Gamescom 2025 recorded 357,000 attendees and a mammoth 72 million viewers on Opening Night Live

Gamescom has once again cemented its status as the world’s premier gaming event, as it shattered prior records with an unexpected 357,000 attendees visiting Cologne, Germany, from August 20 to 24, a modest 6.5% increase over the 335,000 visitors from 120 countries who attended the annual trade event in 2024. This information was made public by the host of its Opening Night Live show, Geoff Keighley, in a tweet on X last week.

The number of participants from different countries also grew from 120 to 128, indicating a growth in global gaming interest, with over 34,000 trade visitors from Asia and North America. As for the Cologne Fair show floor, it was sprawling, with a record 1,568 exhibitors from 72 countries, spread over 233,000 square meters of the Cologne Fair’s exhibition area.

Gamescom Opening Night Live, hosted by Geoff Keighley on August 19, 2025, drew in a staggering 72 million viewers globally, nearly double the 40 million viewers in 2024, or an 80% increase year-over-year. Meanwhile, on Saturday evening, 630 million people tuned in to various Gamescom content broadcasts and showcases.

German Games Industry Association managing director Felix Falk commented on the scale of Gamescom, stating:

“Gamescom 2025 sets new standards. Bigger, more diverse, and more international than ever before, the most important festival of gaming culture underscores the positive force that games, the industry, and the global community represent.”

President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse, responsible for organizing Gamescom, Gerald Bose also chipped in, commenting, “Gamescom 2025 has once again set a new standard for large-scale international events. 

Gamescom combines business and entertainment like no other event worldwide, as shown by the 1,568 exhibitors spread across 233,000 square meters of gross exhibition space. With record figures once again in nearly every category, the enormous variety of experiences and global participation, Gamescom is the most important event for the global gaming community.”

The record-breaking attendance was fueled by a fleshed-out lineup of games this year, such as Hollow Knight: Silksong, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Dying Light: The Beast, Lords of the Fallen 2, Call of Duty Black Ops 7, Ninja Gaiden 4, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Silent Hill f and more.

With such staggering attendee and Opening Night Live viewership figures, Gamescom 2026 has a particularly tough record to beat when it takes place next year from August 25 to 29 in Cologne.