The Computer Entertainment Suppliers Association has released the outline for the upcoming Tokyo Game Show 2024, which will take place from 26 September to 29 September 2024 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. This year’s theme is “Trailblaze the World with Gaming.”

Tokyo Game Show 2024 will take place in a hybrid format, which will include both physical and virtual venues along with official streaming. The physical exhibition aims to cater to a diverse range of visitors, from business professionals to families, while official streaming programs and the virtual venue will provide various news and experiences across the world.

In recent years, almost half of the exhibitors at the Tokyo Game Show have been from foreign countries. Tokyo Game Show 2024 is actively pursuing to attract even more overseas visitors by organizing promotional events in major Asian cities and working closely with travel agencies to create tour packages for expanding its global reach. The exhibition layout is updated, and large-scale booths are decentralized to maximize the number of available booths and avoid crowding. Tokyo Game Show will provide a platform to accommodate as many exhibitors as possible while improving the venue environment.

Tokyo Game Show 2024 will take place in a hybrid format, which will include both physical and virtual venues along with official streaming. The first two days, 26 September (Thursday) and 27 September (Friday) 2024, will be Business Days, and the following two days, 28 September (Saturday) and 29 September (Sunday) 2024, will be Public Days. The exhibition at an in-person venue aims to cater to a diverse range of visitors, from business professionals to families. Moreover, official streaming programs and the virtual venue will provide various news and experiences, crossing geographical boundaries and time differences.

The virtual venue for the Tokyo Game Show has a new name: “Tokyo Game Show Digital World (Tokyo Game Show Digital World)” instead of the previous “Tokyo Game Show VR.” The updated event will offer a range of digital content that can be enjoyed on PCs, smartphones, and VR devices.

Tokyo Game Show 2023 held last year was the first time in four years that the entire Makuhari Messe halls were used for the event. It was held at an unprecedented scale and saw a record-high number of exhibitors, booths, and game titles participating in the event. The physical venue at Makuhari Messe was visited by approximately 250,000 people, which exceeded our expectations. Tokyo Game Show, at a full scale, made a triumphant comeback in the year 2023.

The gaming market has been growing at an astonishing rate, with an estimated user base of over three billion worldwide. Popular games and content are enjoyed by people from around the globe beyond time differences, and gaming businesses operate beyond national borders. The globalization of the gaming world is accelerated by both gaming businesses and their fan communities.

Tokyo Game Show is a platform that highlights the most recent trends in the global gaming market. With almost half of the exhibitors from abroad, the showcased game titles range from those for home game consoles to smartphones, PCs, and VR. The exhibits cater to a wide variety of interests, including game software titles, business solutions, gaming hardware, gear for gamers, and the display and sale of gaming-related goods. The event attracts an increasing number of visitors from all over the world as well as Japan, and influencers from Japan and abroad are spreading the word about the excitement of the venue. The Tokyo Game Show is gaining popularity and recognition globally more than ever.

In recent years, almost half of the exhibitors at the Tokyo Game Show have come from foreign countries, making the event an increasingly popular global showcase. Press events promoting the Tokyo Game Show and inviting exhibitors from overseas are held in major Asian cities, while actively attracting more international visitors. The international business matching at the Tokyo Game Show will take place in a dedicated meeting area with an enhanced appointment system, in response to high demand from overseas professionals. Additionally, the Tokyo Game Show organizes an international networking party to facilitate business exchange beyond borders every year, and Tokyo Game Show 2024 is not an exception. To attract game fans from foreign countries, the Tokyo Game Show plans to partner with overseas travel agencies to organize tours. Ultimately, the Tokyo Game Show aims to serve as a global event meeting both business-to-business and business-to-consumer needs.

Similar to last year, the Tokyo Game Show 2024 will take place in a hybrid style and will be held at its largest-ever scale. The in-person exhibition will be held across Makuhari Messe, using Halls 1 to 11, the International Conference Hall, and the Event Hall. Tokyo Game Show 2024 has reviewed the exhibition booth and stage layout to expand the total number of booths available for exhibitors. This expansion will allow more exhibitors to participate in the event while alleviating crowds by scattering large-scale exhibitor areas. The virtual exhibition has been renamed from “Tokyo Game Show VR” to “Tokyo Game Show Digital World” to attract a wide range of game fans. Tokyo Game Show Digital World will take place for an extended period, from 20 September 2024 (Friday) until 6 October 2024, allowing game enthusiasts to enjoy the virtual exhibition on PCs, smartphones, and VR devices before the in-person exhibition.

This will provide a longer period for immersion in the gaming world and interaction with other users. Official streaming programs will be delivered simultaneously on various platforms, including YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and Niconico. Virtual content presented by the organizer and exhibitors will be available even after the closing time of the in-person exhibition, making it a four-day event filled with games. Additionally, a special Tokyo Game Show site will be set up on the Steam website this year as well, featuring user-friendly interfaces, support for sales of compatible game software, and promotion of free trial play.

Tokyo Game Show 2024 is calling for exhibitors to participate in the in-person venue or the virtual venue for 12 areas: “General Exhibition”, “Smartphone Game Area”, “Gaming Hardware Area”, “Gaming Lifestyle Area”, “AR/VR Area”, “eSports Area”, “Game Academy Area”, “Merchandise Area”, “Indie Game Area”, “Family Game Park”, “Business Solution Area”, and “Business Meeting Area”. This year, the AI Technology Pavilion will be newly set up within the Business Solution Area, to invite exhibitors providing business-to business AI solutions.

Tokyo Game Show 2024 plans to invite journalists (mass media and reporters) and influencers from Japan and worldwide to promote and spread the latest news about the event to a wider audience before, during, and after the event. Tokyo Game Show 2024 will continue to appoint its official supporter and indie game ambassador while inviting official influencers from Asia. This influencer project started last year, and it openly recruits influencers representing each country and region in Asia and Oceania, from East Asia to the Middle East, to spread information globally. Moreover, influencers who meet Tokyo Game Show’s criteria will be invited to the venue on the second Business Day.

The Creator Lounge will be prepared at the in-person venue as a base for influencers to use when visiting the venue and support delivering the latest news. Additionally, Tokyo Game Show will prepare a system that will enable journalists and influencers to contact exhibitors before the exhibition to request interviews and trial play of games. By creating an environment where exhibitors, mass media, and influencers can more easily connect with each other, Tokyo Game Show aims to expand the reach of information to business professionals and game fans.

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