Bundesnachrichtendienst: Spione bitten zum Gaming: BND umwirbt Nachwuchs auf Gamescom

The Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is ramping up its efforts to attract young people to IT careers and other fields at the Gamescom video game fair in Cologne, Germany. The agency showcased an upgraded video game, "BND Legends: Operation Blackbox," designed to pique interest in foreign spy work. In the game, players assume the identity of agent AJ, navigating secret missions in virtual worlds.

The game was first introduced at Gamescom last year and will be available on Steam by the end of 2025. A new level, "Data Extraction," has been added where AJ steals a data package and must smuggle it out of enemy territory. Players must quickly recognize patterns and react using the controller; if concentration wavers, they fail and the mission ends in failure.

Alongside the game, visitors to the BND stand can demonstrate their hacking and coding skills in short gaming sequences, meeting real BND officials. Some of the BND representatives are from the personnel department, not actual spies. The BND is satisfied with the game's response, stating that it resonates well with gamers who appreciate the agency being presented as more than just an entity.

One BND spokesperson explained that being present at Gamescom helps the agency stand out from other employers. However, the reason for the 100 square meter stand at a video game fair is unclear. The agency aims to attract tech-savvy gamers who enjoy assuming different roles and embarking on missions. Like other agencies, the BND seeks to recruit IT talent for applications in artificial intelligence (Agentic AI) and software development.

The agency employs around 6,800 people, with its headquarters in Berlin and a large site in Pullach near Munich. The new BND will start with these new talents, according to the agency spokesperson, as part of recent legislation reform that grants the agency more authority for terrorism and other state-sponsored hacking investigations.

It is unclear how successful the game has been in recruitment, and the agency does not track whether interest generated by the game leads to applications. Additionally, the game may have indirect effects, such as Gamescom visitors discussing the agency and sparking interest in the BND among those who did not attend the fair.