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Thursday, August 27Thursday, August 27
2 days · 2 summary articles
Gamescom 2026 opens in Cologne with record exhibitors and sold-out space as German president warns on gaming risks
Gamescom opens in Cologne with record exhibitors as gaming industry faces revenue drop
Gamescom 2026 opened to the public in Cologne on Thursday with its entire 233,000-square-meter exhibition space sold out for the first time, hosting more than 1,700 exhibitors from 67 countries and regions, surpassing last year’s record of 1,568 . Organizers expect over 350,000 visitors by the event’s close on August 30.
Major industry players including Xbox, Sega, and Nintendo are showcasing new titles and playable demos, with long queues forming for *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt* following the announcement of its new expansion and remaster package, *Songs of the Past* . Over 70% of exhibitors are based outside Germany, and a record 47 national and regional pavilions are represented, underscoring the event’s international scope . Artificial intelligence is a major focus, with developers exploring its role in production and creative work .
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier made his first visit to Gamescom on Thursday, opening the Gamescom Congress and calling for a critical examination of gaming’s societal impact, including addiction and exposure to extremist content . He acknowledged gaming’s cultural and economic significance, noting that over 40 million people in Germany play video games, and emphasized the need for clear rules to prevent the spread of violent or extremist material .
The event also highlighted the rise of “Serious Games,” such as *Soko 1977*, a title addressing the RAF’s 1970s terrorism, developed by Paintbucket Games and funded by the Federal Agency for Civic Education . Another example, *Wer ist Bilal?*, which tackles Islamist radicalization, has been downloaded 50,000 times and accessed over 1 million times online .
Germany’s games industry reported €9.4 billion in revenue for 2025, a 4% increase from the previous year, making it Europe’s largest and the world’s fifth-largest market . However, industry revenue in the first half of 2026 fell by 3% to €4.2 billion, driven by an 8% drop in hardware sales .
Notably absent from the event is Rockstar Games, which instead released a 30-minute preview of *Grand Theft Auto VI* on Netflix and YouTube on Thursday . The game, set for a November 2026 release, is estimated to have development costs exceeding $1 billion .
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Les studios belges créent plus facilement des jeux vidéo, mais un problème persiste Dans les allées de la Gamescom à Cologne, les studios belges racontent la même difficulté. Et elle ne se trouve pas forcément là où on lattend. ...
la libre · about 3 hours ago
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il fatto quotidiano · about 3 hours ago
Computerspiele mit Mehrwert: Dezente Wissensvermittlung: „Serious Games sind im Kommen Eine ernste Sache, die Spaß machen soll: Bei „Serious Games wird spielerisch Wissen vermittelt – ob über die DDR-Vergangenheit, die RAF oder Islamismus. Das Interesse an solchen Spielen steigt.
handelsblatt · about 3 hours ago
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handelsblatt · about 3 hours ago
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taz.de · about 3 hours ago
Games leven op in de niches op de grootste gamebeurs ter wereld in Keulen Nog altijd kunnen gamers in augustus op pelgrimstocht naar de grootste gamebeurs ter wereld in Keulen. De grote jongens ontbreken, maar zo erg worden ze niet meer gemist.
nrc · about 3 hours ago
Gamescom 2026 opens in Cologne with record exhibitors and visitors Gamescom 2026 has opened in Cologne, bringing together developers, industry professionals and gamers for the worlds largest trade fair dedicated to computer and video games.
euronews · about 3 hours ago
Computer- und Videospiele: Steinmeier warnt vor Schattenseiten des Gamings
die zeit · about 3 hours ago
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faz · about 3 hours ago
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sueddeutsche · about 3 hours ago
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euronews · about 3 hours ago