Gamescom 2024: The highlights and disappointments of the trade fair

Retro Area casts a spell over visitors

The Retro Area in Hall 10.2 was a crowd-puller, where fans could experience classic games and talk to music legend Chris Hülsbeck about his current projects.

Molyneux's comeback fails

Peter Molyneux, once a star of the games industry, returned to the stage with his new game "Masters of Albion". But the game disappointed, and Molyneux's dramatic interviews cast doubt on his return.

Take-Two sets standards

US publisher Take-Two caused a stir with the announcements of "Borderlands 4", "Mafia: The Old Country" and the gameplay premiere of "Civilization VII". This strong presence set new standards for major announcements at the trade fair.

Indie Arena struggles with lack of space

The Indie Arena, an important meeting place for developers and visitors, suffered from a lack of space. The crowds detracted from the experience of many visitors, which should be better planned for future trade fairs.

VR celebrates a comeback with "Batman: Arkham Shadow"

"Batman: Arkham Shadow" impressed VR fans with a trailer that showed off the possibilities of Quest 3. The game could successfully bring the Batman franchise to virtual reality.

Big absences: Sony and Nintendo

The absence of Sony and Nintendo was a noticeable loss for the show. Nintendo's absence was particularly surprising, and it is to be hoped that they will return next year - perhaps with a new console.

Video games as a multimedia experience

One exciting trend was the announcement of the Prime series "Secret Level", which shows how video games are increasingly being adapted as films and series. This development could appeal to a wider audience and offer fans new perspectives.

Embargoes diminish the event character

Many visitors and journalists were annoyed by the numerous embargoes that made it difficult to report on the latest titles. This diminished the live character of Gamescom, which could be improved in the future.

Conclusion

Gamescom 2024 was an exciting event with many highlights, but also some disappointments. While some areas such as the Retro Area and Take-Two impressed, others caused setbacks that should be addressed in the future. Nevertheless, the trade fair remains an important date in the gaming community's calendar.