SAXONY! at the gamescom 2026

Gamescom is the world's largest trade fair event for entertainment, computer and video games: More than 350,000 visitors come to the Cologne exhibition halls every year to immerse themselves in virtual worlds and test the latest games. While private visitors are offered a spectacular games experience in the entertainment area, the most important business platform for the European games industry awaits trade visitors in the business area.

_{The SAXONY! joint presentation is organized by Saxony Trade & Invest Corp. (Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen GmbH - WFS) on behalf of the Saxony State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor, Energy and Climate Protection.}

The following exhibitors presented themselves at the SAXONY! joint stand: 

• FusionPlay GmbH, Leipzig,
• Games und XR Central Germany e. V., Leipzig, with the following stakeholders:
  • City of Leipzig
  • Inclusive Gaming GmbH, Leipzig
  • Leipzig Trade Fair / CAGGTUS
  • Spawnpoint - Institut für Spiel- und Medienkultur e. V.
  • Whispergrove Interactive UG, Leipzig
• Gecko Two GmbH, Leipzig
• Leipzig Trade Fair / CAGGTUS
• Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung GmbH (MDM) - Central German Media Promotion, Leipzig, with the following stakeholders:
  • Binary Bacteria GbR
  • Ectoplastic UG
  • GooseGirlGames GbR
  • JoyJab GmbH, Waldenburg
  • Rat King Entertainment GbR
• R42 - Games Hub & Games Accelerator, Leipzig, with the following stakeholders:
  • Dreambound Studio UG, Leipzig
  • Level Labs GmbH, Leipzig
  • PandaBee Studios UG, Leipzig
  • Threshold Sun Games, Mittweida
• ROTxBLAU UG, Leipzig
• Schenker Technologies GmbH, Leipzig
• Sensape GmbH, Leipzig
• Team Nava Games UG, Leipzig
• VINFERNIA UG & Co. KG, Dresden

What else you can expect at the booth:

At gamescom 2026, the SAXONY! joint booth in the Business Area will once again feature an exciting program of industry events and networking opportunities. Organized by the R42 Games Hub & Accelerator, the program will promote exchange among companies, investors, research institutions, and international partners. The focus will be particularly on innovation, internationalization, and cross-industry collaboration.

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

• 11:00 a.m.: Welcome to SAXONY – Opening Remarks / Dr. Thomas Richter (Department Head, Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen GmbH (WFS)) 

• 11:05 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.: Panel Discussion “THAT’S SAXONY!”
  Friedrich Lüder (Managing Director, Games & XR Mitteldeutschland e. V.), Uli Quasebarth (CEO, Cosmic Stag Games), and Martin Beyer (tox2 interactive) will kick off the event with a panel discussion. You’ll gain insights into the current state of the games industry in Saxony and learn how the Saxon games industry is perceived from an outside perspective.

• 1:00–1:45 p.m.: R42 around the World! – Game Jam in Kenya
  In June, part of the team from the R42 Games Hub & Accelerator in Leipzig visited Kenya. The goal of the “Entrepreneurship Game Jam 2026” was to promote entrepreneurial thinking, startup skills, and the development of interactive prototypes through play. In this mini-recap, Kim Steffen (R42), Gichia Kiurire (a Kenyan participant in the Game Jam), and Philipp Illmer (an expert from Level Labs who traveled with the team) discuss the Game Jam, the importance of international exchange in the gaming industry, and the networking opportunities it creates. 

• 3:30 – 4:15 p.m.: Build to Play: The History and Future of the CAGGTUS Gaming Festival in Leipzig
  Carsten Lorenz (Leipziger Messe) is part of the communications team for CAGGTUS Leipzig, the largest gaming festival in Central Germany. In this talk, he’ll discuss the history of CAGGTUS, how the festival came to be, how it has evolved in recent years since its first edition in 2023, and offer a sneak peek at what to expect at CAGGTUS 2027 and why you shouldn’t miss the event.

Thursday, August 27, 2026

• 11:00–11:45 a.m.: Survival Guide – FusionPlay Through the Years
  Konrad Kunze, one of the original studio founders in Leipzig, offers insights into FusionPlay’s journey, including all its ups and downs. He has served as the brand’s lead game designer since 2012 and has achieved success with games such as “Nice Day for Fishing.”

• 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.: Saxony’s Hidden Champions – KOMSA from the Ore Mountains
  The Ore Mountains are known to many for their mining tradition, world-famous woodcarving, and as a traditional Christmas region. But very few people realize that the region is also home to a company with annual revenue of around 1.2 billion euros and approximately 900 employees. Learn from Managing Director Toni Burger what this Saxon distributor—which typically connects international brands with retailers across Europe—has to do with games.

• 4:00–4:45 p.m.: Fireside Chat
  You ask, René Habermann (Managing Director, Bippinbits) answers. In this Q&A format, you can ask any questions you’ve always wanted to ask an experienced developer. Of course, you can also ask about his successful game “Dome Keeper.”

• 5:00–8:00 p.m.: “Bergfest”
  As gamescom reaches its halfway point, things will get cozy at the SAXONY! shared booth. Look forward to relaxed conversations, new connections, and regional snacks and drinks. 

Friday, August 28, 2026

• 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Last Level Lounge
  One last coffee. One last conversation. One last exchange.
  To wrap up the gamescom Business Area, you’re invited to the Last Level Lounge at the SAXONY! shared booth. Use this final hour to continue conversations, make new connections, or once again exchange ideas with the Saxon games industry in a relaxed atmosphere. 

All sessions will be moderated by Gottfried Haufe.