The show presents the latest trailers and announcements from the international games industry and is hosted by Geoff Keighley.

[6] Shortly before Gamescom, the associated conference Devcom takes place at the same area and is specifically for the game development sector.

However, Leipzig was becoming unsuitable for such a large event owing to limited transport links and hotel accommodation.

The Leipzig Trade Fair opposed the move and intended to continue Games Convention without the BIU, which led to a five month "standoff" between the two groups.

The two events were due to take part on the same weekend, and were each competing to be seen as the "authoritative" German trade fair for the industry.

[13][14] Geoff Keighley began hosting Opening Night Live from 2019, a streamed event at the beginning of the show.

[1] 2K Games Atari Capcom Electronic Arts Konami Microsoft Namco Bandai Sega Sony Square Enix Ubisoft Wednesday, 18 August: Thursday, 19 August: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announced the PlayStation 3 Slim, a smaller and lighter model of the console and a release date of 1 September 2009.

Sony also announced that the PlayStation Portable would get smaller games (under 100mb) in the form of 'minis' and that comics would also be available to download in December 2009.

Also, Microsoft announced their intention to release Fable II on the Xbox Live Marketplace in five episodes, the first of which would be free to download.

[18] Sony Computer Entertainment Europe also showcased its press conference on its online community-based service PlayStation Home shortly afterwards.

[1] 1C Company 2K Games Activision Bethesda Softworks Bohemia Interactive Capcom CD Projekt Red City Interactive Codemasters Deep Silver dtp Entertainment Electronic Arts Frogster Funcom Gamigo Hi-Rez Studios Kalypso Media Konami Microsoft Mojang Namco Bandai NCsoft Nintendo Nival Paradox Interactive Red 5 Riot Games Rising Star Games Sega Sony

[1] 1C Company 2K Games Activision Bethesda Softworks Bohemia Interactive Capcom Codemasters Electronic Arts Konami Namco Bandai NCsoft[20] Nexon[20] Paradox Interactive Perfect World Entertainment RedSpotGames Sony Square Enix Ubisoft Warner Bros. Gamescom 2013 was held 21–25 August.

[1] 1C Company 2K Games 505 Games Activision Abrakam Amplitude Studios Bethesda Softworks Bohemia Interactive Carbine Studios CD Projekt Red City Interactive Crytek Deep Silver Electronic Arts Focus Home Interactive Gaijin Entertainment Haemimont Games Kalypso Media KING Art Konami Microsoft Mojang Namco Bandai Nintendo Paradox Interactive Red 5 Studios Revolution Software Riot Games Roberts Space Industries Ronimo Games Sega Sony Computer Entertainment Square Enix TopWare Interactive Triumph Studios Ubisoft Wargaming Warner Bros. Zombie Studios Gamescom 2014 was held 13–17 August.

[1] Activision Bandai Namco Entertainment Bethesda Softworks Capcom CD Projekt Colossal Order Devolver Digital Electronic Arts Frontier Developments Kalypso Media Konami Microsoft Studios Nintendo Sega Sony Square Enix THQ Nordic Ubisoft Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Gamescom 2018 was held 21–25 August.

The opening night received media attention after one attendee rushed on the stage and interrupting presenter of the show Geoff Keighley, saying that "Bill Clinton wants to play GTA VI".

[56] An offshoot of the trade fair has been established for the Asian region in 2021 under the name Gamescom Asia and takes place in Singapore.

[57][58] In 2023, Koelnmesse closed an agreement with BIG Festival and Omelete Company for a new offshoot under the name Gamescom Latam, which takes place in Brazil.