The lights have dimmed, the crowds have dispersed, but the echoes of excitement still resonate from the thrilling conclusion of gamescom asia 2023. As the satellite event of the renowned gamescom festival, it took Singapore by storm from 19 – 22 October at the Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre. This year, the event broke all previous records, emerging as the largest combined gaming event Singapore has ever seen, with over 34,000 attendees, 136 exhibitors, and country pavilions representing a staggering 67 nations.
Trade Zone: Where Business Meets Gaming
A central focus was the Trade Zone, where industry professionals had the chance to explore expanded offerings and engage with a diverse audience. This year, it experienced a remarkable 30% increase in attendance, welcoming over 4,200 trade attendees. It’s no surprise that the Trade Zone has solidified its reputation as the largest and most prominent B2B gathering for video game professionals in the region.
The popular Developer-Publisher-Investor Speed Networking program made its return, drawing twice the interest with around 200 participants seizing the opportunity to connect with potential publishers and investors.
The Trade Conference, spanning 19 and 20 October, enriched attendees with insights from over 80 global industry experts. With more than 40 talks and panel sessions across three extended tracks, the conference explored the latest gaming trends, navigating Asia’s gaming landscape, game design and development case studies, business strategies, and marketing principles. The inaugural Content Creators Summit, held on 20 October, united content creators in gaming, executives from talent agencies, platforms, and game publishers, creating a hub for innovation and inspiration.
A standout event was the Pitch Competition in collaboration with Global Top Round (GTR), which witnessed an incredible turnout. Over 60 game studios applied, with 10 finalists competing on-site in three esteemed categories. The winners included Kaigan Games Entertainment for “Best Pitch,” FairPlay Studios for “Best Game Design,” and Vermila Studios for “Most Anticipated Game.”
Entertainment Zone: Where Gamers Rejoice
The heart of gamescom asia 2023 lay in its Entertainment Zone. The excitement began on October 19th, with PRIMETIME, streamed worldwide on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch. Hosted by Mike Ross in English, Dejet in Bahasa Indonesia, and Mint in Thai, PRIMETIME offered exclusive first looks, game premieres, and teasers from the ASEAN region and beyond, setting the stage for the thrilling days ahead.
From 20 – 22 October, the Entertainment Zone’s physical exhibition treated gamers to an extraordinary showcase of international and regional game publishers, indie studios, and local legends. From CAPCOM to SEGA, over 100 game titles were available for play, including unreleased games, community tournaments, and fantastic prizes. The highlight was the CAPCOM Pro Tour 2023 Offline Premiere Singapore, where Gachikun emerged victorious in the Street Fighter 6 arena, thrilling the audience.
The Entertainment Zone featured new zones, such as the Indie Zone, offering over 30 games from studios worldwide, the Retro Games Zone, invoking nostalgia with classic titles and custom arcades, and the Board Games Zone, providing an alternative tactile experience.
On the Entertainment Zone Main Stage, guests witnessed star appearances, performances, and entertainment, including a stage appearance by Monster Hunter series Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto, a Cosplay Fashion Show, a voice actor panel, and a live DJ performance by Gerard Marino, known for his work in the ‘God of War’ series.
For indie developers, the Indie Wavemakers area, developed by Eliphant and sponsored by Xbox, provided an opportunity to bridge the gap between independent developers and publishers, allowing them to gather feedback on their latest games. The Indie Wavemakers Awards celebrated the achievements and creativity of established indie studios, and attendees had the chance to win exciting prizes by voting for their favorite games.
The grand finale on 22 October was STUDIO, featuring extended demos, indie showcases, and a curated selection of close to 30 Southeast Asian games. Hosted in English, Bahasa Indonesia, and Thai, STUDIO was the perfect way to wrap up the fantastic gamescom asia 2023.
