Gamescom has stepped into a bigger role since the end of E3, yet one of its top executives, Felix Falk insists the two shows were never rivals.

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— E3 (@E3) December 12, 2023

From Partnership to Sole Spotlight

In an interview, Felix Falk, managing director of Game—the German trade body behind Gamescom—explained how the events complemented each other rather than clashed.

“We were in a great partnership with E3 through the years, and it was never a competition,” Falk said. “It was more… announce your game at E3 and play it at Gamescom.”

E3 held its last physical event in 2019, followed by a digital edition in 2021. Finally, in December 2023, organiser ESA confirmed that E3 would not return. As a result, Gamescom became the largest global showcase for the industry.

Taking on New Responsibilities

According to Falk, E3’s closure gave Gamescom both opportunities and challenges.

“On the one hand, it was good because people now expect us to be the major, global week for games with the highest visibility for everyone,” he explained. “So that’s our responsibility to present a stage for the industry to fulfil this.

“On the other hand, this need also created a disadvantage because Gamescom is not so strong in the calendar. Therefore, we often had to work harder with HQ teams to make it fit their global schedules.”

Winning Back Publishers

Falk admitted that in the first few years, publishers hesitated as they rethought their announcement strategies. However, momentum gradually shifted back in Gamescom’s favor.

“In the past years, it was a struggle to get people on board,” Falk said. “But if you see the line-up now, and who is part of Gamescom, almost everyone is there. Consequently, we succeeded in getting nearly everyone back.”

Biggest Gamescom Yet

Earlier this week, organisers revealed that Gamescom 2025 will be the biggest in its history. The event will take place in Cologne, Germany from August 20–24. Moreover, it will feature more than 1,500 exhibitors and fill 233,000 square metres of floor space, marking a new record for the show.