Gamescom, the new European trade show being organised by the BIU German trade body, will have the backing of the entire games it would seem - despite the chief of the rival Leipzig Games Convention describing the expo as "ridiculous".

Gamescom is being billed as possibly the world's biggest game show, Cologne's superior transport links and facilities being mooted as one reason for the move. This despite over 200,000 visitors attending GC this year.

"There will not be another show of any relevance in Germany," the BIU's Klemens Kundratitz told publication MCV. "[Leipzig] might try something, but the top 12 publishers are in the BIU and we are committed to take the show to the next level in Cologne."

"We know the truth," retorted Leipzig Messe boss Wolfgang Marzin. "We’ve already proved that GC works, and we have trade backing – nobody wants a show in September. Another copy of GC in is ridiculous; what is the benefit of holding another show? I am confident that the big show will be GC next year."

That said, boss David Reeves is clearly in favour of Gamescom, the exec stating that he believes the Cologne show can double visitor numbers to 400,000.

By Luke Guttridge