Frederik Hammes, who stepped into the role of managing director of Gamescom Dev after Stephan Reichart earlier this year, points to the findings of the recent Gamescom Dev speaker survey as evidence that independent, smaller development studios now represent the most significant growth opportunity within the gaming market. "A compact team can punch above its weight, but the commercial side of the operation never disappears," he explained to GamesIndustry.biz. "Even if you’re a three‑person outfit, someone still has to handle contracts, budgeting, marketing, and all the other business duties. 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." The event, originally known as Devcom, was rebranded to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, a change that Hammes says effectively extends the main Gamescom experience into a full‑week programme. "Aligning more closely with Gamescom makes a lot of sense," he noted. "We now have a powerful partner behind us, which brings a host of practical benefits. For attendees it simplifies things: previously there were two separate conferences, two ticketing systems, and little integration.
Now there is a single ticket portal that grants access to everything from Monday through Friday, allowing participants to move seamlessly between Gamescom Dev sessions and the broader Gamescom exhibition." This year’s schedule features an impressive lineup: 390 speakers delivering 220 sessions across 17 distinct stages. Hammes cautions, however, that success shouldn’t be measured purely by numbers.
"We’re not chasing arbitrary attendance targets; it’s about matching supply with demand. The market is becoming increasingly specialised, and we want to curate content that truly serves the community rather than simply filling rooms," he said.
One logistical challenge Hammes acknowledges is the capacity of the current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the space comfortably accommodates the present programme, there is "limited room to grow".
Should the industry continue its rapid expansion, the organisers may need to consider moving closer to the main Gamescom site or finding a larger facility. "We’re not planning a massive scale‑up right now because that would require a more permanent physical proximity to Gamescom, which is an option we’re keeping under review.
If the trend toward smaller studios and the democratisation of game creation persists, we’ll inevitably need more room to serve a broader audience," he added. Gamescom Dev was launched in 2017 to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe. Although the San‑Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference targets a similar demographic and covers comparable topics, Hammes prefers to view the two events as complementary rather than competitive. "There’s a strong sense of community behind the scenes," he said.
"Both organisations are separate businesses, each trying to make a profit, but 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 building relationships. If one conference thrives, it lifts the whole ecosystem." He also expressed empathy for GDC’s current challenges, noting that external factors have created a difficult operating environment for the conference. "I hope conditions improve for them, because a healthy GDC benefits everyone," Hammes remarked.
A fresh addition to this year’s agenda is the series of Leadership Summits. These one‑day gatherings provide senior executives a private space—free from press, microphones, and recordings—to discuss the volatile state of the games market. Hammes emphasises the importance of such "safe spaces" for candid dialogue.
"It’s less about listening and more about speaking openly. When we opened the first summit, every participant raised their hand to admit they had delivered bad news that year, and the same hands stayed raised when asked if they’d heard bad news about their own companies. The environment is undeniably tricky right now, and leaders often feel pressured to project confidence.
These summits let them be honest about challenges and explore solutions together." The speaker survey also revealed a split opinion on artificial intelligence. While 47 % of speakers believe AI will be the most transformative development over the next three years, only 11 % consider AI literacy the top skill developers need to acquire. Hammes interprets this discrepancy as a sign that technical expertise alone won’t drive future success. "You could argue we either over‑estimate AI’s impact or under‑prepare for it," he said.
"In reality, the most critical skill identified was leadership, at 27 %. That tells us the industry recognises change is coming and is looking for people—not just technology—to guide them through it.
We need leaders who can chart a course, inspire teams, and navigate uncertainty." Overall, Hammes’s outlook positions Gamescom Dev as a pivotal meeting point for indie creators, seasoned veterans, and industry leaders alike. By fostering a collaborative environment that blends technical education with business mentorship and leadership development, the conference aims to empower the next generation of game makers while addressing the evolving challenges of a rapidly diversifying market.