Gamescom, one of the biggest video game trade shows in the world, will be expanding to a new region. GameStart has announced that Gamescom Asia will be taking place in Singapore in 2020.
Since it launched back in 2009, Gamescom has grown to become one of the biggest and most important video game trade shows in the world. The event has become the European equivalent of E3 in United States, and the Tokyo Game Show in Japan.
Based on exhibition space and number of visitors, Gamescom actually dwarfs the other two. Gamescom 2018 had 370,000 visitors and 1,037 exhibitors from 56 countries, which made it the biggest gaming event in the world that year. This growth now continues with a second edition of the show taking place in Asia next year.
Gamescom Asia comes through a partnership with event organizer GameStart. The company hosts its own annual video game trade show, appropriately called GameStart, in Singapore in October. Since its first event in 2014, GameStart has continued to grow thanks in part to its positive reception by gamers in the region. “We were overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response from the gaming community,” the team stated. “And each year we welcome visitors not just from Singapore, but also the region, for two days of gaming and fun.”
The initial goal for GameStart was to create an event for Southeast Asian similar to shows like PAX, TGS, and of course, Gamescom. With the announcement of Gamescom Asia, it would seem that they’ve achieved this goal, by actually bringing Gamescom to Asia.
That isn’t to say that GameStart Asia as an event is ending. As part of the announcement, GameStart states that the team “will be looking for a new home for GameStart in the Asia region, and have plans to get back to our roots with more community-focused events planned in the region.”
Gamestart has yet to announce a date for Gamescom Asia. Meanwhile, Gamescom 2019 will take place on August 20 to 24, while GameStart takes place on from October 12 to 13.
