Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), securing a second term as president as the association unveiled its new governing board for the 2026‑2028 period. The announcement also noted the departure of two prominent figures in the European gaming community: David Rabineau, chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, director of the studio No Brakes Games. Both have stepped away from their board responsibilities, making room for fresh perspectives.
The freshly constituted EGDF board now includes a diverse group of industry veterans and representatives from a range of national and regional gaming bodies: - **Martine Spaans** – currently serving as chief operating officer at Fourth Moon Games and also holding the role of general manager for the Dutch Games Association. Her dual experience in studio operations and national advocacy equips her to bridge the gap between creators and policymakers. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – director of the Neogames Finland Association, bringing insight from the Finnish market, which is renowned for its strong indie scene and supportive public‑funding mechanisms.
- **Per Strömbäck** – a board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering a blend of cultural policy knowledge and regional economic development expertise. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – head of business development at GamesCo., secretary‑general of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, a platform that showcases local talent and connects them with international partners.
- **Jakub Marszalkowski** – leader of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for championing indie developers and fostering cross‑border collaborations. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – director‑general of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, the French national video‑game union, where she has been instrumental in negotiating collective bargaining agreements and advocating for creators’ rights.
Collectively, this board reflects a balance of geographic representation—from the Low Countries and Scandinavia to Central and Southern Europe—and a mix of operational, advocacy, and strategic skill sets. Their mandate, as outlined by the EGDF, centers on creating a clearer pathway for developers to ascend the value chain within the European gaming ecosystem. The federation intends to sharpen access to essential resources such as financing, talent pipelines, and specialised training, thereby strengthening the overall competitiveness of European studios on the global stage. In a formal statement, EGDF emphasized its commitment to “monitor and facilitate the development of the European game industry ecosystem, deepen collaboration with European development studios, and boost the worldwide visibility of Europe’s gaming output.” This pledge underscores the federation’s role as both a watchdog and an enabler, ensuring that policy environments remain conducive to innovation while also promoting the region’s creative achievements abroad.
A notable ambition highlighted in the communiqué is the federation’s intention to become the first AI‑focused European trade association within the gaming sector. Recognising that the video‑game industry is often at the forefront of adopting artificial‑intelligence tools—ranging from procedural content generation to advanced analytics for player behaviour—the EGDF aims to lead the conversation on responsible AI integration, standards, and best practices for its members.
The timing of the board announcement coincides with the release of the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024, a joint effort by EGDF and Video Games Europe (VGE). The report paints a robust picture of the continent’s gaming market: in 2024, European studios collectively generated €24 billion in revenue, a figure that reflects both mature AAA titles and a flourishing indie sector.
Moreover, the industry employed more than 95 000 individuals across over 6 600 studios, illustrating the sector’s significance as a major employer and a driver of digital creativity. These statistics provide context for the federation’s strategic priorities.
With such a sizeable economic footprint, there is a clear need for mechanisms that streamline funding—whether through public grants, venture capital, or cross‑border investment programmes. The board’s composition suggests a focus on leveraging national associations (such as the Dutch Games Association and the Finnish Neogames) to harmonise funding opportunities and share best‑practice frameworks across borders. Talent development also features prominently on the agenda. Europe’s gaming talent pool is diverse, encompassing programmers, artists, designers, writers, and audio engineers.
By fostering partnerships with educational institutions, vocational training providers, and mentorship programmes, EGDF intends to create clearer career pathways and address skill shortages that can hinder studio growth. Initiatives may include joint certification schemes, mobility grants for apprenticeships, and industry‑led workshops that keep practitioners abreast of emerging technologies like real‑time ray tracing and cloud‑based multiplayer infrastructures.
Finally, the federation’s emphasis on “a route to the top of the value chain” signals an aspiration to help European studios move beyond purely development roles into publishing, distribution, and service‑based models. This could involve supporting studios in building in‑house publishing capabilities, navigating platform negotiations, and adopting live‑ops strategies that generate recurring revenue streams.
In summary, the re‑elected leadership and newly appointed board members of the European Games Developer Federation are poised to steer the continent’s gaming sector through a period of rapid technological change and market expansion. By concentrating on funding accessibility, talent cultivation, AI integration, and value‑chain advancement, EGDF aims to reinforce Europe’s position as a vibrant, innovative hub for game creation and to ensure that its creators receive the recognition and resources they deserve on the world stage.