed | Closed | 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. | 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
What to expect from Gamescom 2024
Gamescom Opening Night Live kicks off on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Expect plenty of game reveals, trailers, and other announcements from host Geoff Keighley. The Future Games Show will also return on August 21, 2024, with deep dives into Once Human, The Casting of Frank Stone, and Eternal Strands alongside nine world premieres.
Nintendo will be skipping this Gamescom though so don’t hold your breath for a Switch 2 announcement. Sony will be skipping the event as well. Here’s what you can expect from the event itself:
- Publisher booths with recently released or upcoming titles
- Competitive gaming tournaments
- Cosplay village where cosplayers can compete
- Campus where you can learn about video game industry careers
- Indie section and merchandise hall
List of exhibitors at Gamescom 2024
The organisers announced that you can expect more exhibitors than ever before. Here’s a list of all their partners:
- 2K
- 9gag
- aerosoft
- Amazon Games
- AMD
- astragon
- Bandai Namco
- Bethesda
- Bilibili
- Blizzard
- Capcom
- Electronic Arts
- ESL FACEIT Group
- Focus Entertainment
- Giants Software
- Hoyoverse
- Konami
- Krafton
- Level Infinite
- Meta Quest
- NetEase Games
- Nexon
- Pearl Abyss
- Plaion
- Rocket Beans Entertainment
- SEGA
- SK Gaming
- Sony Deutschland
- Square Enix
- Team 17
- The Pokémon Company
- THQ Nordic
- TikTok
- Ubisoft
- Xbox
Confirmed games at Gamescom 2024
While there are plenty of reveals awaiting us, some studios have already confirmed their presence at Gamescom this year. Here are some of the games you can expect:
| Game | Developer/Publisher |
|---|---|
| 160 titles | Indie Arena Booth |
| Crimson Desert | Pearl Abyss |
| PUBG: Battlegrounds | Krafton |
| Empire of the Ants, Flint:Treasure of Oblivion, and The Smurfs: Dreams | Microids |
| Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero | HoYoverse |
| Arena Breakout: Infinite | MoreFun Studios |
| Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail | Square Enix |
| Monster Hunter Wilds | Capcom |
| Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred and World of Warcraft: The War Within | Blizzard Entertainment |
| Dune Awakening | Funcom |
| Farming Simulator 25 | Giants Software |
| Marvel Rivals, Fragpunk, Shadows of The Damned: Hella Remastered, and Once Human | NetEase |
| Phantom Blade Zero | S-Game |
| Titan Quest 2 and Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed | THQ Nordic |
| Age of Mythology Retold, Avowed, Ara: History Untold, The Elder Scrolls Online, Fallout 76, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Towerborne | Microsoft |
Gamescom 2024 award categories
Like the years before, expect the organisers to hand out awards in multiple categories. To be eligible to receive awards, publishers need to pay up €440 for consideration in one category, €800 for up to three categories, and €200 for every additional category. Indie games only have to pay half of these fees. Here’s a list of all the awards that were handed out last year:
- Best Visuals
- Best Audio
- Best Gameplay
- Most Entertaining
- Most Epic
- Most Wholesome
- Games for Impact
- Best Microsoft Xbox Game
- Best Nintendo Switch Game
- Best PC Game
- Best Sony PlayStation Game
- Best Mobile Game
- Best Announcement
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