Frankly, it is incredibly rare to see a head of state at a gaming show. In the US, China, or even here in South Korea, a sitting president visiting a major show like G-STAR is unheard of. While there was some chatter last year about the possibility of Lee Jae-myung attending G-STAR as the first sitting president, it ended as an Absent Seat. Japan’s Tokyo Game Show hasn't seen a prime minister pay a visit either.

Usually, these high-level visits are a logistical nightmare, juggling diplomatic schedules and the inevitable security headache that ruins the day for regular punters. That is why you typically see ministers or lower-tier officials instead. However, the fact that the German President is going out of his way to deliver a speech speaks volumes about the global stature of gamescom and how seriously the German government now views the medium.