Frederik Hammes, who stepped into the role of managing director of Gamescom Dev after Stephan Reichart earlier this year, points to the latest Gamescom Dev speaker survey as clear evidence that the most significant growth potential in today’s gaming market lies with smaller development studios. "You can accomplish a great deal with a compact team, but the commercial responsibilities don’t disappear," Hammes told GamesIndustry.biz.
"Even if you’re a three‑person outfit, someone still has to handle contracts, finances, marketing and the myriad other business tasks. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can access production expertise, programming know‑how, design insight, creative feedback, and also learn the fundamentals of running a sustainable business. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, solid business acumen remains crucial." In August 2025, the former Devcom conference was rebranded as Gamescom Dev, effectively extending the broader Gamescom experience into a full‑week event. Hammes explained that the rebranding was driven by a desire to bring the two gatherings closer together under a single banner.
"The case for aligning more tightly with Gamescom is compelling," he said. "We now have a powerful partner on our side, which brings a host of practical benefits. For attendees, the ticketing process is far simpler – previously there were separate tickets, separate purchase routes, and little integration between the two events. Now there is a single ticket shop that gives you access to everything you need.
The Gamescom business week runs from Monday to Friday, and anyone who buys a ticket can also wander over to the main Gamescom exhibition until Friday." This year’s program features 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Hammes cautioned that success shouldn’t be measured purely by numbers. "It’s not a numbers game. We don’t have to hit arbitrary attendance targets.
It’s about matching supply with demand, and we’re seeing the market become more specialised," he noted. The event’s current home, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse, imposes a ceiling on how much the conference can expand.
While the venue comfortably accommodates the present format, Hammes acknowledged that “there is limited room to grow.” If the industry continues its rapid expansion, the organizers may need to consider relocating or physically integrating the event more closely with the main Gamescom fair. "At this stage we’re not planning a massive scale‑up, because that would require a bigger logistical effort and possibly a move nearer to Gamescom itself, which is a realistic option.
If the democratization of game development continues – with more indie and micro‑studios entering the field – we’ll eventually need more space to serve everyone," Hammes explained. Devcom was launched in 2017 to fill the void left when GDC Europe ceased operations. Although the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference targets a similar audience and covers comparable topics, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor. He emphasizes a collaborative spirit within the global development community.
"We’re separate organisations, each with our own business model, but there’s a strong sense of community behind the scenes. Everyone wants to be profitable, yet the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat. The industry functions like a global circus in a positive way – people travel from one conference to another, sharing ideas and experiences.
It’s not about eliminating other events; when all conferences thrive, the whole sector benefits. Our friends at GDC are currently facing challenges due to external conditions, and we hope those issues improve soon. Ultimately, we all want the industry to be healthy." A fresh addition to the Gamescom Dev agenda is the series of Leadership Summits.
These one‑day gatherings provide senior executives with a private environment free from press, microphones, or recordings. Hammes stressed the importance of offering leaders a "safe space" to discuss the turbulent market conditions they currently face. "It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging viewpoints," he said. "When the summit began, we asked how many attendees had delivered bad news within the past year – every hand went up.
We then asked who had received bad news – again, every hand stayed raised. The climate is undeniably tough right now.
We want a confidential setting where leaders can be candid, because at senior levels there’s often pressure to project confidence and stability, which can stifle honest conversation." The speaker survey also revealed a split opinion on artificial intelligence. While 47 % of speakers believe AI will be the most transformative development for the industry over the next three years, only 11 % consider AI literacy the top skill developers need to acquire. "What does that tell us?
Either we’re over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," Hammes reflected. "In reality, the most critical skill isn’t technical at all – it’s leadership.
About 27 % of respondents named leadership as the key competency. That translates to: ‘We recognise change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technology‑only solution. We need people who can guide us through it.’ In other words, the industry is searching for leaders who can chart a course through uncertainty, rather than relying solely on new tools." Overall, Hammes envisions Gamescom Dev as a catalyst for small studios, a platform for knowledge sharing, and a forum where industry leaders can confront challenges together.
By keeping the event focused on practical education, networking, and collaborative problem‑solving, Gamescom Dev aims to support the evolving ecosystem of game development, from indie teams of three to larger studios navigating an increasingly complex market.