Why Gamescom 2022 Is A Pivotal Moment For Blockchain Gaming
The world’s largest video game event returns for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic this week – and it’s of vital importance to Web3.
AUGUST 23, 2022. NEWS. WRITTEN BY JENZ ALIPAR.
The first post-pandemic edition of the world’s biggest gaming convention takes place this week.
Gamescom – the leading consumer gaming and industry event – will take place for the first time in 3 years in Cologne, Germany from August 23-28. Hosted once again at Koelnmesse for an estimated 400,000 attendees, this year is set to be bigger and better than ever before, with more games, more developers, and more intrigue!
Opening Night Live has just wrapped up – and we have a lot to look forward to. But wait… why are we – a site focused on all things Web3 – talking about it?
Our Editor-in-Chief John Nichols is on the ground at the event, and according to him, if there’s one word on everyone’s lips, it’s blockchain.
Alongside the world’s biggest games publishers and studios – such as Ubisoft, Bandai Namco, SEGA and more – are a slew of blockchain-based companies, such as Immutable, HashUp and pink.gg, the company behind AtomicHub.
Whether studios are public in their support of NFTs (such as Epic Games) or are keeping their thoughts private, the event is a proving to be a hotbed of discussion between the traditional gaming world and the emerging blockchain industry.
The Blockchain Game Alliance have declared they will be in attendance, showcasing a slew of blockchain projects such as Life Beyond, CryptoMotors and Project Seed to name a few.
Horizon Blockchain Games, the company behind the Polygon-based trading card game Skyweaver and the Sequence Wallet, have also confirmed their attendance.
Outside the official attendees, there are also many blockchains, projects and Web3 VCs with an unofficial presence, taking the opportunity to fact-find, network and build partnerships with game studios and blockchain-based companies alike.
With over 500 companies registered so far, #gamescom2022 is shaping up to be AMAZING! We can’t wait to be back in person.
You can find our press release here: https://t.co/9f4D0ov2hA
See you in Cologne! #aheadofthegame pic.twitter.com/dgyfrFSEEv
— gamescom (@gamescom) July 7, 2022
In the traditional gaming sphere, Ubisoft have kept quite about what they will be presenting at the event, but in a year where they have many hotly-anticipated projects in development – such as Assassins Creed: Infinity, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and the Splinter Cell remake – it’s safe to say they’ll be bringing their A-game.
Microsoft announced their attendance via press release, confirming that fans will experience “a fantastic line-up of content coming to Xbox in the next 12 months”, as well as updates on titles such as Pentiment, Age of Empires IV, Microsoft Flight Sim, Sea of Thieves and Grounded.
On Tuesday, August 23, @gamescom Opening Night Live streams LIVE from Germany.
🔵 2 hour live show
🔵 Thousands of fans in the audience!
🔵 30+ games on stage
If you are in Germany, limited in-person tickets are now available for fans.
Buy them here: https://t.co/crQarVvABg pic.twitter.com/x8YV3I8j9d— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) August 9, 2022
On top of those already mentioned, over 500 companies have confirmed their attendance for Gamescom 2022, including 2K, 505 Games, AMD, HoYoverse, Humble Games, HyperX, PLAION, Raw Fury, Team17, THQ Nordic, Thunderful and many, many more.
For those unable to attend in person, you can catch all the action on the official Gamescom 2022 livestream channels here – and we’ll be reporting on any stories as they break throughout the week. Stay tuned!
