Gamescom 2025, held in Cologne from August 20–24, shattered expectations and records alike, cementing its status as the world’s largest gaming convention. With over 350,000 attendees from 130 countries and more than 1,200 exhibitors, this year’s event was not only a celebration of gaming culture but also a reflection of global socio-political currents.
Breaking Records and Setting New Standards
This year’s Gamescom broke two major records: the highest number of visitors and the largest international participation in its history. The exhibition halls buzzed with energy, with queues stretching for hours and hotels across Cologne and neighbouring cities booked to capacity. The scale of the event underscored the growing cultural and economic significance of gaming worldwide.
Major Game Reveals and Industry Highlights
IGN and Top Gear spotlighted the most jaw-dropping announcements:
- Cyberpunk 2077: Revenant – CD Projekt Red unveiled a gritty expansion set in post-collapse Night City, featuring new factions and a revamped combat system.
- Elder Scrolls VI – Bethesda finally dropped a cinematic teaser, confirming the game’s setting in Hammerfell and hinting at a dynamic weather system.
- Forza Horizon: Tokyo Drift – A surprise reveal from Playground Games, showcasing neon-lit streets, drifting mechanics and real-time traffic AI.
- Starfield: Deep Void – A standalone sequel with horror elements set in abandoned space stations.
- Hollow Home – A Ukrainian-developed survival game about a boy escaping a besieged city, inspired by the siege of Mariupol.
- Militsioner – A surreal stealth game set in a fictional Russian town under surveillance by a giant policeman, developed by Russian émigrés.
Political Undercurrents and Regional Representation
Gamescom 2025 was notably absent of official Russian and Belarusian participation. Organizers excluded these countries from the visa invitation system, citing German government regulations. However, developers from these regions who had relocated abroad were present, often working under international studios.
Ukraine, Moldova, and Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan were prominently featured. Ukrainian developers had a dedicated section with 16 companies, showcasing titles like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, which drew massive attention. The game, developed by GSC Game World, omitted Russian voiceovers entirely, offering only Ukrainian and English audio.
Studios like ArtDock from Moldova presented games created by multicultural teams, including developers from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine who had fled repression and war. Their projects ranged from pixel RPGs to open-world adventures, reflecting diverse artistic visions born from shared trauma.
Indie Gems and Social Commentary
Gamescom 2025 wasn’t just about blockbusters. Indie titles tackled heavy themes:
- Indika – A psychological adventure about a Russian nun hearing voices, developed by Odd Meter, a studio that relocated to Kazakhstan.
- Bylina – A folklore-inspired RPG by Far Far Games, blending Slavic mythology with modern storytelling. Though published by Fulqrum Publishing, its roots trace back to Russian developers now living in exile.
These games offered poignant narratives on repression, identity and resistance, resonating with audiences far beyond Eastern Europe.
HoYoverse Steals the Spotlight
Chinese developer HoYoverse returned to Gamescom with a massive 600m² booth in Hall 6, offering immersive experiences across its three flagship titles: Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero.
- Genshin Impact featured a «Song of the Welkin Moon» themed booth, debuting the new region Nod-Krai. Visitors explored recreated story scenes, met new factions and enjoyed stage shows, cosplay performances and exclusive merchandise.
- Honkai: Star Rail showcased its Version 3.4 update with an Amphoreus-themed booth. A sculpture of the character Mem and appearances by Pom-Pom and cosplayers added flair. Attendees could design their own chimera, take part in quizzes, and shop for themed goods.
- Zenless Zone Zero, celebrating its first anniversary, offered a playable demo of Version 2.1. The «Mystery Tales Investigation» event invited fans to become detectives, collect badges and win prizes. Cosplayers and a pop-up merch hub rounded out the experience.
Genshin Impact also competed in the «Best Mobile Game» category, facing off against titles like Arknights and Rusty Lake.
Gamescom 2025 Awards: The Winners
The Gamescom Awards honored 19 categories, blending jury and community votes. Here are the standout winners:
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Visuals | Resident Evil Requiem – Capcom |
| Best Audio | Resident Evil Requiem – Capcom |
| Most Epic | Resident Evil Requiem – Capcom |
| Best Sony PlayStation Game | Resident Evil Requiem – Capcom |
| Best Gameplay | Donkey Kong Bananza – Nintendo |
| Most Entertaining | Hela – Windup/Knights Peak |
| Most Wholesome | Hela – Windup/Knights Peak |
| Games for Impact | Tiny Bookshop – neoludic games |
| Best Mobile Game | Love and Deepspace – Papergames |
| Best Microsoft Xbox Game | Grounded 2 – Obsidian/Xbox Game Studios |
| Best Nintendo Switch 2 Game | Donkey Kong Bananza – Nintendo |
| Best PC Game | Crimson Desert – Pearl Abyss |
| Best Trailer/Announcement | Cyberpunk 2077: Revenant – CD Projekt Red |
| Best Booth (Jury) | Ubisoft – Anno 117: Pax Romana |
| Best Booth (Fan Vote) | HoYoverse – Genshin Impact |
| Best Merch | Zenless Zone Zero – HoYoverse |
| Best Lineup | Capcom |
| HEART OF GAMING Award | Hollow Home – Twigames/Galaktus |
Capcom emerged as the biggest winner, sweeping four major categories with Resident Evil Requiem and earning the Best Lineup award for its overall portfolio.
Tech Trends and Future Visions
The convention also showcased cutting-edge tech:
- AI-driven NPCs and procedural storytelling were hot topics, with studios demonstrating how machine learning can create dynamic, player-driven narratives.
- Cloud gaming platforms expanded, with NVIDIA and Xbox unveiling new latency-reduction protocols.
- VR and AR took center stage, with Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Nexus offering a fully immersive stealth experience.
Games as Cultural Dialogue
Gamescom 2025 proved that video games are no longer just entertainment — they’re a medium for cultural dialogue, political expression, and emotional storytelling. From the haunting realism of Hollow Home to the satirical dystopia of Militsioner, developers used the platform to challenge norms and provoke thought.
As the gaming world continues to evolve, Gamescom remains its beating heart, a place where pixels meet politics, and play becomes protest.
