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 development studios now constitute the most significant growth opportunity in the gaming sector. "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 commercial side of things. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can access everything they need—production expertise, programming know‑how, development best practices, creative input, design guidance, and also practical lessons on running a business.
No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the fundamentals of business management stay crucial." The event, originally known as Devcom, was renamed Gamescom Dev in August 2025, a change that effectively stretches the Gamescom experience into a full‑week affair. Hammes believes that aligning the two events offers clear advantages.
"The case for bringing Dev closer to Gamescom is compelling," he said. "We now have a powerful partner on our side, which brings many benefits. From a practical standpoint, it simplifies things for attendees who may not have been familiar with the separate conferences.
Previously we operated two distinct events with separate ticketing systems and little interaction between them. Today there is a single ticket portal that gives you access to everything you want. The week runs from Monday to Friday as part of the broader Gamescom business week, and anyone who purchases a ticket can move freely between the two programmes." This year’s edition features an impressive lineup: 390 speakers delivering 220 sessions across 17 stages. Hammes cautions, however, that success should not be measured merely by numbers.
"It shouldn't be a numbers game," he emphasized. "We don't need to hit arbitrary targets; it's always about matching supply with demand. The market is becoming more specialized, and we aim to reflect that in our programming." One of the constraints on further expansion is the venue itself—the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the current space accommodates the event, Hammes notes that there is "limited room to grow" and that a continued surge in the industry could force the organisers to consider moving even closer to the main Gamescom site.
"At the moment we have no plans to dramatically increase the size of the event," he said. "A larger footprint would mean a more complex logistics challenge, especially if we wanted to be physically adjacent to Gamescom, which is a possibility. If the trend toward smaller studios and the democratization of game development continues, we may eventually need more space to serve the growing community." Gamescom Dev traces its origins back to 2017, when it was launched to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe.
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 highlights a sense of camaraderie that exists behind the scenes. "We are separate organisations," he clarified.
"Everyone wants to make a profit, but the atmosphere isn’t as cut‑throat as one might imagine. The industry feels like a global circus—in a good way—where professionals travel from one conference to another. It’s not about eliminating other events; it’s about all of us thriving together.
When the community does well, the whole sector benefits. Our colleagues at GDC are currently facing some challenges due to the environment they operate in, and I sincerely hope those issues improve. We all want to see everyone succeed." A fresh feature on this year’s schedule 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 began.
We raised hands to see how many attendees had delivered bad news in the past year, and every hand went up. When we asked who had received bad news for their own company, the same result.
The environment is undeniably tough right now. We want to provide a safe space for leaders to be candid because at senior levels people often feel compelled 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 interpret that?
It could mean we’re over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," Hammes reflected. "My conclusion is that neither is quite right. When you ask what the most critical skill truly 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 seeking leaders who can guide us through the transition." In summary, Hammes envisions Gamescom Dev as a catalyst for small studios to thrive, a venue that blends technical education with business acumen, and a community that values collaboration over competition. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, the event aims to adapt—whether that means expanding its physical footprint, deepening its partnership with Gamescom, or simply offering more specialised content—to ensure it remains a vital resource for developers of all sizes.