After 2023, Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck will also take over the official opening of Gamescom 2024.
Last year, the 'Games Minister' underwent a two-day crash course in the video games industry (follow-up report) – the best conditions for a follow-up visit: Robert Habeck (Alliance 90 / The Greens) will also open Gamescom 2024 in Cologne, which will officially start on August 21, 2024 with the trade visitor and media day including the political program.
As Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Habeck is also responsible for the games industry in Germany – and thus for the official German Computer Game Prize, the implementation of the 'Games Strategy' and the federal government's computer game funding, which has been running since 2019 but is currently in difficult waters. The planned funds have been exhausted since May 2023, so that only projects that have already been approved can be implemented. Habeck's ministry is working on a reformed funding guideline, which the Federal Audit Office is also interested in.
The tone is set for the Gamescom 2024 appearanceespecially since Habeck had only a few days ago incurred the displeasure of the industry association Game: The previously independent 'Games Department' will be dissolved and incorporated into the 'Culture and Creative Industries' department within the ministry. The association sees this as a “devastating signal” and unequal treatment with other industries (more on this in this column).
Similar to Gamescom 2023, Robert Habeck will also take a tour to find out about trends and innovations. The exact program of the visit is still open. Last year's stops included Microsoft Xbox, Astragon Entertainment, the Indie Arena Booth including Mimimi Games and the joint stand of Baden-Württemberg. Afterwards, Habeck presented symbolic funding checks to companies, including the record sum of €5.7 million for a then-secret project by Ubisoft Mainz, which was intended for the development of Anno 117: Pax Romana is used.
You can find all information about Gamescom 2024 on GamesWirtschaft – including continuously updated overviews of exhibitors and games.