Sadly, for the second year in a row, the German Games Industry Association has decided to make Gamescom a digital-only event. This comes after they announced earlier this year that Gamescom 2021 would exist in a hybrid format – taking place in-person in Cologne as well as online. However, the continuing coronavirus pandemic, unfortunately, led to the decision to make the event fully digital again.
This announcement has come after others in the industry have either canceled or moved their events online to be fully digital such as PAX East, E3, and others. The German Games Industry Association and Koelnmesse specifically mentioned in their statement that the main reason for moving it to a digital format is to create planning reliability for their partners and exhibitors.
We have put all our energy into making gamescom 2021 in a hybrid format possible for fans and industry alike. However, even though the hybrid concept was very well received by the partners, we had to recognize that gamescom still comes too early for many companies in the industry due to the required planning reliability. One thing is absolutely clear: All those involved now need planning reliability. That’s why we’re going for a purely digital gamescom again this year and, with sufficient lead time, will be able to offer the gaming community an even stronger online event at the end of August 2021.
With Gamescom 2021 being digital, it is expected to follow a similar format as the online event that took place last year. We can expect the event to be opened by Geoff Keighley on August 25 and run until August 27. More information can be found about Gamescom 2021 on their website.