He returned to São Paulo with an ambitious proposal and, apparently, he managed to fulfill it. Between April 30th and May 3rd, the Anhembi District transformed into a true epicenter of gamer culture, bringing together industry giants and independent developers who are redefining the future of gaming.
More than an event, this edition reinforced that Brazil is no longer just a consumer market, but a rising protagonist on the global stage. The presence of large publishers, combined with exclusive releases and immersive experiences, created an environment that rivals international editions of the company itself.
Although in different proportions, the integration with the BIG Festival continues to be one of the event’s biggest achievements. For those who follow the market, you know that since 2022, the BIG Festival has ceased to be Brazil’s Independent Games Festival and has taken on the proposal of becoming the biggest indie games award in the world, as the Best International Games Festival, reserving space for independent developers and ensuring that the event does not only live on AAA titles, but has around 50 titles available in the Game Dev area and the ABRAGAMES stand, with the incredible Talaka and A Investigação Póstuma.
With less and less support from the main companies, Gamescom Latam 2026 follows the trend of other events in filling the Anhembi District with good experiences, and for this it counted on the return of Nintendo and the mega stands of Brawl Stars and Clash Royale. The big surprise was the stand for Phantom Blade Zero, a Chinese game developed and published by S-Game, which arrives in September 2026.
Divided into four different areas, Gamescom Latam 2026 separated its space by themes. In Hero Zone we had titles dedicated to fantasy and adventure, with great emphasis on Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, from Arc System Works. The Neo Zone, dedicated to sci-fi fans, had the wonderful We Where Here Tomorrow, and the Shadow Zone, for those who enjoy horror, with games from New Blood Interactive. In the Open Zone, dedicated to simulation and sand box games, Riot Games ran the show with Teamfight Tactics (TFT), 2XKO and Wild Rift.
We also visited the Business Area in an appointment with Tassei Denki, an international leader in gaming hardware, consumer technology and innovative accessories, to discover the G’AIM’E TIME CRISIS Lightgun, in celebration of 30 years of Time Crisis and with a lot of nostalgia.
Big brands such as AMD, TCL and Logitech were also present to serve the loyal public looking for new items, equipment and accessories. NVIDIA also participated this year with a stand that offered the chance to try out technologies such as DLSS 4, DLSS 4.5 and path tracing in titles such as Phantom Blade Zero, PRAGMATA and Resident Evil Requiem.
Among the other stands, in addition to the busy space for Pokémon activations, Warner brought Lego Batman: The Dark Knight’s Legacy to please all audiences with this fun title; Skybound Entertainment also participated with a huge space for Invincible VS, a game developed by Quarter Up; Ukiyo Studios, which was present with Rain98, Don’t Let it Starve and Moonlight Motel, two Brazilian titles published by Black Lantern Collective, Mina the Hollower, a new game from Yacht Club Games (creators of Shovel Knight), Box Knight, and Croak, a platform game with incredible animations by artists who have already worked on Rick and Morty and Cuphead.
With the presence of David Wise, responsible for iconic soundtracks that marked generations of players, such as Donkey Kong Country, Battletoads, Diddy Kong Racing, Star Fox Adventures and Yooka-Laylee, Gamescom Latam 2026 offered an unforgettable show for the fans present. Furthermore, the meet & greet options with influencers and lectures also helped to expand the reach of the event, connecting different layers of the gaming community.
In the end, Gamescom Latam 2026 was not just about playing, but about understanding the market, creating connections and being inspired, even when fans miss the presence of giants Sony and Microsoft. This edition was a clear sign that Latin America, and especially Brazil, is increasingly included on the global gaming map, not as a spectator, but as an active part of this evolution, even though it is increasingly difficult to explore this world with your independent game.
