Beyond the Booth: Key Takeaways from Gamescom 2024
2024 marks BGA’s third consecutive year of participation at Gamescom Europe. Over 335,000 visitors from around 120 countries headed to Cologne for an action-packed gaming event that brings together Businesses and consumers under one roof. This global event, which sees Giants such as Ubisoft, Square Enix, Xsolla, Bandai Namco and many other, underscores its global significance in the gaming industry. For those involved in Web3 gaming, the event served as a reflection of how much the industry has evolved since our first year attending the event in 2022.
“Our third participation at Gamescom highlighted several key trends. Firstly, there is a noticeable increase in blockchain infrastructure companies eager to establish connections with the traditional gaming industry with more and more satellite events around the main venue. Additionally, we observed a growing number of high-quality blockchain games entering the market, showing their games directly to the thousands of gamers and strategically concealing the blockchain layer to appeal directly to them. Interestingly, while NFTs have faded from the conversation, blockchain and Web3 still face skepticism from certain segments of the industry.”
Flavien Defraire, Director of Global Development | BGA
Key Takeaways
- Increased Mainstream Interest: There was a noticeable increase in interest from traditional gaming companies in Web3 technologies. The gap between Web2 and Web3 gaming is closing, with great games being at the forefront of emerging projects.
- Focus on Quality: The focus for Web3 developers has shifted to creating high-quality games that can stand on their own, regardless of the underlying technology. The games presented this year were more polished, with better graphics, smoother gameplay, and more engaging stories.
- Stronger Community and Partnerships: The Web3 gaming community has evolved and matured. Partnerships and collaborations, facilitated by networks like BGA, have become a cornerstone of success for many projects.
- Skepticism to Curiosity: While skepticism around blockchain in gaming still exists, and, it has significantly reduced with the acceptance of new technologies to build games, that and the AI narrative are helping to drive the industry forward. Many companies that previously appeared critical are now curious and exploring the possibilities of blockchain for gaming.
Matheus Vivian, CEO of Hermit Crab, also shared his views on the innovations at Gamescom in his LinkedIn Post:
At the booth
The BGA booth was a hive of activity, hosting 21 games and related infrastructure, tools and products, attracting a diverse group of visitors, from blockchain-based companies to traditional game developers and those working across the two ecosystems, serving to bridge the gap and unite the gaming industry as one.
Locked and loaded! 🎮 https://t.co/bDlgAhAw0z
— Blockchain Game Alliance (@BGameAlliance) August 28, 2024
Jonathan Lopez, CBO of MixMarvel emphasized the value of being part of the BGA network: “Being a BGA member has allowed us to have direct access to the main Web3 Gaming players, which has resulted in a strong and supportive network; tangible partnerships and collaborations; and key global insights to further advance our business goals.”
The Gamescom experience was a great success, thanks to the BGA! Having a stand at the pinnacle of gaming was a real opportunity! It allowed us to meet all the stakeholders in the blockchain gaming scene, and create new opportunities for our advances. The BGA team and its ecosystem are real catalysts for Shockwaves. – David Lankri, COO | Shockwaves
Cologne was a great success for the team at YOM, mainly due to the BGA team and stand. If we had gone directly, we wouldn’t have had the exposure, intros, or connections we got through being part of a bigger group both at the event…. BUT also at side events and via intros to other BGA and non-BGA members. – Andy Pringle, CEO | YOM
Thanks to the BGA team for an awesome experience at their booth. The setup was top-notch, and we had a constant stream of visitors who were genuinely interested in what we’re building. It was great to connect with so many Web3 & gaming innovators – it really energized us and opened up some exciting opportunities for collaboration. The event was a strong reminder of how powerful this community is.
– Dawid ‘Skibee’ Skibiński, Partnerships | Elympics
DAY #3 @Gamescom x Engines of Fury 🔥
— Engines of Fury 🎮 (@EnginesOfFury) August 23, 2024
Psyched to showcase our Alpha to hardcore gaming enthusiasts & industry pros!
Join the raid & game with us all afternoon 🔫
📍@BGameAlliance Hall 2.2, D051 #Gamescom pic.twitter.com/0zhcojlHpr
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for the opportunity to display Lussa at the BGA booth at Gamescom. The exposure we gained, especially through interactions with traditional gaming fans and the web3 community, was truly remarkable. The collaborative spirit among the projects present created a unique atmosphere of mutual support and innovation. Your efforts in organizing such a successful event are deeply appreciated. – The Lussa Team
On the consumer floor this year, there was a stronger presence of web3 games, such as Pixelmon, Illuvium, and BGA member BadMad Robots, who captivated gamers with their immersive gameplay.
Side Event Highlights
Beyond the main event, BGA co-hosted a mixer alongside Elixir and ecosystem partners which drew around 150 attendees. This event enabled a space for deeper discussions, networking, and the exchange of ideas. It was a chance for industry professionals from both web2 and web3 to connect, share insights, and explore future collaborations.
Mister Seb from Aavegotchi DAO highlighted the importance of the event for networking within the Web3 space: “Gamescom was an opportunity to meet our existing partners, future partners, and gamers. It was very interesting to talk to other blockchain projects as well as people involved in the world of traditional video games. Thanks to BGA, who made this experience possible and enabled members to meet each other at their booth and side events.”
Juan Rivera Pérez, BD at ThirdWeb shared his feedback of the event, observed: “Traditional Game Developers Eyeing Web3. After years of thinking web3 is a scam, the sentiment I felt this time around was much more “we can change this” rather than “this can’t change”. Everyone now is seeing what can be possible done in web3 through tooling like thirdweb and they are excited to create new experience, learning from the past.”
Summary
Gamescom 2024 has been another milestone for the Web3 gaming community, showcasing how far the industry has come since 2022. The event highlighted the growing acceptance of blockchain in gaming, the maturation of Web3 games, and the importance of community and collaboration in driving the industry forward. As Web3 continues to evolve, it is clear that it will play a significant role in the future of gaming.
You can still read the Gamescom Mag, packed with innovative tech and new game mechanics and releases:
