gamescom asia 2024 Wraps with Record Attendance and Major Milestones for Southeast Asian Games Industry

The 4th edition of gamescom asia records more than 40,000 visitors in attendance, increasing by 20% from last year’s event
Ex-PlayStation Worldwide Studios Chairman Shawn Layden delivers strong insights around driving creativity for the industry’s longevity
3 Southeast Asian indie developers win Pitch Competition, securing funding and development opportunities
gamescom asia will return to Singapore from 30 October to 2 November, 2025

The 4th edition of gamescom asia, held from 17 – 20 October at Suntec Convention Center in Singapore, ended with record numbers. The event drew over 20% more attendees than last year, to the beat of 41,013 attendees—including both business and public visitors. It also featured 177 exhibitors and country pavilions, in comparison to 136 exhibitors and country pavilions the previous year.

This year’s edition firmly established gamescom asia as the region’s premier gaming business and consumer event, connecting the global video games industry with Southeast Asia’s burgeoning market.

Southeast Asia’s Growing Presence in the Global Gaming Industry
Within the business area of gamescom asia, various impactful industry figures participated to share their perspectives on game development, business strategies and ideation behind hit games. They include: Ex-PlayStation Worldwide Studios Chairman Shawn Layden, Gordon Van Dyke (Raw Fury), Justin Scarpone (SEGA), Jaeho Hwang (MINTROCKET) and more.

The entertainment area saw fans lining up to play Monster Hunter Wilds and Sonic X Shadow Generations before their release, witnessing some of the best Street Fighter 6 players duke it out for glory at the CAPCOM Pro Tour, and try their hands at the hottest indie games.

Daria La Valle, Project Director at Koelnmesse Singapore, emphasised the significance of gamescom asia in highlighting Southeast Asia’s role in the gaming landscape: ”We are thrilled to see how quickly the gaming ecosystem in Asia is evolving, and we are proud to provide a platform that fosters innovation, creativity, and collaboration. As this year has proven, gamescom asia has established itself as an important meeting point for the Asian gaming industry with other regions.”

”What excites us most is the deep engagement between developers, publishers, and fans. The level of creativity and innovation showcased by indie developers, alongside the presence of industry giants like CAPCOM and PlayStation, demonstrates that Southeast Asia is a driving force in the future of gaming. We look forward to further strengthening these connections in 2025 and beyond,” added La Valle.

business area Amplifies Industry Engagement and Innovation

This year’s business area witnessed unprecedented growth, with a significant increase in international participation from countries such as Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Thailand and the US. Over 4,400 business visitors engaged in networking and knowledge-sharing activities, making it the largest gathering for video game professionals in the Southeast Asia region.

Guest-of-Honour Singapore’s Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry Alvin Tan graced the event, speaking of the growing presence of the gaming and esports industries in Singapore. In his address, Minister Tan emphasised Southeast Asia’s role as the world’s fastest-growing esports market, while thanking local and global partners for choosing Singapore as the platform to showcase creativity and innovation to the world.

Another highlight of the business area was the fireside chat by long-time gaming heavyweight Shawn Layden. Layden shared insightful perspectives on the future of gaming, emphasising the growth of innovation and cross-platform integration, while building deeper connections with gaming communities. His address resonated with industry leaders seeking to navigate the rapidly evolving gaming landscape.

“If we can just get a bit more interest and excitement and exposure for these lower budget, but super creative and super unusual kind of games, I would like to see more of that. Because if we’re just going to rely on the blockbusters to get us through, I think that’s a death sentence for the [gaming] business,” said Layden.

The business conference featured over 80 industry experts across three stages, covering topics from game design and development to business strategies and marketing principles. Notable speakers included Agnes Kim of Xbox who shared an exclusive preview of upcoming Xbox releases from Southeast Asia and Matthieu Youna of MyDearest who dove into the intricacies of transforming indie hit The Exit 8 into a VR bestseller.

Additionally, networking initiative for developers, investors and publishers, The Invest Circle, doubled in participation from the previous year, with over 200 professionals engaging in meaningful dialogues that could shape the next big developments in gaming. This surge reflects the region’s growing appeal to global investors and publishers seeking to tap into Southeast Asia’s vibrant gaming market.

entertainment area Delights Fans with Exclusive Showcases and Live Experiences

Over the weekend, the entertainment area drew tens of thousands of passionate gaming enthusiasts. CAPCOM’s return was a major draw, featuring a sprawling 1,000 sqm booth where fans experienced exclusive hands-on demos of upcoming games. The CAPCOM Pro Tour 2024 SUPER PREMIER SINGAPORE captivated audiences with high-stakes Street Fighter 6 matches, with Shuto of Crazy Raccoon beating out 15 other competitors to win, walking away with US$10,000 in prize money and a coveted spot in the global CAPCOM Cup 11. Fans also got an exclusive first look at Monster Hunter Wilds over a special ”Let’s Play” stage segment with Ryozo Tsujimoto, Producer of Monster Hunter Wilds, where he teased new features that left the crowd eager for the game’s upcoming release.

Visitors enjoyed testing new and unreleased games from major publishers and indie studios alike. The expanded indie area, in partnership with Indie Wavemakers, featured over 60 innovative titles from independent developers worldwide. While it provided indie developers invaluable exposure to larger crowds, gamers walked away with fresh experiences of unique types of games.

Andrew Wincott, the voice of Raphael from the critically acclaimed Baldur’s Gate 3, took the stage for an intimate discussion with Larian Studios’ Wayne Chu and Wisnu Irawan, delving into the creative process behind the game’s characters and cinematic sequences. Wincott shared anecdotes of voicing the devilish Raphael, captivating the audience with his insights into bringing a complex character to life.

Live entertainment was a cornerstone of the event, featuring performances by J-pop singer-songwriter SHIHORI and the Cosplay Runway Competition, which saw participants showcasing impressive costumes from beloved games. Judged by renowned cosplayers Charess Mabia, Vera Chimera, and Angelus, the four winners took home cash prizes. They were: RamonsProps as The Batman who Laughs (Injustice 2), Milkymoo as Bubble Head Nurse (Silent Hill 2), Jadeybugboo as Briar (League of Legends) and Skye as Satyr (Granblue Fantasy).

Indie Developers Shine in Pitch Competition, Highlighting Southeast Asia’s Creative Talent

One of the standout events was the Pitch Competition, which attracted 55 entries from indie developers across the globe. 13 finalists from countries including Singapore, Thailand, Spain, and Brazil presented their games to an esteemed panel of industry judges. The competition provided these developers with a platform to showcase their creativity and innovation to potential investors and publishers.

Judged on 18 October, studios like Battlebrew Production’s Love In Tiny Spaces won the Best Pitch, Ammobox Studio’s Project Guardian (working title) for Best Game Design and Bit Egg Inc’s Lost and Found Co. for Most Anticipated Game, earning cash prizes and playtesting vouchers to support their ongoing development. All 3 winners out of the 13 finalists were Southeast Asian developers.

gamescom asia returns in 2025

Koelnmesse and game – The German Games Industry Association are proud to announce that gamescom asia will return to Singapore on 30 October to 2 November 2025. The show in 2025 promises to offer even more opportunities for industry growth, networking, and entertainment, further cementing gamescom asia’s status as a central hub for gaming in Asia.

The public can check out gamescom asia 2024’s YouTube, Facebook, and gamescom’s Twitch channels to replay the PRIMETIME online entertainment area show. Additionally, over 120 games that had been playable on the gamescom asia showfloor can also be found on the gamescom asia 2024 landing page on Steam.

For more information, visit gamescom.asia or follow gamescom asia on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Discord, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

gamescom asia 2024 at a glance:

41,013 attendees from 78 countries
4,439 business visitors from 68 countries
177 exhibitors from 27 countries, international share 65%
10,000 square metres of exhibition space
More than 120 games on demo
4 thematic areas for indies, artists, retro games and board games
Over 80 speakers and stage guests
81 hours of content over 6 stages
24 media partners from 11 countries
154 members of the press from 16 countries
218 influencers and content creators
More than 5 million hits on gamescom asia’s Steam Festival

The next events:

gamescom latam, São Paulo, Brazil, 30 April – 4 May 2025
gamescom, Cologne, Germany, 20 – 24 August 2025
gamescom asia, Singapore, 30 October – 2 November 2025