Gamescom 2024: The Newzoo recap
Good game, #Gamescom 2024, good game. This year’s expo broke many of its own records, welcoming 335,000 attendees and 1,500 exhibitors from all over the world. Optimism and excitement prevailed throughout the event, with “video games are back!” becoming an oft-spoken refrain.
For Newzoo, it was an uplifting, albeit exhausting, week of catching up with the leading players in PC and console gaming, including many opportunities to debut our recently released 2024 Global Games Market Report and new audience segmenting tool, the Motivational Gamer Personas.
Now that the dust has settled, the Newzoo crew has compiled its thoughts on Gamescom and what the event tells us about gaming’s present and near future.
What was the overall vibe at Gamescom 2024?
Excitement and optimism! Not even six months ago at GDC, layoffs and the lack of funding dominated conversations. This year’s Gamescom started with one of the biggest opening nights ever, and the conversations revolved around how to launch cross-platform titles and maximize performance. It was encouraging to see so many game developers and publishers attend, and the whole event felt like the energy boost the industry needed.
The overall vibe seemed like a trepidatious return to optimism for the future. The hope is that we’re past the worst of the layoffs and closer to 2025, which promises to be a good year for the industry.
Devan Brennan , Senior Consultant
The overall vibe was surprisingly positive, with all clients I spoke to looking towards the future instead of dwelling on decisions of the past. I noticed measured positivism mixed with the realism the current year has delivered, often echoing Newzoo’s industry insights: moderate growth is expected, it’s very difficult to break into the top of the market, and there are opportunities for more niche plays.
Joris Goossens , Commercial Director
What were the big Gamescom 2024 highlights?
The big highlight for me was getting a 30-minute hands-on experience with Crimson Desert, the new single-player action-adventure game from Pearl Abyss. The game plays like an interesting combination of The Witcher 3, Dragon’s Dogma, and their own title, Black Desert. It’s interesting to see a company so well-known for their MMO move into the single-player space.
Devan Brennan, Senior Consultant
It was lovely to meet so many of our clients in person. There’s something special about being in the same room and the energy it brings. Also, the LEGO booth! The massive LEGO Bowser with light-up eyes and the million LEGO figurines on display made my inner child happy. My wallet would have taken a massive hit if anything was for sale.
Mary Brune , Head of Consumer Insights
The game InZOI stood out for me, mainly because of its giant cute cat display. It’ll be interesting to see how this new life simulation game will compete in the market and its potential to become a significant competitor to The Sims. My personal event highlight was the Women in Games brunch hosted by TikTok. It had a great panel, and it was great to connect with other women in the industry.
Minh Tue Le Ngoc , Senior Consultant
Were there any announcements that surprised you?
There were a few announcements that would have been unthinkable a few years ago. For instance, there was the new Indiana Jones game on PS5 or Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Xbox Game Pass. These were remarkable announcements that we will track carefully, as it’ll be interesting to see what the impact will be on player behavior.
Michelle Van der Wilk-Rouhof, CEO
Dying Light: The Beast, a new condensed standalone title in the Dying Light franchise, was an interesting announcement. What started as a DLC for Dying Light 2 has grown into a separate title entity and aligns with the trend we discussed in this year’s Global Games Market Report on more condensed standalone games hitting the market from large developers.
Devan Brennan, Senior Consultant
What industry challenges and opportunities did Gamescom highlight?
Walking through the corridors, I saw a lot of white, middle-aged people (that includes me as well). As an industry, we are making great strides when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion, but we are not there yet. Far from it.
Michelle Van der Wilk-Rouhof, CEO
Gamescom highlighted how generative AI is on everyone’s mind for better or worse, and it still feels like there is no clear idea of how this technology will impact the development process. ?Also, Jason Della Rocca gave a great presentation on the importance of indie developers thinking of their self-publishing pathway with a focus on the necessity of getting “evidence” to validate consumer interest in their projects. Evidence can be anything from Discord community numbers to Steam wishlists.
Devan Brennan, Senior Consultant
Do you have any tips for next year’s Gamescom?
Avoid insanity. Plan a few appointments in quieter and more productive spaces away from the event floor. And wear sneakers! Walking fifty thousand steps in three days requires comfy shoes.
Michelle Van der Wilk-Rouhof, CEO
While meeting with so many current and potential clients was a blast, my tip would be to make sure business folks make some time for fun. What are games for, after all? Even scheduling an extra hour or two of time to walk through the consumer section or make time to visit speakers during Devcom would’ve added value personally and professionally.
Mary Brune, Head of Consumer Insights
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