Premiere of the enhanced version of “WARSAW RISING” at Gamescom in Cologne / Success of “WARSAW RISING” at Gamescom in Cologne

The activities of the Institute of National Remembrance are proof that computer games can be not only a form of entertainment, but also a carrier of educational values. At Gamescom (August 23-27) in Cologne, Germany, the Office of New Technologies presented a rich offer for players, including an expanded version of the “WARSAW RISING” game.

On 27 August 2023, Europe’s largest gaming event, the Gamescom trade fair, came to an end. The Institute of National Remembrance once again participated in this unique event, presenting an educationally enhanced version of the game “WARSAW RISING – City of Heroes.” The reception of this project among players and the scale of interest in the offer have once again exceeded our wildest expectations. In less than a week after the premiere, the game has already been downloaded by more than 100,000 people! The Office of New Technologies of the Institute of National Remembrance once again proved that history can be presented in an innovative way, at the same time engaging and teaching younger generations.

“WARSAW RISING” is a tactical game with RPG elements based on a timeless, comic book style emphasizing the horror of the events of 1944. The entire project has been designed with carę for fidelity to historical realities, which enriches the educational value of the project. Graphic elements such as costumes, uniforms, equipment, weapons and vehicles, as well as missions, historical events and voice-overs of the performing characters in their native languages refer to historical prototypes. Warsaw’s landscape changes with the passing of time, and the game reflects the progressive destruction of the city in the successive phases of fighting. The game begins̨ on August 1 and continues until the end of the Uprising 63 days later. Each day, the player is informed – on calendar pages – about the events that actually took place during the fighting on the streets of Warsaw.

In the new, expanded version of the project, the player has the chance to participate in missions based on actual events of the Warsaw Uprising. In addition, photographs of figures, historical documents and posters directly related to the Uprising appear as part of the game. The game has also been complemented by a valuable calendar showing the key events of each day.

It is worth mentioning that as part of the IPN stand, it was also possible to experience the now cult “Cipher Game”, this time in the VR version. This product of the Office of New Technologies was recently named the 2022 Historic Event of the Year in the education category.

To sum up, Gamescom 2023 was another memorable experience, combining technological modernity with a deep respect for history. It is no coincidence that the premiere of the new version of WARSAW RISING took place in August, the month in which we pay tribute to the heroic Warsaw insurgents, whose courage and sacrifice still evoke vivid emotions today.

The game “WARSAW RISING” is available free of charge on the STEAM account of the Institute of National Remembrance.

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