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gamescom 2020: ‘A strong signal in challenging times’

Published

6 years ago

September 9, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

game draws a positive balance after first all-digital gamescom
More than 2 million people worldwide simultaneously view grand kick-off show ‘gamescom: Opening Night Live’
Federal Minister Andreas Scheuer announces start of major games funding programme at gamescom

gamescom 2020 sends a strong signal in challenging times: the world’s biggest games event was successfully implemented in digital form, despite turmoil in the development plans of numerous games studios due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a comparatively short planning phase. Millions of players worldwide followed gamescom 2020, which took place in parallel on many digital platforms. The digital concept of gamescom 2020, developed in just a few weeks in collaboration with Koelnmesse and the top gamescom exhibitors, shows the great potential of gamescom for the coming years: many companies participated for the first time this year as official partners; in addition, the fair’s international reach has continued to increase significantly. This is the conclusion drawn by game – the German Games Industry Association, the co-organiser of gamescom.

Jens Kosche, game Executive Board member and Managing Director of Electronic Arts for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, says: ‘Even though the use of games has increased in the last several months, the COVID-19 pandemic is a huge challenge for the international games industry too. Physical events have been cancelled and, in many cases, the development of games also hasn’t continued in the usual manner, with the focus on the safety and health of all involved requiring that thousands of developers work from home. This made it all the more important that gamescom could be held successfully online: it was an anchor in the event calendar and attracted the attention of the community worldwide. I expressly thank all of the partners who, this year especially, have dedicated themselves to the success of gamescom, our most important industry event.’

The special highlight of gamescom 2020 was the show that kicked it off, ‘gamescom: Opening Night Live’. Over two million people viewed the event simultaneously, a fourfold increase from last year’s strong premiere. This makes it one of the top three gaming events worldwide that have taken place online in 2020. The livestreams and events of the approximately 370 official gamescom partners have contributed to its global reach. These included, for example, the ESL One Cologne and the numerous livestreams with influencers from around the world who disseminate the content of gamescom in a wide range of languages. Partnerships with platforms like Twitch and YouTube as well as TikTok and Steam also helped gamescom 2020 reach the community everywhere in the internet.

Felix Falk, Managing Director of game, says: ‘The extraordinary circumstances made gamescom 2020 extremely challenging, yet especially exciting. The digital concept demonstrates how big the international potential of our games event – already the largest in the world – still is. At the same time, however, it has become clear how important the on-site conference, in addition to further digital development, is for the community and the games industry. So, we now have to take our experience from this year and use it to develop the ideal combined on- and offline event for 2021. We’re also especially happy about the political signals that were sent by gamescom 2020. The launch of the major games funding programme announced by Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Andreas Scheuer is historic and marks the start of our race to catch up as a competitive international site for games development. Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas’s contribution to the gamescom congress, as well as the Debatt(l)e Royale and the participation of over 200 guests in digital tours, show that, this year too, gamescom remains one of the most important platforms for the exchange between policymakers and the digital generation.’

Further information on gamescom 2020 online participation and international audience can be found here

Next year’s gamescom will be held as a hybrid event in Cologne and on the net from Wednesday, 25 August, to Sunday, 29 August 2021.

About gamescom

gamescom is the world’s largest event for computer and video games, as well as Europe’s largest business platform for the games industry. In 2021, gamescom is planned as a hybrid event to be held on-site and digitally, from Wednesday, 25 August, to Sunday, 29 August. gamescom is jointly organised by Koelnmesse and game – the German Games Industry Association.

game – the German Games Industry Association

We are the association of the German games industry. Our members include developers, publishers and many other games industry actors such as esports event organisers, educational establishments and service providers. As a joint organiser of gamescom, we are responsible for the world’s biggest event for computer and video games. We are an expert partner for media and for political and social institutions, and answer questions relating to market development, games culture and media literacy. Our mission is to make Germany the best games location.

energy drinks

Team Vitality names FYZIO official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier

Published

2 hours ago

May 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

team-vitality-names-fyzio-official-sports-nutrition-and-energy-drinks-supplier

Multi-year deal adds Laboratoires Gilbert’s new brand to jerseys across CS2, VALORANT, Rocket League and LoL teams ahead of a September 2026 launch.

Team Vitality has signed a multi-year partnership with FYZIO, naming the brand its new official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier. FYZIO is a sports nutrition and hydration brand developed by Laboratoires Gilbert, a French healthcare company established in 1904.

The partnership will put FYZIO branding on the left sleeve of Team Vitality’s official jerseys for several flagship rosters, including CS2, VALORANT (VCT), Rocket League, and League of Legends teams across the LEC, LFL, and Rising Bees. FYZIO will also support Team Vitality teams competing in Teamfight Tactics, Tekken, and Trackmania.

FYZIO is scheduled to launch in September 2026. Team Vitality said the brand will supply products intended to support areas including hydration, fatigue and stress reduction, concentration and memory, and sleep quality.

“We are delighted to announce this partnership with FYZIO and proud to support the launch of this ambitious new brand from the French group, Laboratoires Gilbert. By integrating its specialised nutrition products into our teams’ routines, we are further strengthening our commitment to high-performance excellence,” comments Vas Roberts, Co-CEO of Team Vitality.

“For more than 120 years, Laboratoires Gilbert has been developing solutions dedicated to health and well-being. With FYZIO, we are bringing this expertise to a new ambition: helping everyone achieve their goals, whatever they may be, through a modern, accessible, and responsible approach to sports nutrition. Our partnership with Team Vitality reflects this shared vision of progress, high standards, and sustainable performance. Your performance, our nature“, explains Cédric Batteur, Chairman & CEO, Laboratoires Gilbert.

The post Team Vitality names FYZIO official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AffPapa iGaming Awards 2026

Boomerang Partners have been shortlisted for two categories at the AffPapa iGaming Awards 2026

Published

9 hours ago

May 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

boomerang-partners-have-been-shortlisted-for-two-categories-at-the-affpapa-igaming-awards-2026

Boomerang Partners, a rapidly growing affiliate gambling and betting marketing agency, was shortlisted in two categories at the AffPapa iGaming Awards 2026. It is one of the industry’s most prestigious awards for affiliate teams, operators, and B2B providers worldwide. The winners in nearly 40 categories will be determined by online voting and revealed on May 20.

Affiliate Program Of The Year

Boomerang Partners is nominated in the Affiliate Program of the Year category, reflecting its growth and position as a sports-focused affiliate program.

In nearly five years, the company has scaled to more than 3,000 affiliate partners and serves a clients’ portfolio of 10+ brands. Over the past year, the partner network grew by 10% YoY, while the expansion of clients’ product portfolio led to a nearly 1.5x increase in users.

The company’s strategy is built around deep sports expertise, in-house analytics, and a personalized approach to each partner. This is complemented by partner engagement initiatives such as the TIME TO WIN tournament and the Golden Boomerang Awards, a global affiliate tournament that brought together over 400 teams in the 2025 season. Its third season runs from April 3 to August 31, 2026. It is divided into three stages (each with its own main prize). The final and awards ceremony in 11 categories will take place in September during the SBC Summit in Lisbon.

Woman Leader Of The Year

Liliia Sudachenko, Affiliate Team Lead at Boomerang Partners, is nominated for the Woman Leader Of The Year award in recognition of her contribution to the company’s growth and her work with affiliate partners.

In her role, she focuses on building long-term relationships with affiliate partners, with a strong emphasis on a personalized approach – one of the core principles of Boomerang Partners’ strategy. Liliia is also actively involved in representing the company within the industry. In 2025, she became one of Boomerang Partners’ most active media contributors after the C-level team, taking part in multiple interviews with industry publications.

Liliia Sudachenko, Affiliate Team Lead at Boomerang Partners, commented: “It’s great to see our work recognized with these AffPapa iGaming Awards nominations. For us, it’s a reflection of the team’s effort and the way we build relationships with our partners. We invest a lot in analytics, partner support, and the development of initiatives that help affiliates grow, and it’s good to see that this approach resonates. At the same time, we have ambitious goals ahead and will continue to scale and strengthen our position as a sports-focused affiliate program.”

The official AffPapa iGaming Awards 2026 ceremony will take place on May 20. The event will be held at the Real Casino de Madrid.

About Boomerang

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards – a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Partners of the Agency launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.

The Agency’s clients’ portfolio contains 10+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide incentive programs and 24/7 multilingual support.

The post Boomerang Partners have been shortlisted for two categories at the AffPapa iGaming Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Cubeia

Vera & John International goes live with Cubeia Originals Studio games

Published

9 hours ago

May 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

vera-&-john-international-goes-live-with-cubeia-originals-studio-games

Sweden-based supplier Cubeia integrates its proprietary, brandable Originals content into the operator’s offering.

Vera & John International has gone live with Cubeia’s Originals Studio games, integrating the Sweden-based supplier’s proprietary titles into its player offering.

Cubeia said the launch gives the operator access to fully brandable in-house games aimed at supporting engagement and retention. The supplier positioned the Originals portfolio around “provably fair mechanics, gamification elements, and community-driven gameplay,” and said it includes crash and instant-win formats.

Tobias Fogelberg, Chief Commercial Officer at Cubeia, said: “We’re proud to see Vera & John International go live with our Originals. This is exactly what we’ve been building towards—giving operators something that feels truly their own, not just another catalogue of the same games everyone else has.

“The flexibility and branding possibilities are a big part of it, but it’s also about creating games that players actually want to come back to. That’s where Originals make a real difference.”

Cubeia also linked the rollout to its wider product stack, including its Cubeia Nano platform, which it said is designed to give operators “full control” and scalability. The company added it will continue investing in Originals Studio and plans to expand the portfolio with additional titles and features.

The post Vera & John International goes live with Cubeia Originals Studio games appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.