“We’re back – in Cologne and online!”: Amid ever new record incidences the Cologne-based trade fair company and industry association Game kicked off the countdown to Gamescom 2022. This is how they started to announce the Gamescom 2022 in Cologne, Germany. For all fans of Tony Bet this is an event you should not miss.
After two purely digital editions with livestreams and online programming, the Gamescom took place from August 24 to 28, 2022, was expected to return to the pre-pandemic phase, when more than 370,000 visitors streamed through the fairgrounds in Cologne-Deutz – also with a view to the “look and feel,” as KoelnMesse CEO Oliver Frese put it at the press conference.
A GOAL TO REACH
The organizers do not want to commit themselves to a concrete targeted number of visitors, especially since sales only start today. It is clear, however, that the goal was not to set a new record for the number of visitors. This is excluded alone because there was a limited ticket contingent for all fair days. Advance ticket sales were actually not planned until May, which is quite a late date compared to previous years.
There were still no concrete commitments from exhibitors. Nevertheless, manager Frese diagnoses “convincing tailwind from the games industry”: Together, they have set up a strong concept, within the framework of which the safety and health as well as the well-being of all attendees will also be ensured.
To have ensured a “top quality stay” and a “safe visit,” there will be extra-wide aisles, improved admission management and digital queue management. So the days of fans camping out for hours before gaining access to gaming stations are finally a thing of the past with Gamescom 2022.
For the first time, a permanent Gamescom component was hold in the remodeled Hall 1, which will be used by Electronic Arts, among others, for their business area until 2019. The hall experienced its Gamescom baptism of fire with the multi-day influencer show Spielesause – in August, the area will now be used for e-sports and entertainment formats, including the opening show Gamescom: Opening Night Live, which will once again be produced and hosted by Geoff Keighley.
The Gamescom organizers are sticking to the basic division into Business Area and Entertainment Area. The usual areas for the Cosplay Village, the Indie Area, Retro Area and a Merchandise Area will also be available again.
KoelnMesse and the Game Association have also resolved to develop Gamescom into the “first climate-friendly games event”. This is intended to set an example for more environmental and climate protection.
In addition to existing measures such as free public transport ticket, Gamescom Forest project, energy renovation of the halls, disposable plastic ban, all CO2 emissions of the ‘core event’ are to be compensated 100 percent. To this end, the Gamescom team is working with the service provider ClimatePartner, which advises companies on the implementation of climate-friendly projects. Exhibitors can participate by making a voluntary climate protection contribution.
“As the world’s largest games event, Gamescom is leading the way with its sustainability initiative ‘Gamescom Goes Green’,” announces Games CEO Felix Falk. “Gamescom 2022 will be the first games event to become climate-friendly. And everyone can join in: whether visitors or exhibitors, ‘Gamescom Goes Green’ is a project of the entire Gamescom community.”
Although a new concept, introduced after the Corona virus hit, the Gamescom was a complete success. People were happy to come together again. Regardless of the regime. Whether online or offline, it was always a blast. Let us wait and see what is planned for next year.