Friends, After a week at Gamescom, I wanted to share some high-level takeaways. I’ll refrain from discussing anything related to our company’s portfolio - out of respect for privacy and because this isn’t about self-promotion. These views only reflect my personal opinions.
If there was ever any doubt that our industry remains as vibrant as ever, it was thoroughly dispelled at this event. I was blown away by the quality and variety of ideas on display. From the impressive work of students - many just a year into their programs - to the incredible passion and camaraderie within the indie developer community, particularly in the country halls, to the sustained excellence of AAA releases, even in a quieter year, there’s so much to look forward to.
However, to make our industry sustainable in the long term, we need more love and attention towards figuring out sustainable financial models, particularly for smaller projects. Many of the most interesting and fun games I saw had total budgets under $10 million, with many even below $5, or less. These are the kinds of projects that could use more support.
On the show floor, the sheer physical presence of the Xbox area was impossible to ignore. It was so massive it seemed almost ready to consume the surrounding areas blob-style! It’s remarkable to consider the range of companies and projects now under the Xbox flag, and you could really feel that presence in the hall.
As for specific titles, I was pleasantly surprised by several. The new Indiana Jones game from Bethesda and MachineGames left a strong impression on me with its unique gameplay and presentation. Civ 7 also stood out - I was particularly taken by the verticality and new variety in design. It’s amazing how that franchise continues to innovate after so many decades.
While I can chart data from my desk all day, there’s nothing quite like talking to people on the ground. The optimism I encountered - about the industry, hiring, and investment - was a marked difference from last year and from other events I’ve attended. Optimism doesn’t always translate into action, but it’s a welcome change.
Finally, I was delighted to see more diversity in the industry. There were so many memorable projects and teams from diverse countries, backgrounds, genders, orientations, and more. Each event, every several months, every year, I look for signs of this expansion, and I’m happy to say that this year’s Gamescom definitely showed progress.
Next year is shaping up to be even brighter, with releases like GTA 6, the endless wonder of Switch 2, several of the titles I’ve mentioned, and many more I'll look out for. I remain hopeful, and I work daily, both as someone in games business development and as a community leader, to ensure that hope turns into reality. The positive signs I saw at Gamescom make me confident we’re on the right track.
I can’t wait to see you again in 2024 at GamesBeat and MIGS. I remain optimistic that things in our industry are improving.