Gamescom Asia sets a new attendance benchmark, attracting more than 40,000 attendees
Last week, Gamescom Asia drew a record crowd of 41,013 attendees in Singapore, marking a 20% surge in visitors over previous years, according to Koelnmesse, the event's organizer. The exhibition boasted participation from 177 exhibitors, up from 136 the previous year.
There was a marked uptick in global involvement, with countries like Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, and the US well-represented. The initial two days focused on a business-to-business conference featuring more than 80 speakers, highlighted by former Sony executive Shawn Layden. Layden addressed concerns about the disappearance of mid-sized game studios and the growing dependence on major releases.
In addition, an indie showcase featured over 60 games, attracting significant attention on the show floor.
The event organizers have confirmed that Gamescom Asia is slated to return to Singapore from October 30 to November 2 next year.
Daria La Valle, Project Director, expressed enthusiasm about the rapid development of the gaming ecosystem in Asia, emphasizing the event's role in promoting innovation and collaboration. She noted, "The level of engagement between developers, publishers, and fans this year has been remarkable. Indie developers have shown outstanding creativity and innovation, alongside renowned companies like Capcom and PlayStation. This positions Southeast Asia as a pivotal player in gaming’s future. We aim to further enhance these connections moving forward."
Before the event, La Valle shared insights into the event's aim to highlight Southeast Asian developers. More coverage, including discussions with the Singapore Games Association and Xbox's regional activities, will be available on GamesIndustry.biz soon.