Cologne has solidified its position as an epicenter for the gaming industry in Germany and in recent years its reputation has made waves overseas. There’s a lot going in the city’s favour. Multiple big companies have chosen Cologne as their home base and the city is home to several high-profile events. At the forefront of Cologne’s gaming industry are over seventy companies, employing approximately 1600 individuals. From global powerhouses like Electronic Arts to homegrown studios like Bright Future and RockAByte, Cologne is home to a diverse ecosystem of developers, publishers and service providers. This dynamic mix fuels the city’s thriving gaming scene. Anchoring Cologne’s status is Gamescom, the world’s largest trade fair for computer and video games. Editions draw up to 370,000 visitors annually, positioning Gamescom as a crucial hub where industry leaders showcase their latest innovations and forge new partnerships. But that’s only one example. Cologne’s gaming calendar has much to offer professionals - Devcom, the Indie Game Fest, and the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne. Trade fairs and events are one thing. The true strength of the city lies in its academic institutions that include the Cologne Game Lab (CGL) at TH Köln and the SAE Institute. Both play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of gaming professionals, who go on to make waves across the world. Eager novices can take advantage of cutting-edge programs in game design, animation and programming, which equip students with the skills and expertise needed to thrive in the cutthroat world of gaming. Additionally, the CGL Incubator empowers aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their gaming dreams into reality as it offers support and resources to launch their own start-ups. Beyond entertainment, Cologne’s gaming sector contributes to advancements in artificial intelligence to simulation technologies used in education and healthcare.