Next-generation consoles to star at biggest Gamescom to date

This year’s Gamescom in Cologne will be the biggest event in the show’s five-year history, thanks in no small part to Xbox One and PS4.

Microsoft and Sony will be in attendance to show off their next-generation consoles, with both hosting a major press conference. Nintendo will also be exhibitors, meaning all three platform holders will be present in Cologne this august.

The trio lead a line-up of more than 600 games companies from more than 40 companies, including PC hardware specialist Nvidia for the the first time. Other exhibitors include Activision, Bethesda, Deep Silver/Koch Media, EA, Konami, NCsoft, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros.

Many of these firms will be increasing their exhibition space this year – in fact, the organisers of Gamescom have had to reorganise the way each of the halls at Koelnmesse are laid out.

"2013 will be one of the strongest years for Gamescom, both from the consumers’ point of view," said Dr Maximiilan Schenk, MD of German trade body BIU.

"It will be marked by a strong next generation of consoles and a very confident industry."

Stands will also be increasing in size over in the business areas of Hall 4 and 5. UKIE’s British pavilion will be much larger than last year’s with significantly more companies based there than in 2012.

This year’s partner country is France, with another 14 international pavilions planned for the business area.

Over 45,000 tickets have been sold so far – more than three times the number sold by this point in 2012 – but Koelnmesse expects more than 275,000 visitors to attend this year’s show, including around 24,500 members of the trade.

Gamescom 2013 takes place in Cologne’s Koelnmesse between Wednesday, August 21st and Sunday, August 25th. The Wednesday will be a trade-only day, while Sunday will once again be Family Day for visiting consumers.