Germany’s ban on all major events until 31 August, 2020 means that Gamescom 2020, which should have taken place in Cologne from 25-29 August, has been forced to go online only.
This means there will be no Business or Entertainment area live at Cologne’s tradefair grounds.
Organiser Kölnmesse will host the gaming event digitally, however.
Besides the established formats such as Gamescom: Opening Night Live and Gamescom now, organisers are working hard to expand those and add new modules.
The devcom developer conference will also be held exclusively in digital form.
Specific details about the digital format of Gamescom 2020 are promised in mid-May. Organisers have said that visitors will receive a refund for tickets already bought and exhibitors will be reimbursed in full for payments made to Kölnmesse.
Oliver Frese, Managing Director of Kölnmesse, said: "As the organiser, this decision is as painful for us as for the half million Gamescom fans who come to Cologne every year to celebrate games together. However, we are looking forward to the digital Gamescom 2020 - just like we are looking forward to our trade fairs, which we will be able to hold again in ‘analogue’ form on our exhibition grounds from September onwards".
Felix Falk, Managing Director of Game - the association of the German games industry, added: "Even though we unfortunately will not be able to come together with the games community and industry on site in Cologne this year, we'll still celebrate the latest games with each other digitally at the end of August. That is why we are working at full speed together with our partners on the further development of Gamescom: Opening Night Live and Gamescom now, and will be presenting new and exciting digital formats. Our goal is clear: this year, Gamescom will once again be 'The Heart of Gaming' for millions of fans throughout the world."
Gamescom claims to be the world’s largest event for computer and video games and Europe’s largest business platform for the games industry.
Photo Koelnmesse / gamescom /
