COLOGNE, Germany, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Gamescom 2025, one of the world's largest trade fairs for computer and video games beginning on Wednesday, attracted a record of 1,500 exhibitors. It highlighted both the industry's global reach and the growing footprint of Chinese developers.

Jointly organized by the Cologne Exhibition Center (Koelnmesse) and the German Games Industry Association, the event runs until Sunday across 233,000 square meters, its largest floor space to date.

Game companies and studios from 72 countries and regions are showcasing new releases, immersive technologies, and merchandise across areas ranging from cosplay to indie games.

This year's lineup includes 50 Chinese exhibitors, up from just under 40 in 2024, according to Grace Pan, senior project manager at Koelnmesse.

"Chinese developers are bringing a wide variety of new titles, advanced production techniques and distinctive elements such as Chinese martial arts and mythology," Pan told Xinhua.

On the eve of the fair, Chinese studio Game Science unveiled its latest title, Black Myth: Zhong Kui, during the Opening Night Live showcase. The release drew loud cheers from both the audience in Cologne and viewers following the global livestream.

The developer launched Black Myth: Wukong on Aug. 20 last year, a triple-A game inspired by a classic Chinese novel that has since become a global hit. Its new title, Zhong Kui, is rooted in Chinese folklore and features the legendary ghost-hunting figure.

Pan said the profile of Chinese exhibitors at Gamescom has shifted in recent years from "quantity of participation" to "breakthroughs in quality," with more developers polishing original works distinguished by strong visuals, storytelling, and gameplay.

"Chinese games are far more visible in Europe today than just a few years ago -- both in the charts and at events like Gamescom," Felix Falk, managing director of the German Games Industry Association, said in a written interview with Xinhua.

He highlighted the strong presence of publishers such as miHoYo, Tencent, and NetEase, adding that "booths like the one for Black Myth: Wukong were among the most visited at Gamescom two years ago, when the game was shown as a pre-release demo."

Germany is Europe's largest and the world's fifth-biggest games market, according to the association's annual report released ahead of Gamescom. With about 37.5 million players, the market in 2024 saw four Chinese titles rank among its top 10 mobile downloads, the report said.  ■