What is Gamescom?

David on 08.08.2011 at 21:24

Gamescom is the ‘E3′ for Europe; a massive trade fair for the digital entertainment industry, held annually in the middle of August at the ‘Koelnmesse’ (Cologne Trade Fair center) in Cologne, Germany. Beginning in 2009, it is the world’s largest games event with hundreds of video game developers and publishers showcasing their upcoming games and hardware to over 250,000 visitors each year. A vibrant, hi-octane affair, exhibitors from more than 30 countries compete to create the most impressive stalls possible; typically we at EA will be outstripping the competition with many surprises in store!

The action-packed EA booth from Gamescom 2010.

This year, Gamescom takes place between 17th – 21st August, with entry for the general public beginning Thursday 18th.

What can I expect to see?

Past year’s events have played host to many important announcements within the industry, including Microsoft’s release dates for Kinect, and Sony revealing new SKU’s and pricepoints for the PlayStation 3 Slim.

Expect this year to be no different, with keynote speeches taking place on Tuesday 16th. EA will be Live Streaming its press conference, right here on ea.com. Get ready to hear major announcements about Battlefield 3, Mass Effect 3 and Reckoning, as well as several other exciting developments!

From Thursday 18th, Gamescom throws open its doors to the general public, with full free-play access to the best new games on offer, along with competitions, interviews with key industry figures and all the best freebies and collectables an avid gamer can carry.

Check out our Flickr gallery to see all the action from previous years!

Tags: Gamescom