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 houses now constitute the most promising segment of the gaming market. In his conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, Hammes emphasizes that while a compact team can punch above its weight in terms of creative output, the need for solid business management does not disappear. "Even if you’re a three‑person studio, someone still has to handle contracts, budgeting, marketing, and the myriad administrative tasks that keep a company afloat," he explains. "What I love about Gamescom Dev is that it offers a one‑stop environment where creators can tap into production expertise, coding techniques, artistic direction, and design theory, while also gaining insight into the commercial side of running a studio.
No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the fundamentals of running a business remain crucial." The event itself underwent a significant rebranding in August 2025, when Devcom was renamed Gamescom Dev, effectively extending the renowned Gamescom experience into a full‑week program. Hammes believes that aligning the two events brings clear advantages.
"There are strong arguments for bringing the two conferences closer together," he says. "We now have a powerful partner in Gamescom, which simplifies things for attendees. Previously, participants had to navigate two separate ticketing systems, two sets of schedules, and two distinct venues.
Now everything is consolidated under a single ticket portal, and the entire week—from Monday through Friday—is marketed as the Gamescom business week. If you purchase a ticket for Gamescom Dev, you can also wander over to the main Gamescom exhibition floor at any point during the week." This year’s programme is ambitious, featuring 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Yet Hammes cautions against treating the event as a numbers game. "We don’t aim to hit arbitrary attendance targets; it’s really about matching supply with demand," he notes.
"The industry is becoming more specialised, and our line‑up reflects that shift." A practical limitation for the conference is its current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the space comfortably accommodates the present scale, Hammes admits that physical expansion options are constrained.
"At the moment we’re maxed out on how much we can grow within the existing halls," he says. "If the broader games sector continues on its current trajectory, we may eventually need to look at moving even closer to the main Gamescom site or finding a larger venue altogether. The democratisation of game development—where smaller studios can produce high‑quality experiences—could eventually demand more room to host everyone." Gamescom Dev traces its roots 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 shares a similar audience and thematic focus, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor. Instead, he highlights a sense of camaraderie that exists behind the scenes of both events.
"We’re separate organisations, but the industry feels like a global circus in a positive sense," he says. "Everyone wants to make a profit, yet the competition isn’t cut‑throat; it’s more collaborative. Professionals travel from one conference to another, and the health of one event often reflects the health of the whole ecosystem. Our friends at GDC are currently facing challenges due to external circumstances, and we sincerely hope those issues improve.
When one conference thrives, it lifts the entire community." A fresh addition to this year’s schedule is the series of Leadership Summits—intimate, one‑day gatherings where senior figures from the gaming world can speak freely without the presence of press, microphones, or recordings. Hammes stresses the importance of providing a safe environment for industry leaders to discuss the turbulent market conditions.
"These summits aren’t about listening to a keynote; they’re about speaking up and exchanging candid thoughts," he explains. "When we opened the first session, we asked how many attendees had delivered bad news to their teams over the past year—every hand went up. We then asked how many had received bad news themselves—again, every hand stayed raised.
The current climate is undeniably tricky. Leaders often feel pressure to project confidence and stability, but we need a space where they can be honest about the challenges they face." The speaker survey also revealed a split opinion on the role of artificial intelligence in the industry’s future.
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 should acquire. "That discrepancy raises an interesting question," Hammes observes.
"Do we overestimate AI’s impact, or are we under‑preparing for it? In my view, the answer lies elsewhere: leadership emerges as the most critical competency.
About 27 % of respondents identified leadership as the key skill for the coming years. This suggests that industry players recognise change is inevitable, but they don’t expect technology alone to solve every problem.
They’re looking for people—leaders—who can guide teams through uncertainty and help them adapt." In summary, Hammes paints a picture of an industry in flux, where small studios are poised to capture the biggest growth opportunities, where business acumen remains indispensable, and where the future will be shaped not just by technological breakthroughs but by the quality of leadership steering those innovations. Gamescom Dev aims to be the hub where creators, technologists, and executives converge, learn from one another, and collectively navigate the evolving landscape of game development.