The Devcom Developer Conference 2024 has reached its largest attendance to date, experiencing a 45% increase compared to last year's turnout

The 2024 Devcom Developer Conference has set a new record, attracting more than 5,000 attendees—a 45% increase over the previous year.

According to the event's organizers, relocating to the new Koelnmesse Confex conference center was pivotal in accommodating an expanded roster of speakers, partners, and attendees. The event saw 1,300 Gamescom traders register to attend.

This year's conference featured over 350 speakers—100 more than were present in 2023—delivering presentations across more than 210 sessions on 17 stages, including the keynote stage.

With an expanded capacity, the conference welcomed representatives from 1,660 companies from 83 nations, encompassing small independent firms and major industry players.

The addition of side events like Xsolla Game Night, European Game Night, and Courage Cologne attracted thousands more participants, as noted by the organizers.

Stephan Reichart, Managing Director of game events GmbH, remarked, "This year's devcom Developer Conference exceeded all our expectations and shattered previous records."

The switch to Koelnmesse's new Confex allowed expansion in offerings and provided a more ample setting for all involved, commented Reichart. "Comparing to last year, a 45% rise in visitor numbers highlights devcom's growing significance within the global gaming industry. Our B2B agenda was well-received, allowing publishers and developers extra time to deliberate on upcoming projects at Devcom and Gamescom."

Results from a speaker survey, shared earlier in the week by the Devcom team, indicated that nearly 90% of respondents are of the opinion that AAA games can thrive without add-on purchases.

This view emerges amid ongoing scrutiny of add-on purchases in the AAA gaming sector, which includes items like loot boxes, battle or season passes, and progress enhancements such as XP multipliers and crafting resources.