The Game Awards 2024 and the Return of Opening Night Live in 2025

As we eagerly anticipate The Game Awards 2024 and its exciting new announcements, the wheels are already in motion for another Geoff Keighley show. Opening Night Live is set to make a comeback in 2025, kicking off the next year's Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. German website GamesWirtschaft has revealed that the sale of booths and partnerships for Gamescom 2025 has commenced this week, with prices per square meter remaining relatively consistent compared to this year's exhibition.

Price Increases for Opening Night Live

Interestingly, the prices for Opening Night Live seem to be the exception. GamesWirtschaft reports that a 30-second timeslot in the main show will cost €140,000 EUR (approximately $147,577 USD) in 2025, which is €25,000 more than in 2024. This represents an increase of over 17%. A 3-minute timeslot can be secured for €465,000 (around $490,167). In 2024, only companies with an exhibition space of at least 100sqm or an alternative investment of at least €60,000 were eligible to purchase a timeslot at ONL. Under the same conditions in 2025, a 3-minute slot would cost well above half a million euros.However, there is good news for publishers and indie developers. Any with a global revenue of under €100 million can apply for the limited wildcard slots on the show, which come at no cost. But their content must be deemed "very strong" by the organizers. It's likely that these wildcard slots will be available again in 2025.

Details of ONL 2025 Timeslots

ONL timeslots typically become available in January and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Opening Night Live 2025 is scheduled for August 19, 2025, with Gamescom running from August 20 to 24, 2025. This provides a prime opportunity for the gaming industry to showcase their latest offerings and generate excitement.The consistent theme throughout is the growth and evolution of the gaming event landscape. With the increased prices for Opening Night Live, it shows the growing importance and demand for this premier gaming showcase. And the availability of wildcard slots offers a chance for smaller players to make their mark. It's an exciting time for the gaming community as they look forward to what 2025 will bring.