With the dust settled from Gamescom 2017, it has just been announced that this year’s show has reached record-breaking attendance, surpassing 350,000 visitors.
It seems as though the renowned games trade show just keeps on growing. Gamescom 2017 broke new records with 919 companies from 54 countries in attendance. In addition to the aforementioned record breaking 350,000 attendees, there were 30,700 trade visitors, all from 106 countries.
Gamescom 2017 ran from the 22nd to August 26. Looking at the metrics from this year’s show reveals a 5% increase in the number of companies in attendance. Furthermore, it is estimated that the international games trade show in its last day, broke the “100 country mark”, which further highlights the importance and grandeur of this year’s show.
Compared to the 2016 trades show, Gamescom 2017 saw an increase overall in numbers, confirming its position as Europe’s number one business platform. The foreign share of exhibitors was 72%, cementing the notion of it being a truly diverse and international event.
In terms of space, the show floor expanded 4% from last years event. With Gamescom 2017 taking up a gross area of 201,000 square meters, it was the perfect venue for an eclectic range of exhibitors. Everything from consoles to virtual reality and everything in between was present on the show floor.
Aside from the stellar lineup of exhibitors, Gamescom 2017 ran in part thanks to the help of the BMVI (Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure), who specialized in the social media stage during the duration of Gamescom. Interestingly enough, Canada had the privilege of being the partner country of Gamescom 2017.
Gerald Böse, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH, organizer of Gamescom, had this to say:
“We are excited. Gamescom 2017 set new standards and a new visitor record. More than ever, it proved its exceptional, worldwide importance as a 360-degree experience event and a leading communications platform for current and future themes of the computer and video games industry. We are very satisfied and are pleased that we were able to offer trade and private visitors the fascination of digital entertainment here in Cologne in this extraordinary form.”
Gamescom is still a relatively young trades show, with the inaugural show being less than 10 years old, which was held on August 19, 2009. Since then, Gamescom has exploded in popularity and helped boost the European games sector into the forefront.
