Nintendo to skip Gamescom

Nintendo has decided against attending Europe’s biggest consumer games event which takes place just months before the Wii U’s worldwide launch.

Gamescom, which takes place in Cologne from August 15th to 19th, will showcase games from hundreds of the biggest games companies in the sector.

EA, Ubisoft and Take-Two will be three of an expected 500 exhibitors, but Nintendo has confirmed it will forgo attending.

“Although Gamescom is one of the most important fairs for us, we have decided not to participate this year”, said Nintendo spokesperson Silja Gülicher.

The company told Nintendo-Online.de that it will instead “broaden post-E3 activities to introduce the Wii U, and the latest titles for Nintendo Wii and 3DS, to trade and media partners”.

Gamescom last year drew in about 275,000 attendees. Now organisers are expanding available exhibition space to 140,000 square metres to accommodate a similar number this year.