23 Daily — According to gamesindustry.biz, the Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show held from October 29 to November 1, 2026, in Bangkok was described as the most international edition to date, attracting 219,546 attendees from 113 countries and occupying 38,519 square meters of event space.
Business Area Sees Significant International Visitor Growth
The first two days focused on the business area, drawing 6,923 visitors from 78 countries, a 24% increase from 5,590 in 2025. More than half of these attendees were from outside Thailand. The conference featured 81 speakers from 27 countries across four stages, with notable keynote speaker John Romero, co-founder of id Software. The Xsolla-sponsored Invest Circle and VIP XPerience connected 509 developers, publishers, and investors, up from 418 last year.
Expansion in Exhibitors and Game Titles Offered
This year’s event hosted exhibitors from 29 countries, including 20 national pavilions and industry delegations, with a total of 335 exhibitors and pavilions—up from 294 last year—with 64% representing countries outside Thailand. Attendees could try out 582 game titles, 347 of which came from indie developers spread across business and entertainment areas. The show attracted 720 media partners, influencers, and press. Livestreams and digital content generated nearly 34 million views across platforms.
Southeast Asia Becoming a Key Global Game Market
Mathias Kuepper, Managing Director and Regional President, APAC, Koelnmesse, stated this was the most international show they have staged, with exhibitors from 29 countries gathering in Bangkok not only to showcase games but also to make deals, signaling that Southeast Asia is no longer just a market to watch but a market to be in. Project Director Daria La Velle emphasized that Gamescom Asia’s 'north star' is to cover the whole of Asia but currently focuses fundamentally on Southeast Asia's games industry and fans. Compared to Gamescom in Germany, attendance from Asia Pacific remains relatively low, so bringing the Gamescom experience to Southeast Asia offers closer opportunities for regional industry engagement and growth.
Editor's take: A Milestone for Southeast Asia's Gaming Scene and Startup Opportunities
With over 219,000 attendees from 113 countries and 29 nations represented among exhibitors, this edition marked a new milestone for Gamescom Asia, showing Southeast Asia’s growing prominence in the global gaming landscape. For developers and industry players, the event is not just a platform to showcase and sell games but also a critical venue for cross-border partnerships, investment sourcing, and market expansion within Asia. Startups can validate their products’ appeal to diverse audiences and leverage direct interactions with investors and industry leaders to refine business models and deepen market insights.