Full steam ahead for Asia's gaming scene

Mathias Küpper, Managing Director of Koelnmesse Singapore, the organizer of gamescom asia, said,"With the successful debut of our physical entertainment zone, gamescom asia has created a holistic experience for business and public visitors, with game trials, previews and more. The strong turnout of exhibitors and visitors has sparked Asians' enthusiasm for premium gaming content and consumption. We can't wait to showcase what gamescom asia can bring to the world stage in 2024 and beyond."

Alvin Tan, Minister of State at the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, said,"gamescom asia 2023 is another milestone for the growth and development of the gaming and Esports industry. It is a celebration of the incredible talent, creativity and vibrancy of our gaming community. We are proud that Singapore can offer the community such a space to meet, interact and shape the future."

Trade Zone with expanded offerings and greater industry engagement

The Trade Zone saw a 30 percent increase in attendance with more than 4,200 visitors, solidifying its position as the largest and most significant B2B gathering for video game professionals in the region. The recurring speed networking program for developers, publishers and investors attracted twice as much interest as in previous years, when around 200 attendees were able to make valuable contacts with potential publishers and investors.

At the professional conference, held on October 19 and 20, attendees gained valuable insights from more than 80 global industry experts in three expanded themed sessions with more than 40 presentations and panel discussions on the latest game trends, the intricacies of the Asian game ecosystem, case studies on game design and development, business strategies, and marketing principles. The first Content Creators Summit, held on Oct. 20, also brought together game developers and executives from platforms, talent agencies and game publishers.

Other events included a pitch competition, held in partnership with Global Top Round (GTR), where more than 60 game studios applied and 10 finalists competed on-site in three prestigious categories that recognized excellence in the gaming world. The three winning teams include: Best Pitch by Kaigan Games Entertainment from Malaysia, Best Game Design by FairPlay Studios from Thailand, and Most Anticipated Game by Vermila Studios from Spain.

Highest excitement while playing in the Entertainment Zone

The gamescom asia Entertainment Zone was opened by PRIMETIME on the evening of October 19 and streamed online to a global audience on YouTube, Facebook and Twitch. The show featured exclusive first looks, game premieres and teasers from the ASEAN region and beyond. Hosted by Mike Ross in English, Dejet in Bahasa Indonesia, and Mint in Thai, PRIMETIME generated a lot of buzz leading up to the main event.

Held in the Entertainment Zone from October 20-22, the exhibition showcased a spectacular collection of gaming heavyweights alongside the best from Asia, including international and regional game publishers and indie studios, as well as local heroes gathered to deliver the ultimate on-site gaming experience. 4Divinity, Arc System Works, CAPCOM, Epicsoft Asia, Make Waves, Neopets, PlayStation, SEGA and Ubisoft were just a few of the many exhibitors showcasing their highlights in the first B2C Entertainment Zone.

Gamers were spoiled for choice, with over 100 games to try, community tournaments to participate in, and great prizes to take home. The excitement culminated in the CAPCOM Pro Tour 2023 Offline Premiere Singapore, a heart-pounding live event that saw Japanese fighting game sensation Gachikun take over the Street Fighter 6 arena as the audience roared in unison. New zones allowed attendees to enjoy the full spectrum of analog and electronic games: an Indie Zone by Indie Wavemakers featuring over 30 games from studios around the world, a Retro Games Zone by Retro City that provided nostalgia with classic titles and custom arcades, and a Board Games Zone by Origame that brought together new groups and offered an alternative tactile experience.

The Entertainment Zone's main stage featured a star-studded lineup of guest appearances, performances and entertainment. Highlights included an appearance by Ryozo Tsujimoto, producer of the Monster Hunter series, along with gaming influencers The Jooomers, Tashbunny, and HighGai; the Cosplay Fashion Show, where 35 finalists brought their favorite characters to life and struck their best poses on stage; an engaging voiceover panel featuring Molly Zhang, Craig Lee Thomas, Su Ling Chan, and Emily Sun, who lent their voices to the main characters in Honkai: Star Rail, and a live DJ performance featuring epic game soundtracks by Gerard Marino, the main composer of the original God of War series. Fans were able to meet and interact with cosplayers such as Charess and Kitz Cua, and the voice actors from Street Fighter 6 and Honkai: Star Rail.

In both the Trade and Entertainment Zones, the brand new Indie Wavemakers area, co-developed by Eliphant and sponsored by Xbox, served as a bridge between independent developers and publishers to solicit feedback on their latest games. The Entertainment Zone also hosted the Indie Wavemakers Awards, which recognized the achievements and creativity of established indie studios such as BattleBrew Productions and SSun Games. Attendees were also able to take home exciting prizes by voting for their favorite games.

The next edition of gamescom asia will be held in Singapore from October 17-20, 2024 at the Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre. More information about the event is available on the official gamescom.asia website.