From August 26 to 30, Cologne, Germany, will host one of the world’s largest video game exhibitions—gamescom 2026. For the fourth consecutive year, Ukraine will be represented at the event by its own unified booth, Games From Ukraine, which will bring together Ukrainian B2B companies and indie studios to present their new projects and services to an international audience.
The initiative is being organized by VG Entertainment, Games Gathering, and Burny Games. The pavilion will serve as a venue where Ukrainian B2B companies and independent studios will present their new games and technological solutions to an international audience.
The main idea behind the project is to demonstrate that even amid a full-scale war, the Ukrainian game development industry has not only retained its potential but continues to actively grow. The industry is strengthening its position in the global market, expanding international partnerships, and adopting cutting-edge technologies, particularly AI.
The Games From Ukraine business zone will feature GSC Game World, Flexus, Mobihunter, Mind Studios Games, AB Games, PlayToMax, and Ukrainian Fight Drone Simulator. The exhibition will include both video game developers and companies operating in various areas of the gaming ecosystem and providing specialized services to the industry.
“The Ukrainian Pavilion at gamescom is much more than just participation in one of the world’s largest gaming exhibitions. It’s an opportunity to showcase the strength, creative potential, and resilience of the Ukrainian gaming industry to an international audience, as well as to secure a prominent place for Ukrainian studios and professionals on the global game development map. Every year, the pavilion helps establish new contacts, find partners, and open up opportunities for collaboration. It’s a space where Ukrainian companies can talk about their projects, showcase their own developments, and lay the groundwork for future international partnerships. It is extremely important to us that Ukraine continues to be recognized, integrated into the global gaming community, and perceived as a strong and dynamic player in the global industry,” said Olena Lobova, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Burny Games.
The Ukrainian game development industry is expanding its presence at gamescom
This year, Ukraine will be represented at gamescom in two formats, with a focus on different areas of the gaming industry. The Games From Ukraine pavilion will traditionally serve as a venue for business meetings, negotiations, and finding new partners, while a separate Indie Area booth will allow independent Ukrainian studios to showcase their games to a wide audience of exhibition visitors.
One of the most prominent participants in the business pavilion will be GSC Game World—a Kyiv-based studio that has gained worldwide recognition thanks to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Cossacks series. Following the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, the company has further solidified its position among the most prominent Ukrainian developers on the international market.
Since 2023, the studio has been part of the portfolio of Ukrainian entrepreneur and investor Maksym Krippa. In addition to GSC Game World, his gaming and esports portfolio also includes the NAVI organization, Burny Games, and Maincast—one of Ukraine’s leading esports broadcasters.
At the same time, gamescom will serve as a platform not only for Ukrainian companies to showcase their work but also for charitable initiatives. Burny Games announced on LinkedIn that it will host its traditional annual networking event during the expo, led by Olena Lobova. A charity auction in support of the Gamedev Under Bombs initiative will take place concurrently.
Auction lots will include autographed collectibles related to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, handmade items crafted from repurposed military materials, Ukrainian books, artwork, and jewelry donated to the event by friends of Burny Games. All proceeds will go toward supporting the Gamedev Under Bombs project, which helps members of the Ukrainian gaming industry who have been affected by the war.