Twitch streamers caused a stir at gamescom 2022. After 2 years of a Corona-related break, nobody was really prepared for how huge live streaming has become. Precautions have been taken for gamescom 2023, but you keep reading about an “Influencercon”.
What is different in 2023? After Twitch streamer Marcel “MontanaBlack” Eris (35) caused a crowd at gamescom last year, things went very differently at gamescom 2023. Instead of throwing themselves into the fray, the Twitch streamer had a stage program where everything was relatively orderly.
Other excitements like the infamous brawl behind hall 8 haven’t happened this year either. Still, influencers seem to have a much larger stake in the world’s largest gaming trade show than they did a few years ago.
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Twitch streamers are greeted by screaming crowds
How is gamescom 2023 going? Whether AAA games like the long-awaited space epic Starfield or smaller indie pearls: there are numerous games to admire at gamescom. Nevertheless, one reads again and again in the social networks and also here on MeinMMO that gamescom is also becoming more and more of an Influencercon.
Many people apparently travel to experience their favorite streamers up close. In some cases, content creators are literally besieged by fans – and not even the influencers themselves seem to be really happy with that.
Twitch streamer JenNyan reports on Twitter of screaming crowds waiting in front of the RedBull Arena and waiting for content creators. You first have to fight your way through in order to be able to retreat to the Creator Lounge there.
Her Twitch colleague Neevi confirms: This is exactly why gamescom would no longer interest her (via Twitter). This impression is also repeatedly confirmed in the comments: it is mainly younger visitors who gather in certain areas.
MontanaBlack himself, who was celebrated like a world star last year, seems to be annoyed by the development. On Instagram he writes in his story that people would go there to look at “influencers like monkeys in the zoo”.
Another slide says: For him, the train left for a long time, no longer being recognized in public. However, he wishes that fans would respect privacy more.
Twitch streamer Mcky had already decided in advance against attending gamescom. He wrote on Twitter that his passion is games, but that the fair will become his meeting point for influencers. Instead, he will attend gamescom LAN next year, according to the streamer.
As a private visitor, you probably have the opportunity to plan your visit yourself and this year you don’t have to worry about being caught by the crowd of people running after a MontanaBlack.
So if you want to concentrate on the games, you can usually do that too – but then you have to put up with long waiting times. It’s faster in the indie arena, where real insider tips await visitors.
What’s your impression? Is gamescom dominated by influencers too much, or can you skilfully ignore this part if you want to? Did the hustle and bustle surrounding Twitch streamers stop you from visiting? Let us know in the comments.
MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus says: I played the next Twitch hit at gamescom: it will make streamers suffer