Germany’s Military Courts Gamers at Gamescom

Since 2016 the German armed forces (Bundeswehr) have maintained a booth in the Job Area of Gamescom, the world’s largest video-game trade fair in Cologne. The 2024 edition runs from August 26-30, featuring an olive-green Caracal off-road vehicle, cyber-defence laptops, virtual-reality tours of naval vessels, and a pull-up bar where visitors can test physical strength. A new career lounge offers “career counseling sessions” for attendees interested in military occupations.

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Germany is seeking to expand its active-duty force to 260,000 soldiers by 2035 while modernising the service with hundreds of billions of euros in government funding. Gamescom’s audience aligns with the Bundeswehr’s recruitment target: two-thirds of non-industry visitors are male, and over 40 % are aged 16-25, the age group the military hopes to attract. A Bitkom study cited by the article notes that one in five gamers believes video-game skills such as reaction speed and problem-solving could be useful in wartime.

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Lt. Gen. Sieger, who oversees the Bundeswehr’s presence at the fair, stresses that the booth is meant to educate rather than glamorise combat. He adds that the Bundeswehr must be visible in public life to fulfill its security responsibilities.

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The German Peace Society — United War Resisters— and peace activist Marius Pletsch contend that the Bundeswehr’s use of gaming jargon and adventure-focused slogans is inappropriate. The organization will run a counter-booth offering information on conscientious objection.

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• “It would be downright negligent for an organization responsible for our country's security not to be an inherent part of society," Sieger said.” — Lt. Gen. Sieger

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• “Morally questionable, but a good employer," said Dennis, a 22-year-old computer science student, although he said the Bundeswehr wasn't for him.” — Dennis

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