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 today’s most promising opportunity in the video‑game sector lies with smaller development houses. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," he explained to GamesIndustry.biz.
"Even if your studio consists of just three people, someone still has to handle contracts, finances, marketing and all the other non‑creative tasks. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop shop where creators can access production expertise, programming know‑how, design insight and artistic direction, while also learning how to run a sustainable business.
No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the commercial side stays vital." The event, formerly known as Devcom until its rebranding in August 2025, now carries the Gamescom Dev name and effectively extends the main Gamescom festival into a full‑week programme. Hammes believes that aligning the two events brings significant advantages. "The case for bringing the two conferences closer together is compelling," he said. "We now have a powerful partner in Gamescom, which offers many practical benefits.
For attendees who may be unfamiliar with the separate formats, the new arrangement simplifies everything: previously there were two distinct conferences, two ticket types, two purchasing processes and virtually no connection between them. Today there is a single ticket portal that grants access to everything you need. The whole thing runs from Monday through Friday as part of the Gamescom business week, so if you buy a ticket you can also wander over to the main Gamescom exhibition later in the week." This edition of Gamescom Dev features 390 speakers delivering 220 sessions across 17 stages. Hammes cautions, however, that success should not be measured solely by numbers.
"It shouldn't be a numbers game," he remarked. "We don't need to hit arbitrary targets. It's really about matching supply with demand, and we’re seeing the market become more specialised." A limiting factor for the event’s expansion is its current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the space comfortably accommodates the present programme, Hammes notes that there is "limited room to grow" and that future growth may require a move closer to the main Gamescom site.
"At the moment we’re not planning a massive expansion because that would entail a larger logistical effort and possibly a physical relocation nearer to Gamescom, which is an option we’re keeping open," he said. "If the trend toward smaller studios and the democratisation of game development continues, we’ll eventually need more floor space to serve a broader audience." Devcom was launched in 2017 to fill the void left after GDC Europe discontinued its European edition. Although the San‑Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference (GDC) targets a similar audience and covers comparable topics, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor.
Instead, he emphasises a sense of community that exists behind the scenes. "We’re still separate organisations," he explained. "Everyone wants to make a profit, but the atmosphere isn’t as cut‑throat as some might imagine. The industry is like a global circus in a positive sense—people travel from one conference to another, sharing knowledge rather than trying to eliminate each other.
When all the events thrive, the whole sector benefits. Our colleagues at GDC are currently dealing with some challenges related to their operating environment, which are beyond their control. I hope the situation improves for them, because a healthy ecosystem benefits everyone." A fresh addition to the Gamescom Dev agenda is the series of Leadership Summits. These one‑day gatherings give senior executives a private forum—free from press, microphones and recordings—to discuss the turbulent state of the market.
"It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," Hammes said. "I was present when the first summit launched.
We asked everyone to raise a hand if they had delivered bad news during the year, and every hand went up. When we asked who had received bad news about their own company, the same result appeared. The environment is undeniably tricky right now.
We want to create a safe space for leaders to be honest, because at senior levels there’s often pressure to project confidence and stability, even when the reality is more complex." 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. "How do we reconcile those figures?
One could argue we’re over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," Hammes reflected. "My conclusion is that neither is true. When you ask what the most critical skill actually is, 27 % of respondents point to leadership.
That tells us we recognise change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet. We’re looking for people—leaders—who can guide us through the transition." In summary, Hammes sees the future of Gamescom Dev as tightly linked to the rise of small, agile studios and the need for comprehensive support that blends creative, technical and business education. By consolidating ticketing, expanding the schedule, and providing confidential leadership forums, the event aims to nurture the next generation of developers while maintaining a collaborative spirit across the global gaming community.