RAW TALENT Booth returns – bigger than ever: CGL leads initiative for student presence in the Indie Area
Cologne Game Lab is once again making waves at gamescom: For the second year in a row, CGL is spearheading the RAW TALENT initiative, a unique showcase dedicated to student-led indie games at Europe’s largest gaming event. Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Greta Hoffmann, who launched the format in 2024, the booth has now grown into a major presence within the fair’s Indie Area (Hall 10.2).
For gamescom 2025, around 50 student teams – with more than 160 students from 11 public universities across Germany and Austria – will present their games at the 63 m² RAW TALENT booth. With this initiative, the Cologne Game Lab is not only creating a stage for young creative talent but also establishing a new benchmark for practice-based learning in game design education.
“Being able to present a game at gamescom is a dream come true for many students. Until now, student projects were often limited to the Business or Campus Area, far from the public eye. With RAW TALENT, we’re changing that – giving students real visibility and a chance to be seen and treated like indie professionals,” says Prof. Dr. Greta Hoffmann, professor at Cologne Game Lab
Learning through exposure: gamescom as a real-world challenge
Prof. Hoffmann emphasizes that RAW TALENT is much more than a presentation space. It’s also a carefully designed learning format that integrates public feedback, time pressure, and the chaos of a real industry environment.
“The Indie Area is intense – hundreds of people play your game, point out bugs you missed, and compare you to the game next door. It’s a stress test, but also incredibly valuable. Students gain confidence, learn to communicate their vision, and experience how the games industry works at its core.”
RAW TALENT is built on a philosophy of equal opportunity and inclusive talent development. All participating students, regardless of their university, region, or background, have access to the same professional platform. In addition to showcasing their work, they gain experience in project organization, teamwork, and creative communication – all within a safe, supportive framework.
About the RAW TALENT Booth
The RAW TALENT booth (Stand no. D042g – D044g) is a collaboration between 11 public universities in Germany and Austria, including:
- University of Bayreuth
- HTW Berlin with DE:HIVE Incubator
- TU Chemnitz
- Hochschule Darmstadt
- Hochschule Furtwangen
- TU Graz
- TH Köln / Cologne Game Lab
- Hochschule Mittweida
- Technical University of Munich
- Hochschule Neu-Ulm
- University of Siegen
The Cologne Game Lab at TH Köln serves as initiator and lead organizer of the booth.
After its successful premiere in 2024 – where 19 student teams showcased their games in a modest 4 m² space in the “Home of Indies” – RAW TALENT returns to gamescom 2025 with a significantly expanded presence, driven by the CGL’s commitment to fostering the next generation of game creators.
More info: https://rawtalentbooth.com/