Observed Signal · Aug 11, 2026 · Interview · Source: PocketGamer.biz · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Gamescom comms: build momentum and plan long-term
Pocket Gamer interviews Rana Rahman, CEO and founder of Raptor PR, about communications best practices for Gamescom 2026 (August 26–30). Rahman advises companies — especially mobile developers, publishers and tech startups — to treat Gamescom as one chapter in a longer communications programme: build momentum before the show, use owned channels (notably LinkedIn) during the event, and extend outreach afterwards. He recommends having a clear story or announcement to bring to Cologne, tailoring comms for developers vs publishers, and considering smaller networking events or partnering with organisers such as Steel Media. Pocket Gamer also notes its presence at the show and the Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards on August 25.
Practical communications and event strategy guidance for companies attending a major industry trade show (Gamescom 2026); useful but not industry-shifting.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Gamescom 2026 is scheduled for August 26–30, 2026.
- Pocket Gamer will have a stand at Gamescom (hall 2.1, stand E033).
- The Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards in association with Samsung Gaming Hub returns to Cologne on August 25, 2026.
- Rana Rahman is CEO and founder of Raptor PR and advises treating Gamescom as part of a broader communications programme rather than a four-day sprint.
- Rahman first attended Gamescom in 2022 and Raptor PR provides global PR for the games industry and media brands.
Connected Companies & Entities
3 Entities mapped“The Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards in association with Samsung Gaming Hub will also return to Cologne on August 25th....”
“Jan Kuhlmann, our key contact at Xsolla at the time, persuaded me to attend....”
“The Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards in association with Samsung Gaming Hub will also return to Cologne on August 25th....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Gaming industry readies for largest-ever Gamescom
Gamescom week is approaching, with organisers saying last year’s event drew 357,000 visitors (up 7% year-on-year) and the expo floor was completely sold out for the first time. The show is global in scope, with strong participation from Asian publishers and dedicated exhibits such as Tencent’s ‘Worlds of Play’. PocketGamer.biz will be on-site covering trends, noting that B2B areas are filled with ads and payments firms seeking opportunities as Chinese companies expand internationally. The publisher will host its Mobile Games Awards (Aug 25) and a 20th Anniversary Party (Aug 26) in Cologne, and will make regional reports available including a Türkiye games-industry report published in association with Xsolla.
Gamescom 2026 preview: who’s making a splash
PocketGamer.biz reports from outside Koelnmesse ahead of Gamescom 2026, noting a sold-out expo floor and visible marketing activity around the venue. Supercell is building a large presence at Gamescom Dev, while multiple publishers (including Astragon, Krafton, 4A Games, Funcom, Netease, Capcom, CD Projekt Red and others) have posters and billboards near the North and East entrances. Games commerce company Xsolla has set up a visible presence at Design Post Köln and run ads in nearby hotels. A prominent banner space between the North and East entrances remained unfilled days before the consumer expo opened; Bloober Team occupied that space in 2025.
Companies Exhibiting at Gamescom Dev 2026
A preview of exhibitors and branded presences at Gamescom Dev (formerly Devcom) in Cologne's Koelnmesse Confex area, published 2026-08-24. The article lists major booths and sponsored areas — including Supercell's branded lounge, Rive sponsoring the VIP/speaker lounge, and stands from Tencent Games, FastSpring, ThinkingAI, Jetbrains, Sentry, Noesis GUI, AMD and Google Cloud — plus a range of smaller studios, trade associations and service vendors. It also notes Apple promoting its Games app in Cologne and hosting three talks at Gamescom Dev.
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