German Games Industry's Wait for Tax Credits Continues
At the political opening of gamescom, there was much praise for the importance of games as a cultural asset and economic factor. Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck addressed the elephant in the room, hoping that a tax-based funding model could become a reality next year.
Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse, Henriette Reker, Mayor of Cologne and Chairwoman of the Koelnmesse Supervisory Board, Robert Habeck, Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Felix Falk, Managing Director of game – The German Games Industry Association, Lars Janssen, Chairman of the Executive Board of game – The German Games Industry Association and Michael Kellner, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action during gamescom 2024 at Koelnmesse on August 21, 2024 in Cologne, Germany. Franziska Krug/game - Verband der deutschen Games-Branche via Getty Images
The guests of honour at the political opening of gamescom had one thing on their minds: Praising the games industry. Mayor Henriette Reker called Cologne "Europe's games capital". And Hendrik Wüst, Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, called gamescom "the place to be" for representatives of society. He also emphasised the economic dimension, which many people unfamiliar with the scene are unable to appreciate.
The guests of honour at the political opening of gamescom had one thing on their minds: Praising the games industry. Mayor Henriette Reker called Cologne "Europe's games capital". And Hendrik Wüst, Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, called gamescom "the place to be" for representatives of society. He also emphasised the economic dimension, which many people unfamiliar with the scene are unable to appreciate.
