Once again, it’s almost time for the biggest video game event of the year: Gamescom! If you’re a lover of all things gaming and planning to attend this year, or if you’d like to know more about the event, we have all the info you need right here! Look below for a preview of the gaming smorgasbord that Gamescom 2025 will have to offer.

Gamescom 2025 Survival Guide: Tips & Tricks, Event Dates, & Things You Won't Want to Miss!

With Gamescom 2025 closing in, it's time to plan out your trip - and we're here to help with some tips and tricks to get the most out of your adventures.

Surviving Gamescom 2025: Tips & Tricks

Manage Your Health Bar

• Hand Sanitizer ftw. Con flu is real.
  • Protect yourself (and your squad) with liberal use of hand sanitizer.
• Bring a water bottle.
  • The only lines longer than the demo booths? The ones for overpriced drinks. Stay hydrated or risk transforming into a zombie by day two.
•  Dress for Success (and Survival) - Wear comfy shoes!
  • Gamescom is a cardio event disguised as a convention. Think ahead, and your feet will thank you.
• Maximize Rested XP.
  • While conventions aren't known for good sleep schedules, and Cologne has some wonderful nightlife, getting your rest will mean getting the most out of your event time!

• Prepare your elevator pitch.
  • Be ready to introduce yourself without mumbling faster than a speedrun. ("Hi, I'm [your name], I love [game], and I work with BisectHosting—let’s talk!")
• Business cards (physical or digital).
  • Hand them out with flair. Bonus XP if you make someone laugh!
• Don't just talk—listen.
  • The best loot often comes from unexpected conversations. Make sure you don't miss any important drops!

• Live-tweet your experience.
  • Use the official hashtags. Tag BisectHosting if you want to make us proud!
• Funny moments win hearts.
  • Awkward dance contest? Epic fail at a demo? Share it! It's already replaying in your head anyway.

When is Gamescom 2025?

This year, Gamescom will take place from August 20 to August 24. As always, the event takes place in Cologne, Germany, so you might want to start booking your flight soon if you haven't! Everything kicks off on day 1 with Gamescom: Opening Night Live hosted by Geoff Keighley. You can expect plenty of new game reveals, new footage for upcoming releases, and, hopefully, a few surprise announcements from some of the biggest names in the industry. You can even tune in to the Gamescom: Opening Night Live broadcast from home if you’re not attending Gamescom itself. Look forward to the showcase at 6:00 PM UTC.

Things You Won't Want to Miss This Year

BisectHosting at Gamescom 2025 Like last year, BisectHosting will be attending Gamescom to make connections and gather insight from our users and other server hosting enthusiasts. We look forward to meeting up with users and partners alike on the showroom floor or throughout the Gamescom City Festival in Cologne! Xbox, Xbox, & More Xbox Microsoft’s gaming brand will arguably be the largest presence at Gamescom this year. There will be loads of demos, including Hollow Knight: Silksong, The Outer Worlds 2, and more upcoming releases, an emphasis on Xbox’s play anywhere approach, and the first public hands-on opportunity for the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X and ASUS ROG Xbox Ally handhelds. Rumors are circulating that Xbox will finally reveal its latest consoles' prices and preorder dates during Gamescom. Additionally, the Green Giant of Gaming will introduce what it’s calling the Xbox Digital Passport Quest. This is described as a “fun and interactive way to explore each Xbox booth,” while having the chance to win prizes from Xbox and its partners. Said partners include NVIDIA GeForce, HyperX, Meta, LG, and more. As you explore the many Xbox booths, you can complete specific activities that revolve around all of Xbox’s features, plans, and, of course, games. That’s a lot of green! Nintendo Brings the Switch 2 Hype Nintendo will also be at Gamescom and will provide plenty of opportunities for attendees to try out the Switch 2 and its latest software: Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. In preparation for Gamescom, Nintendo held a Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase on July 31. This presentation featured even more new releases for roughly 25 minutes and highlighted upcoming titles for Nintendo hardware from third-party partners. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, Octopath Traveler 0, Once Upon a Katamari, and more were shown. Some of these titles could appear at Nintendo's booth on the Gamescom showroom floor! Sadly, PlayStation is the only one of the big three gaming powerhouses that won’t be at Gamescom this year. This is the sixth time in a row that Sony has decided not to appear. However, it doesn’t mean that PlayStation users will miss out. While there won’t be any first-party games from Sony and friends, there will be plenty of releases to preview and try out that are heading to the PlayStation 5, such as Silent Hill f, Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, The Borderlands 4, and more.

What Else Will be at Gamescom 2025?

Gamescom is a five-day event, and there’s more to it than simply walking through the gaming booths. After a few days of gaming reveals, demos, and previews, the Gamescom Award Ceremony will occur on August 22. This is a great way to see which games captured the most attention and which titles you should watch. Additionally, the city of Cologne embraces and celebrates all of the gaming hype with a city festival. This is free to attend and includes live music, street food, and some family-friendly activities. It’s a great way to break up your time so you don't spend all your time waiting in line! The festival this year will take place on August 23 and 24. When Gamescom rolls around, there will be an enormous amount of gaming content to see, play, and get hyped about. Get your tickets, lodging, and itinerary sorted, and we’ll see you there!