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 evidence that independent, smaller‑scale studios now represent the most promising segment of the games market. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," Hammes explained to GamesIndustry.biz. "Even if your studio consists of just three people, someone still has to handle the administrative and commercial side of things. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can access everything they need – from production techniques and coding expertise to creative direction and design insights – while also learning how to run a sustainable business.
No matter how advanced the technology becomes, solid business acumen remains crucial." The event, which was renamed from Devcom to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, now effectively extends the main Gamescom festival into a full‑week affair. Hammes believes that aligning the two conferences brings clear advantages. "The rationale for bringing the two events closer together is compelling," he said. "We now have a powerful partner in Gamescom, and that partnership simplifies things for attendees.
Previously there were two separate conferences, two ticketing systems, and little interaction between them. Today everything is consolidated under a single ticket portal, giving participants access to the entire programme from Monday through Friday. If you purchase a ticket, you can also wander over to the main Gamescom exhibition during the same week." This year’s programme features 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Hammes cautions against treating the event as a pure numbers game.
"It shouldn't be about hitting a specific quota of speakers or sessions. The market is increasingly specialized, and the right balance of supply and demand will naturally shape the agenda," he noted. However, the growth of Gamescom Dev is constrained by its current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse.
While the space comfortably accommodates the present schedule, Hammes admits there is "limited room to expand" further. Should the industry continue its rapid expansion, the organisers may need to consider moving the event physically closer to the main Gamescom grounds or finding a larger venue.
"At the moment we aren't planning a massive expansion, because that would require a more substantial logistical shift. But if the democratization of game development continues – with more small studios entering the field – we will eventually need additional capacity to serve everyone," he explained. Gamescom Dev originated in 2017 to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe.
Although the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference targets a similar audience, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor. "There’s a strong sense of community behind the scenes," he said. "We’re separate organisations, each trying to make a profit, but the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat.
The industry is like a global circus – in a good way – with professionals traveling from one conference to another. Success for one event benefits the whole ecosystem. Our colleagues at GDC are currently facing challenges beyond their control, and we hope their situation improves soon. If everyone thrives, the entire industry wins." A notable new feature of this year’s schedule is the Leadership Summits.
These one‑day gatherings provide senior executives with a private environment – no press, no microphones, no recordings – to discuss the turbulent state of the market. Hammes stresses the importance of such a "safe space" for candid dialogue. "It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," he said. "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 had received bad news themselves.
The climate is challenging, and leaders often feel pressured to project confidence. By offering a confidential setting, we encourage them to be honest about the difficulties they face and to seek collective solutions." 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 to cultivate. Hammes interprets this gap as a sign that technical expertise alone won’t drive the future.
"You could argue we’re either over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," he said. "In reality, the most critical competency is leadership – 27 % of respondents identified it as the key skill.
This tells us that the industry recognises change is coming, but it isn’t looking for a technological silver bullet. Instead, it seeks leaders who can guide teams through uncertainty and help them adapt to new realities." In summary, Frederik Hammes envisions Gamescom Dev as a comprehensive platform that supports both the creative and business dimensions of game development, especially for smaller studios that can achieve more with fewer resources. By integrating the event with the larger Gamescom week, simplifying ticketing, and introducing private leadership forums, the organisers aim to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and strategic thinking. While venue limitations may curb immediate expansion, the long‑term trajectory points toward a more inclusive, specialised, and leader‑driven industry landscape, where the ability to navigate change will outweigh pure technical prowess.