Silver Palace, currently in development by Elementa, was nominated for Best Mobile Game at the gamescom Awards 2026 in its very first appearance at the event.

On August 27, we met with a member of Elementa's Silver Palace development team on-site at gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany. Asked about his reaction to learning of the nomination, he said he was surprised and overjoyed. It was not only the game's first appearance at gamescom, but as an unreleased title, it was listed alongside established competitors that had already launched. He added that this nomination was a form of recognition in itself.

A closer look at the nominee lineup reveals that this category is essentially a battleground for Greater China anime-style open-world live-service games, and Silver Palace sits right alongside them. However, while the other four contenders were evaluated on their post-launch achievements, Silver Palace earned its place on the same line solely through its trailers and hands-on demo build.

Regarding the purpose of exhibiting at gamescom, he explained, "We viewed it as an opportunity to meet players from all over the world directly, as well as a stage to serve as a marketing breakthrough." Silver Palace has been making appearances across game shows in both Asia and the West this year, even running a booth at Anime NYC 2026 in New York, which overlapped with gamescom. For an unreleased game to appear at offline events with this frequency is seen as a strategic move prioritizing building brand awareness in advance.

Regarding the new promotional video revealed during Opening Night Live (ONL), the event's opening showcase, he remarked, "The reaction was better than expected." He noted that despite being shown back-to-back among a series of other game reveals, the response was quite positive. The video opens with a scene examining a corpse covered in a silvery-white substance, intercut with a female detective's investigation and combat. The presentation encapsulates the "dark fairytale" world highlighted by the developer.

Asked about differences in reactions between Eastern and Western game shows, he answered that there is a clear distinction. gamescom is massive and brings together general attendees, media, and industry professionals, creating an atmosphere where games are evaluated from a professional perspective, making the attendees' eyes feel that much more discerning.

In contrast, he explained that at Asian events tailored specifically to subculture genres, such as Bilibili World, the response is more direct and enthusiastic. It highlights the difference between an event where the audience is already focused on genre fans versus a comprehensive game show that draws crowds regardless of genre.

The on-site demo build this time included firearm-based combat, marking the first time this content was shown to Western players. Gun action had been present in previous closed beta test (CBT) stages, but it was revamped into a different form for this build. He explained that because the overall feedback was better than before, the team considers the adjustments to have paid off.

He cited seeing the positive reactions previously noted in online tests firsthand at the event as a key gain from participating.

He also pointed out the difference between online testing and on-site playtests. While online tests focus primarily on data collected during play, as participants are selected beforehand, offline venues reveal immediate, moment-to-moment emotions and reactions. Silver Palace wrapped up its second global test in July. In that sense, participating in gamescom served not only as a promotional stage but also as a continuation of post-test validation.

The booth set up at Koelnmesse was styled in a European aesthetic. He mentioned that the team wanted to present a European-style booth design alongside the game's universe, explaining that because Silver Palace's setting itself is based on Europe, the focus was placed on bringing that atmosphere to the venue.

The booth featured a central stage, a gameplay demo zone, a photo spot, and a merch collection zone, alongside a pumpkin carriage display from the Cinderella boss encounter. Themed stage programs were also run four times a day, including live band performances, dance acts, and cosplayer runways. Rather than merely setting up demo stations, the entire booth was designed as an experiential space for the game's universe.

As for the areas receiving the most effort in development, he highlighted open-world exploration elements and action first. He added that since subculture themes serve as the core foundation, significant emphasis is also placed on the narrative and character design.

When asked to evaluate what drove the positive response in the West, he answered that Silver Palace's biggest strength is its "art." He believes that art with a distinct identity right down to its thematic material laid the groundwork for the overall enthusiasm. The ONL trailer, the booth design, and the nominated award category ultimately all leveraged its visuals and worldbuilding as core strengths.

Regarding the Korean market, he responded that they view it as very important, citing the volume of pre-registrations from Korean players and the establishment of a Korean subsidiary as evidence. Silver Palace surpassed 10 million global pre-registrations this month, and Elementa established its Korean entity in August of last year.

As for plans to engage with players in the future, he stated that they intend to scale up marketing and connect with players at offline events such as domestic gaming conventions in Korea. He explained that in terms of trailers and artwork, they are also aiming to reflect styles preferred by Korean players.

While noting that it is difficult to disclose a formal launch schedule, he said they are preparing to conduct a final test within the year. Taking the expression "final test" at face value suggests that the official release window narrows to a date after that. Reaching 10 million pre-registrations and participating in consecutive offline events are all moves aligned with that timeline.

When asked what kind of experience they hope to deliver to players with Silver Palace, he answered by bringing up the company's name. True to their slogan embodying the concept of bringing joy, he expressed the desire to deliver fun and enjoyment through the game. "To put it a bit dramatically, I hope everyone can possess the element of joy," he said.