New German games expo Gamescom welcomed 240,000 visitors through its doors last week, with its success leading to organisers Koelnmesse to hail it as the world’s largest games trade event.

In total 458 companies exhibited at the show, representing 31 different countries. This, according to Koelnmesse, makes Gamescom the world’s largest games trade fair, bettering its largest rival by 44 per cent.

17,000 trade visitors were also in attendance, along with 4,000 media visitors from 48 countries. Of its trade exhibitors, 90 per cent have already vowed to return next year.

And speaking of next year, a second event for next year has already been dated – it will take place between 18-22nd 2010 and will once again be held at Cologne’s Koelnmesse.

“The Gamescom premiere ran splendidly,” Koelnmesse MD Oliver Kuhrt stated. “We are very happy with the enthusiastic response of both exhibitors and visitors. This has established Gamescom as a leading trade fair straight away.”

Koelnmesse’s CEO Gerald Böse added: “Gamescom has set the trend worldwide and impressively underscored the power of Cologne as a media and communications location in the interplay between the trade fair, the city and the participating industries.

“This success is an important impetus for the future of Cologne media and entertainment fairs. It motivates us to expand even further on our trade fair offering for the digital creative economy.”