German intelligence recruits gamers directly at gamescom. The agency set up an entire booth at the exhibition

The BND even has its own game - BND-Legenden: Operation Blackbox.

The German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) decided to look for new employees among Gamescom 2026 visitors. The agency set up a career booth where it tries to attract people with technical skills, including cybersecurity and hacking specialists.

BND representative Julia Linner explained that there is a noticeable overlap between gamers and the specialists the intelligence service is looking for. According to her, players are technically savvy, used to taking on different roles, completing tasks, and persistently achieving their goals.

At the BND booth, visitors who meet the agency's requirements are offered a five-stage challenge. It is designed to test skills and abilities related to cybersecurity and hacking.

The BND has already used Gamescom to recruit employees: in 2025, the agency also presented BND-Legenden: Operation Blackbox there, inviting visitors to play it directly at their booth.