Gamescom says event will definitely take place ‘at least in a digital format’

Gamescoms 2020 will be a digital-only event if the physical element of this year’s show is cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Organisers Koelnmesse and the German Games Industry Association (Game) said on Tuesday that Gamescom will not be postponed – it “will definitely take place at least in a digital format” from August 25-29.

In mid-May, Gamescom organisers and local authorities will evaluate whether it will be possible to hold an on-site event in Cologne as planned.

Either way, existing digital formats such as Gamescom: Opening Night Live – which attracted an audience of over 500,000 simultaneous viewers in 2019 – “will be significantly expanded and new modules added”.

“When we reassess the situation in mid-May for all Gamescom formats at the Cologne fair grounds, the health of our visitors will be our top priority,” said Koelnmesse managing director Oliver Frese.

“Gamescom and Koelnmesse already rank among the digital pioneers in the international trade fair landscape,” he added. “We therefore also see the current corona crisis as a chance to implement digital event formats even more. Gamescom 2020 offers the perfect platform for this.”

Koelnmesse announced the initial Gamescom 2020 exhibitor list in early March. It features platform holders Xbox and Nintendo, but Sony Interactive Entertainment is yet to be confirmed for the show.

Gamescom 2019 attracted a record 373,000 visitors, while the number of exhibiting companies totalled 1,150, according to Koelnmesse.

The coronavirus has led to the cancellation of multiple annual games industry events including GDC in March and E3 in June.