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Nintendo Skips Gamescom 2024

ILikeFeet

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Enthusiast
In a statement issued to German publication Games Wirtschaft, a spokesperson for the company said it would not be an exhibitor at this summer’s event.
Nintendo attended last year’s Gamescom as an exhibitor. According to VGC sources, the company also used the event to show off tech demos for Switch 2 behind closed doors.

I think this is notable enough to warrant a thread.
 
Not a big deal for most people. Maybe for actual attendees, but not for everyone else as they haven't announced anything at or around Gamescom in ages. Though this DOES confirm that they won't have anything show-worthy until next year.

But yeah, getting big 2016 vibes there with Nintendo announcements this year (well, except that Switch is thriving, of course ;))
 
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Not showing up at all is a good way to avoid a repeat of the leaks of last year.

Were those leaks actually an issue? It's hard to believe Nintendo thinks it could show off new hardware at an event and no one would let it slip.

Nothing said last year would really be an issue imo. They could attend and not show off the Switch 2 as well.
 
I've read the original source and interestingly the quote from the Nintendo spokesperson is exactly the same wording, word for word, as in 2022 when Nintendo also didn't attend gamescom.

2024 quote:
Die Gamescom ist für Nintendo ein zentrales Event im Veranstaltungskalender. In diesem Jahr haben wir uns nach sorgfältiger Abwägung jedoch gegen eine Teilnahme in Köln entschieden. Die Spiele für Nintendo Switch können Spielerinnen und Spieler stattdessen im Rahmen anderer deutschlandweiter Events ausprobieren.
2022 quote:
Die Gamescom ist für Nintendo ein zentrales Event im Veranstaltungskalender. In diesem Jahr haben wir uns nach sorgfältiger Abwägung jedoch gegen eine Teilnahme in Köln entschieden. Die Spiele für Nintendo Switch können Spielerinnen und Spieler stattdessen im Rahmen zahlreicher deutschlandweiter Events ausprobieren.
 
I've read the original source and interestingly the quote from the Nintendo spokesperson is exactly the same wording, word for word, as in 2022 when Nintendo also didn't attend gamescom.

2024 quote:
Die Gamescom ist für Nintendo ein zentrales Event im Veranstaltungskalender. In diesem Jahr haben wir uns nach sorgfältiger Abwägung jedoch gegen eine Teilnahme in Köln entschieden. Die Spiele für Nintendo Switch können Spielerinnen und Spieler stattdessen im Rahmen anderer deutschlandweiter Events ausprobieren.
2022 quote:
Die Gamescom ist für Nintendo ein zentrales Event im Veranstaltungskalender. In diesem Jahr haben wir uns nach sorgfältiger Abwägung jedoch gegen eine Teilnahme in Köln entschieden. Die Spiele für Nintendo Switch können Spielerinnen und Spieler stattdessen im Rahmen zahlreicher deutschlandweiter Events ausprobieren.
Looks like only one word changed: anderer -> zahlreicher
 
I've read the original source and interestingly the quote from the Nintendo spokesperson is exactly the same wording, word for word, as in 2022 when Nintendo also didn't attend gamescom.

2024 quote:
Die Gamescom ist für Nintendo ein zentrales Event im Veranstaltungskalender. In diesem Jahr haben wir uns nach sorgfältiger Abwägung jedoch gegen eine Teilnahme in Köln entschieden. Die Spiele für Nintendo Switch können Spielerinnen und Spieler stattdessen im Rahmen anderer deutschlandweiter Events ausprobieren.
2022 quote:
Die Gamescom ist für Nintendo ein zentrales Event im Veranstaltungskalender. In diesem Jahr haben wir uns nach sorgfältiger Abwägung jedoch gegen eine Teilnahme in Köln entschieden. Die Spiele für Nintendo Switch können Spielerinnen und Spieler stattdessen im Rahmen zahlreicher deutschlandweiter Events ausprobieren.
Yeah, looks like your standard PR statement.

Not surprising really, not like they were going to openly state they're saving their energy and time for a new console :D
 
Not showing up at all is a good way to avoid a repeat of the leaks of last year.

Nothing really leaked though, unless they expected that no one would know about them showing those tech demos... Which would be delusional.
 
Were there major leaks because of their last showing? I don't remember anything that substantial.
Breath of the wild with fast loading and higher frame rate (and resolution
The Matrix City Demo running on the system (most likely not live, but in a video showing)
some third party games running on the system (again, video, most likely)
 
Were those leaks actually an issue? It's hard to believe Nintendo thinks it could show off new hardware at an event and no one would let it slip.

Nothing said last year would really be an issue imo. They could attend and not show off the Switch 2 as well.
Them not showing up this year shows that Nintendo were furious about the leaks from last year's gamescom. They want no mention of Switch 2 at all. I mean Nintendo will keep on not saying anything about Switch 2 because all they care about is keeping up the Switch sales, which means they never can come around and reveal Switch 2.
 
Them not showing up this year shows that Nintendo were furious about the leaks from last year's gamescom. They want no mention of Switch 2 at all. I mean Nintendo will keep on not saying anything about Switch 2 because all they care about is keeping up the Switch sales, which means they never can come around and reveal Switch 2.

and what were they furious about in 2022? Because I think they skipped GamesCom also that year
 
Them not showing up this year shows that Nintendo were furious about the leaks from last year's gamescom.

No it doesn't. Right now all it says is they don't see it necessary to attend this year.

They want no mention of Switch 2 at all. I mean Nintendo will keep on not saying anything about Switch 2 because all they care about is keeping up the Switch sales, which means they never can come around and reveal Switch 2.

Lets just wait and see if their year end report mentions any new hardware for next fiscal year. It's also not like last year's Gamescon leak depressed Switch sales. The Switch can't last forever, they wont avoid announcing the Switch 2 just to keep Switch 1 sales afloat. They will announce Switch 2 when they are startegically ready.
 
Nintendo's not going to E3, because bringing Endless Ocean Luminous there would overshadow everyone else. As an act of generosity, they decided to let the competition shine this year.
 
Considering how well Nintendo's own online presentations are still doing, it's not a huge surprise. The Indie showcase coming up alone will get huge views globally - more so than attending Gamescom with a few titles in tow.

Also, forget Hanafuda cards... it's back to Love Hotel time, right?! ;)
 
I feel like the truth is Nintendo just doesn't see the value in industry tradeshows. E3, TGS, Gamescom, etc. They're largely not worth it, the only one they really seem to value is GDC which something else entirely.

This speaks more to their general approach than their schedule imo, but the sentient I see on forums and social media is the predictable "nothing big after TOTK" vibes. People never learn with this company.
 
I feel like the truth is Nintendo just doesn't see the value in industry tradeshows. E3, TGS, Gamescom, etc. They're largely not worth it, the only one they really seem to value is GDC which something else entirely.
They have had a thing against TGS for years, I don't know what caused the boycott but ultimately Nintendo would only join the convention on their terms and in all my watching, Nintendo has only done that once. They generally tend to hold a compete in conference, and on top of that Nintendo has invested a lot in BitSummit instead.

With E3 it was pretty clear that Nintendo of America didn't see much of a value in it, and as a marketing venue it clearly got out stripped by PAX.

With Gamescom, I'll be honest... I can't read much into it. It just feels as if they have nothing to show, so why show up if they have nothing show.
 
We all know that Nintendo is not gonna do too much this year. Makes sense.
 
They have had a thing against TGS for years, I don't know what caused the boycott but ultimately Nintendo would only join the convention on their terms and in all my watching, Nintendo has only done that once.
TGS (and CESA) was established by what was known back then as Consumer Software Group that is an alliance between the vassals (Sega, Namco, Konami, Hudson, Data East, Sun Electronics, Jaleco, Taito, Capcom, SNK, Tecmo, etc.) as an alternative to the Emperor (Nintendo).
 
This speaks more to their general approach than their schedule imo
While it's true they've distanced themselves from real-life events to a certain extent, they still go to great lengths to attend those focused on the general public (as opposed to those with press days). Case in point with PAX, or even Japan Expo (in France) where they always have a big booth with tourneys and the likes, even if they have nothing special to show.

So imo, their skipping GC this year is definitely due to upcoming Succ launch imo.
 
With E3 it was pretty clear that Nintendo of America didn't see much of a value in it, and as a marketing venue it clearly got out stripped by PAX.
Nintendo of America was one of the biggest supporter of E3.

They were there at litterally evry physical edition (1995 to 2019) with a big stand at convention center and they where even a big supporter of the digital edition in 2021.

They left only in 2023 and because the event was dead.

The narrative of "Nintendo don't like E3" exist just because of their move to do an online presentation (Nintendo Direct) instead of the traditional conference in 2013 forgotting that E3 is not just that:

This is also a physical presence and Big anoncements, 2 things that Nintendo never stop doing.
(Even after the introduction of Nintendo Direct, E3 remain the biggest event of the year for Nintendo games anoncements).
 
With Gamescom, I'll be honest... I can't read much into it. It just feels as if they have nothing to show, so why show up if they have nothing show.
People said exactly this about E3 last year, that was my point. It's foolish to take this a clear indication on their portfolio, this has been happening every year for most of Switch's lifecycle it feels like.

TGS (and CESA) was established by what was known back then as Consumer Software Group that is an alliance between the vassals (Sega, Namco, Konami, Hudson, Data East, Sun Electronics, Jaleco, Taito, Capcom, SNK, Tecmo, etc.) as an alternative to the Emperor (Nintendo).
You left out the big one: Sony. They were instrumental in getting TGS off the ground and had the largest booth at the inaugural 1996 show iirc. Weirdly their biggest game debut never realeased; a stylised steampunk flight sim called Record of Beldeselva (could it have become Sky Gunner on PS2?). We did get their other notable show debuts though, Parappa the Rapper and a Rurouni Kenshin fighter.

While it's true they've distanced themselves from real-life events to a certain extent, they still go to great lengths to attend those focused on the general public (as opposed to those with press days). Case in point with PAX, or even Japan Expo (in France) where they always have a big booth with tourneys and the likes, even if they have nothing special to show.

So imo, their skipping GC this year is definitely due to upcoming Succ launch imo.
Nintendo does still love community based shows like PAX yeah. Industry shows though they've cooled on and they haven't been a consistent exhibitor at GC in years, I don't think them skipping it means much, they skipped 2020-2022 as well and were likely there last year for the leaked business meetings primarily. I wouldn't put money on them returning next year either.
 
I feel like the truth is Nintendo just doesn't see the value in industry tradeshows. E3, TGS, Gamescom, etc. They're largely not worth it, the only one they really seem to value is GDC which something else entirely.

This speaks more to their general approach than their schedule imo, but the sentient I see on forums and social media is the predictable "nothing big after TOTK" vibes. People never learn with this company.
GDC is the real trade show, since it's the conference where their cohorts can share ideas in the trade of video game development. All these others are really just consumer facing shows. Nintendo would rather spend the money properly advertising throughout the year informing the general public, rather than focusing on a small set of core gamers that are in general less receptive of Nintendo's novelty.
 
People said exactly this about E3 last year, that was my point.
The problem with E3 is not that the industry had nothing to show... It was that this was yet another indicator of E3's decreased importance to the industry. The thing is that the event has been a rather consistent decline since 2012, to the point that is was impossible to organize that year. When the ESA where forced to pull the pull on the event, it came to no real shock outside of the gamers that didn't look around to see what was happening.
Gamecom is NOT in that bind.
Nintendo does still love community based shows like PAX yeah
To be fair PAX is rather special. Because it's not just the public facing event that became important. Nintendo does a TON of development outreach through PAX events. Something that they use to do at E3 but because of the wider net that PAX casts, (through their regional events) it was just easier to do that through PAX.
And to be fair it's not just PAX, I don't know about Europe but in Japan, Nintendo Co Ltd. has pulled the same outreach through BitSummit. It bugged Sony when they started coming to the event the degree to which it is basically a Nintendo/PC/Mobile showcase.
This is also a physical presence and Big anoncements, 2 things that Nintendo never stop doing.
(Even after the introduction of Nintendo Direct, E3 remain the biggest event of the year for Nintendo games anoncements).
Yeah but even with that for the last 4 year, Nintendo was basically running a streaming studio through the event. It has been clear for a while that E3 could not really provide any value to the marketing outfit (which NoA IS) and PAX taking it's place as a showcase and business front.... Nintendo was never in dire need for what ever E3 could offer. It's not just about the announcements, E3 was very slow to attracting the public and honesty, was not great as a business event as it grew spectacle driven (and being business-only was not an option after trying it once). It been getting to the point were other publishers were doing events outside of E3 for a proper environment to conduct the business. Nintendo was never going to put in such an effort, because they could and have worked around that and control their own timetable.... for much cheaper.
 
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