Competitive gaming will be well represented at gamescom 2018 thanks to ESL’s traditional presence at the world's biggest trade fair for interactive games and entertainment. The almost 355.000 visitors expected at Cologne Trade Fair for the August event will be able to enjoy an array of esports competitions on our two stages set up in Hall 9 between Wednesday 22 and Saturday 25.
“We bring a wide variety of games every year to gamescom,” said ESL Arena Director Thomas Brill. “For the past ten years, we’ve been responsible for giving amateur players, emerging esports titles and professionals from the established disciplines a worthy stage at the world’s largest gaming trade fair. In Germany, gamescom is a very important component of the gaming and esports communities and it is an honor for us to entertain its guests with a number of tournaments and gaming opportunities. I’ll be personally very glad for every for every visitor that comes by Hall 9 who has a good time.”
These are the events you cannot miss at gamescom’s ESL Arena:
PLAYERUNKNOWN’S Charity Challenge – (Thursday 23.08 – Saturday 25.08)
ESL and the PUBG Corporation are proud to bring back this popular battle royale title once again to such a prestigious stage. The PUBG Charity Challenge will consist of 32 duo teams made up from influencers and well-known pro players battling it out to donate their share of the total prize pool to charities of their choice and, of course, the proverbial chicken dinner reserved only for the last team standing.
Valor Series – Arena of Valor – (Thursday 23.08.)
Some of the best European teams on the mobile esports scene will get the second season of the Valor Series rolling with a Preseason Showcase. Well-known streamers and veterans of the MOBA genre will also clash in an All Star Showmatch for the entertainment of the crowd. The Valor Series will give out a total prize pool of 200.000 USD for the best teams of a competition that will incorporate teams from Europe, Latin America and North America and celebrate its grand final in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in November.
Shadowgun – gamescom debut – (Saturday 25.08.)
Inspired by the best competitive titles, Shadowgun will unveil a new PvP mode with a mix of classic tactical and hero-based shooters at gamescom. The game is an action packed multiplayer shooter that will blur the line between AAA titles on consoles and mobile games. A tournament featuring a number of professional squads will determine the Legends of Shadowgun at the 2018 gamescom. Fans will also get a chance to mingle with influencers at a meet and greet after the bout.
ESL Meisterschaft Summer Season Finals – (Wednesday 22.08 & Friday 24.08)
The German league champions for the Summer Season will be crowned at gamescom. Fans will be able to enjoy some of the most competitive scenes in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends and EA SPORTS FIFA 18 as players battle it out to earn the coveted ESL Meisterschaft. PUBG will also be a part of the celebrations by hosting the final stage of the qualifier that will see the game join the regular esports league calendar in Germany from the Winter Season and onwards.
