gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show 2026
gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show 2026 featured exhibitors from a record-breaking 29 countries and regions at its opening on 29 October at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), marking the most international participation in the event's history. With 20 national pavilions and delegations from 12 markets, the diverse mix of European, North American, and Asian exhibitors reinforces the show as Asia’s leading venue for the convergence of the Eastern and Western gaming industries.
The Indonesia Pavilion (Ministry of Creative Economy), the Japan Pavilion (JETRO), the Malaysia Pavilion (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation), and the United States Pavilion (U.S. Embassy Bangkok) will join pavilions from Austria (Advantage Austria), Germany (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy), the Philippines (Department of Trade and Industry), South Korea (KOCCA), Spain (ICEX), and host nation Thailand (Thai Game Association).
South Korea will bring the largest group, with six delegations led by KOCCA and regional agencies from Busan, Daejeon, and Jeonnam. Delegations from Japan (CANTEEN, MIXI Global Investments), China (Gamirror Games), and Taiwan (Taipei Computer Association) will complete the lineup.
The lineup highlights the show's unique mix and strength, distinguishing it from other Asian events. By merging gamescom’s global business network with Southeast Asia’s largest consumer gaming show, the event provides Western studios with direct access to Asia’s fastest-growing markets and offers Asian developers a platform to connect with global publishers and investors. The 2025 edition attracted 206,159 attendees from 95 countries, including 5,590 business visitors from 81 countries, and facilitated business negotiations exceeding THB 1.22 billion.
Felix Falk, Managing Director at game – The German Game Industry Association, stated: “National pavilions receive support only when there is a clear business case. For the German games industry, gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show is precisely that. This is where East meets West in gaming. For Asian developers, it offers the most direct route to international partners. For Western studios, it is the gateway to some of the world's fastest-growing gaming markets.”
Kittipong Prucksa-aroon, President of the Thai Games Association (TGA), added: “As representatives of the host nation’s association, we are eager to unite the region at gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show, alongside other major ASEAN country pavilions from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Thus, gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show has truly become the regional hub for Southeast Asia’s gaming industry. There is no other place where Southeast Asia’s leading gaming markets converge at this scale, under one roof, alongside the world’s major gaming nations. For developers, publishers, investors, and players, Bangkok is the place to be to see where Southeast Asian gaming is heading next.”
The show will run from 29 October to 1 November 2026. The business area (29-30 October) will be open exclusively to games industry professionals and media, featuring a conference with over 80 speakers from 27 countries, headlined by John Romero. Events include pitch and reverse pitch competitions, the Invest Circle, and the VIP XPerience sponsored by Xsolla.
Zhen Fang, VP of Roblox International, opened discussions on what the next generation of players expects from games. Yoan Fanise, Creative Director of DigixArt, provided a candid comparison of Road 96 and Tides of Tomorrow, while gaming executive Jin Oh, former Chief Global Publishing Officer of KRAFTON, shared insights from Blizzard, Riot, and KRAFTON on why some games have enduring appeal. The morning concluded with a live debate on whether operational efficiency or creativity prevails in the AI era, with the audience favoring creativity.
“Great games endure when boring stuff never stops,” remarked Jin Oh, former Chief Global Publishing Officer of KRAFTON. The afternoon focused on growth and talent in Southeast Asia. Leaders from Agate, Tencent, and the Southeast Asian Games Showcase discussed the region's potential to become a co-development powerhouse. Gameloft explored fostering the next generation of creatives, while Rovio, gamigo, and Abylight Studios shared strategies for long-term launch success. The Pitch Competition featured 13 finalists presenting to a jury that included Hollywood cinematographer and ShotDeck founder Lawrence Sher. MiMu Studio's Little Old One and the Witch won Best Visual, NOTAI Games' Slop Capital took Best Game Design, and Hypercent Inc.'s Backroom Cleaners secured the audience-voted Most Anticipated Game award. Each winner received S$2,000.
In the entertainment area, the consumer show opened, allowing fans to experience some of the year’s most anticipated titles. CAPCOM showcased multiplayer hunts in Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, alongside Pragmata, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and Southeast Asia’s first playable demo of Mega Man: Dual Override. Bandai Namco offered demos of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve and The Blood of Dawnwalker, plus first looks at Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 and Final Fantasy VII Revelation. SEGA ATLUS presented Persona 4 Revival, STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, and Total War: Warhammer 40,000, while Synnex | Nintendo's 270 sqm Try & Play zone allowed fans to experience Nintendo Switch 2. AMD, Lenovo, SteelSeries, and XPG showcased the latest gaming hardware.
Beyond the playable showcases, the entertainment area featured main stage programming from SEGA ATLUS and Bandai Namco Entertainment. SEGA ATLUS highlighted Persona 4 Revival and STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, while Bandai Namco Entertainment brought developers behind ACE COMBAT and FINAL FANTASY VII REVELATION closer to fans. Riot Games returned to the show's entertainment area, engaging fans with activities centered on League of Legends and VALORANT.
On Saturday, fans gathered at the entertainment area of gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show 2026, exploring hands-on game demos, meeting their favorite creators, and enjoying a packed Main Stage program at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC).
CAPCOM took to the Main Stage with a special Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance presentation featuring producer Ryozo Tsujimoto. The session provided fans with an in-depth look at the game's new Skybound Eyrie locale, along with live commentary and an opportunity for audience members to participate in a multiplayer hunt.
The Cosplay Contest 2026 brought contestants to the Main Stage, competing for a share of the ~300,000 baht (approximately USD 9,000) prize pool. This year's competition introduced a new Best Duo category alongside the Solo, Team, and All-Star formats. Additionally, ACE Bangkok made its debut at the show, bringing together anime, film, and collectibles, including a special The Ghost in the Shell producers panel featuring Daichi Sasa, Kohei Sakita, and Kengo Abe, along with manga artist Takeshi Katsurada.
The Asia Game Talent Showcase celebrated emerging game development talents, with 20 student finalist teams from across Asia presenting their projects to industry judges.
Full list of winners:
Talent of the Year: God Lies Above - Team Xilosopher, Sripathum University
Rising Star Student: RE//SLASH - Team SLASH’EM//ALL, Nawamintrachinuthit Triamudomsuksapattanakarn School, Ratwinit Bangkaeo School, and Sarasas Witaed Samut Sakhon
Best Game Design: Fribbles - Team Whatcha Games, Silpakorn University
Best Technology: Swingscape - Team onlyonepen, Rangsit University
Best Narrative: Kapit Buhay - Team Handuraw Studios, Far Eastern University Institute of Technology
Best Visual Art: Toy's Dream - Team Sathu99, Silpakorn University
Best Audio: CANDELA - Team CHOKOMINTO, Chiang Mai University
Photo Credit : Koelnmesse Pte Ltd / gamescom asia
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