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 independent, smaller‑scale studios now represent the most significant growth opportunity within the broader games market. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," Hammes told GamesIndustry.biz.
"Even if your studio is 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 insight – while also learning how to run a sustainable business. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, solid business fundamentals remain crucial." The event, which was renamed from Devcom to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, now essentially extends the main Gamescom festival into a full‑week affair. Hammes explained that aligning the two conferences under a single brand brings tangible benefits.
"There are strong arguments for bringing the events closer together," he said. "We now have a powerful partner in Gamescom, which offers many practical advantages. For attendees, the experience is simpler – previously there were two separate conferences, two ticket types, and two purchasing systems, with little connection between them.
Today there is a single ticket portal that gives you access to everything you want. The Gamescom business week runs from Monday to Friday, and anyone who buys a ticket can also wander over to the main Gamescom exhibition during that time." This year’s programme features 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Hammes cautioned that success shouldn’t be measured solely by numbers. "It shouldn't be a numbers game," he remarked.
"We don't need to hit arbitrary targets. The market is increasingly about supply and demand, and we see a trend toward more specialised content." A limitation of the current format is the venue itself – the Confex Center at Koelnmesse.
While the space comfortably accommodates the existing schedule, Hammes acknowledged that physical expansion may become necessary if the industry continues its rapid growth. "At the moment we’re not planning a massive expansion because that would require us to move physically closer to Gamescom, which is a possibility for the future," he said.
"If the democratization of game development continues – with more small studios entering the field – we will eventually need more room to serve everyone." Gamescom Dev originated in 2017 to fill the void left when GDC Europe ceased operations. Although the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference targets a similar audience, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor.
Instead, he emphasizes a sense of community that exists behind the scenes. "We are separate organisations, each trying to make a profit, but the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat," he explained. "The industry is like a global circus in a positive sense – people travel from one conference to another.
It’s not about eliminating other events; when all conferences thrive, the whole sector benefits. Our colleagues at GDC are currently facing challenges due to external conditions, and I hope those improve soon." A fresh feature on the Gamescom Dev agenda is the series of Leadership Summits. These one‑day gatherings provide top‑level executives 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.
"It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," he said. "When we first launched the summits, we asked the room how many had delivered bad news that year – every hand went up. We then asked how many had received bad news – again, every hand stayed raised.
The environment is clearly challenging. Leaders often feel pressure to project confidence and stability, so we wanted a setting where they could be candid without fear of external scrutiny." 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. "How do we reconcile that?
One could argue we over‑estimate AI's impact or under‑prepare for it," Hammes reflected. "My conclusion is that neither is true. When you ask what the most critical skill truly is, the answer is leadership – 27 % of respondents selected it. That tells us we recognise change is coming, but we aren’t looking for a technological silver bullet.
We need people who can guide teams through uncertainty, who can shape strategy and culture as the landscape evolves." In summary, Hammes sees Gamescom Dev as a catalyst for the next wave of indie and small‑studio innovation, while also serving as an educational platform for business acumen and leadership development. By consolidating ticketing, expanding the schedule, and introducing private leadership forums, the event aims to support creators of all sizes as they navigate both creative and commercial challenges in a rapidly shifting industry.