Gamescom is where the future of the industry reveals itself. What happens in Cologne often foreshadows where gaming is headed next. For startups, it’s a chance to get noticed; for investors, it’s a chance to spot emerging opportunities.
This year, GFR’s General Partner Yasushi Komori and Principal Jeremy Lim were on the ground, meeting founders, investors, and ecosystem players while keeping a close eye on market shifts. In this interview, they share what stood out, from the surprising resurgence of collecting culture, to the growing role of indies in publisher strategies, to how AI is reshaping game development. Their insights from Gamescom 2025 will give you a front-row view of where the industry is heading.
First impressions: What made this year’s Gamescom stand out?
Jeremy:
Gamescom always feels like a checkpoint for the industry, almost like a mini-reunion of stakeholders across the ecosystem. What struck me this year was the strong presence of collectors. You’d see people of all ages. Kids, adults, and even older fans are gathering around Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering booths. Collecting isn’t just a trend for young players anymore; it’s a lifestyle that cuts across generations.
Yasushi:
From the consumer side, the biggest headline was definitely Nintendo pushing the Switch 2. The excitement around it was huge. I also noticed a strong showing of Japanese content, like Konami, Bandai Namco, and Square Enix, reminding us that anime and Japanese IPs are deeply embraced by European audiences. It felt like their popularity here might even surpass what we see in the U.S.
Beyond the consumer angle, what trends are you noticing from the business side?
Yasushi:
Large publishers are increasingly looking at mid-sized and indie studios. The industry playbook has shifted. Before COVID, you could launch a AAA game with a massive marketing budget and be confident it would sell. Now, audiences are more fragmented, similar to the creator economy. Players still follow big franchises, but they’re also loyal to niche titles from smaller studios.
That said, investing directly in indie developers is tough. Success rates are low, exits are rare. I’m more interested in the ecosystem that supports indies. Tools and infrastructure providers, like our portfolio company Edgegap, which helps smaller studios with multiplayer infrastructure, are thriving because they enable that ecosystem to exist.
Jeremy:
On the collector side, we’re also seeing new digital platforms emerge. Companies like Collectibles.com are experimenting with digital repacks, where people can “open packs” online. It’s early, but the traction looks promising and shows how digital and physical collecting can coexist.
How are startups thinking about community building and user acquisition?
Yasushi:
Honestly, most game startups still don’t pay enough attention to community. You’ll see a team spend years building a great game, but when I ask how many people are in their Discord, it’s maybe 200. If you’re launching soon, you should already have thousands engaged. Without community, many of these studios will fail.
Jeremy:
The good news is that more teams are realizing they can’t rely solely on paid user acquisition. TikTok is becoming indispensable, not just for ads, but for building a following and creating viral moments. Smaller studios, especially, are getting scrappy and creative with how they grow audiences.
Were there any specific booths or demos that stood out?
Jeremy:
For me, it was nostalgic. I sat down to play a Yu-Gi-Oh! game at the Konami booth. I hadn’t played in more than 10 years, so it was a fun throwback and one of those memorable Gamescom moments.
Yasushi:
Personally, I was excited about the remake of Metal Gear Solid 3. The original came out in 2004 when I was still a university student, so it’s close to my heart. I didn’t get much time to play at the booth, but I’ve been following all the updates closely.
GFR hosted a mixer during Gamescom. What were the highlights?
Yasushi:
Simple answer: German beer is the best in the world.
Jeremy:
(Laughs) The beer was great, but for us, the mixer is about more than drinks. It’s about creating that one evening during a hectic week where founders, investors, and friends across the ecosystem can reconnect in a relaxed setting. This year, we doubled our attendance and expanded the guest list to include not just founders but also BD leads, publishers, and corporates like Razer. That mix of people is what makes it special.
Looking ahead, what do you predict for Gamescom 2026?
Yasushi:
On the consumer side, I expect more of the same: anime, Japanese IPs, and big console launches. On the business side, though, I think AI will start playing a bigger role in game development. Not necessarily AI-generated games yet, but practical tools for QA, marketing assets, or cost-saving in development. By 2026–2027, I expect to see much wider adoption of AI in the production process.
Jeremy:
I agree. The cost of AI tools is dropping, and studios will increasingly integrate them into workflows. It won’t replace creativity, but it will help smaller teams build more ambitious projects.
Final reflections
Yasushi:
The audience this year still skewed young, mostly early-20s, and more male than female. But overall, gaming continues to grow in both scale and diversity. For consumers, it means more high-quality titles. For developers, it means more competition, but also more opportunities to stand out.
Jeremy:
Exactly. Gamescom reminded us that while the industry is evolving fast, the fundamentals haven’t changed: community, creativity, and connection still drive everything forward.
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