Gamescom, the world’s largest gaming event, is expanding into Latin America with the introduction of Gamescom Latam in 2024. This inaugural event will take place from June 26 to 30, 2024, at the São Paulo Expo in Brazil. The expansion is a strategic collaboration between Koelnmesse, the German Games Industry Association (Game), and the BIG Festival, Latin America’s largest gaming festival.
The merger of Gamescom and the BIG Festival represents a significant milestone for the gaming industry in Latin America. The BIG Festival, which has been a central event for indie games in the region since 2012, will continue as an integral part of Gamescom Latam, focusing on showcasing the best independent games from around the world. The partnership aims to leverage Gamescom’s global reach and BIG Festival’s regional influence to create a robust platform for gaming business and innovation in Latin America.
Regional Strategy
Gustavo Steinberg, CEO of BIG Festival, emphasised the importance of this collaboration, noting that it recognizes Brazil and Latin America as key territories in the global gaming market. This merger is expected to attract a larger international presence, with more studios, visitors, publishers, and investors from around the world. The event is positioned strategically at the end of the first semester, providing a platform for new game releases, similar to the role E3 played in the past.
Gamescom Latam aims to foster connections between local developers and global publishers, addressing the current gap in local publishing and investment. By integrating the BIG Festival into Gamescom Latam, the event will provide an expanded visibility for indie developers, creating new opportunities for networking and business development within the gaming community. The collaboration between Koelnmesse, BIG Festival, and other partners is expected to transform São Paulo into a hub for the gaming industry during the event.
The inclusion of industry meetings and networking opportunities will further solidify the city’s role in the global gaming landscape. This approach follows the successful model of Gamescom Asia, which demonstrated the importance of adapting events to regional markets and the benefits of having strong local partners.
