Nintendo will not be participating in this year’s Gamescom, which is scheduled to take place in Cologne, Germany from Wednesday, August 21st to Sunday, August 25th, 2024.
As reported by German site Games Wirtschaft, Nintendo has acknowledged the significance of Gamescom as a key event but has chosen not to attend this year.
The company will be absent from the largest gaming convention in the world, stating that players will have the opportunity to experience Nintendo Switch games at other events across Germany instead.
A Nintendo spokesperson confirmed the company’s decision to skip Gamescom 2024 to Eurogamer. “After careful consideration, we have decided not to participate in gamescom 2024. Players will have chances to try out Nintendo Switch games at various events throughout the year.”
Gamescom without Nintendo
Nintendo’s absence at Gamescom this year has surprised many gaming enthusiasts, as the company has been a consistent presence at the event in previous years. Last year, Nintendo offered an immersive experience with gaming stations, photo opportunities, and a show stage in Hall 9, showcasing titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Pikmin 4.
Despite competitors like Xbox and PlayStation having a strong presence at the event, it seems that Nintendo has chosen not to participate in the promotional activities this year. This decision could be a strategic move to reserve major announcements for the rumored launch of the Switch 2 in 2025, as reported by Japanese outlets like Nikkei.
With Nintendo stepping back and holding back on reveals, other industry players will have the opportunity to shine and showcase their offerings at Gamescom in August.
