Computer Entertainment Suppliers Association, Tokyo Game Show organizer, published New press release after the closing ceremony of TGS 2022. It revealed that a total of 138,192 people visited the actual site over the course of four days from September 15-18, 2022.
Below are the detailed attendance numbers for each day. Note that the first two days are for members of the gaming industry and the press. CESA allows the public to enter the venue from Friday at 14:00 (2pm) JST.
- Thursday, September 15, 2022: 23,051
- Friday, September 16, 2022: 27,614 (21,066 business people + 6,548 public guests)
- Saturday, September 17, 2022: 47,236
- Sunday, September 18, 2022: 40,291
The last TGS iteration with a physical event prior to 2022 occurred in 2019. CESA recorded 262,076 visitors at the 2019 Tokyo Game Show. TGS 2022 recorded more than half the attendance compared to 2019. The 2018 edition still holds the highest attendance record with 298,690 guests.
In the previous year, CESA announced that Tokyo Game Show 2021 had only 1,574 actual visitors. While that number is one sharp decrease compared to 2019, the global COVID-19 pandemic has brought physical events to a halt. Technically, there are no actual attendees in 2020, as CESA has chosen to hold a completely virtual event post-pandemic. For the 2021 edition, the organizer held a limited physical event where only approved influencers and members of the press could attend. CESA did not include the 2021 number in its latest press release.
Foreign visitors also contributed to the number of people attending the show. The Japanese government has step by step Limit travel and relax in recent months. It began allowing “unsupported travelers” with a known “sponsor” or travel agency in September 2022. However, the situation has not yet returned to pre-pandemic years.
Also in this press conference, CESA confirmed the date of the upcoming Tokyo Game Show 2023. Japan’s annual gaming event will return on September 21-24, 2023.
Andrew, one of Siliconera’s writers, was also present at the actual venue of Tokyo Game Show 2022 at Makuhari Messe. You can read Andrew’s impressions as he hands-on some game demos first person two days.
