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 Gamescom Dev speaker survey as evidence that today’s most promising market segment lies with smaller development studios. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," he explains to GamesIndustry.biz.
"Even if you’re a three‑person outfit, someone still has to handle the administrative side. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can access production expertise, programming know‑how, design insights, creative feedback, and also learn the fundamentals of running a business.
No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the business fundamentals stay crucial." The event, originally known as Devcom, was rebranded to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, effectively extending the larger Gamescom festival into a full week of focused development content. Hammes believes the name change strengthens the connection between the two gatherings. "The case for aligning more closely with Gamescom is compelling," he says. "We now have a powerful, well‑established partner, which brings many practical benefits.
For attendees who may be unfamiliar with the separate conferences, the new structure simplifies everything: instead of two distinct ticketing systems and two unrelated schedules, there is now a single ticket portal that grants access to everything. It’s essentially a Gamescom business week, running from Monday through Friday. Purchase one ticket, and you can move freely between Gamescom and Gamescom Dev during the entire week." This year’s program features 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages.
Hammes cautions that success should not be measured solely by numbers. "It shouldn’t become a numbers game. We don’t need to hit arbitrary attendance targets.
It’s always about supply meeting demand, and we’re seeing the market become more specialized," he notes. The growth of Gamescom Dev, however, is constrained by its current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the space comfortably accommodates the present scale, Hammes admits there is "limited room to expand". Should the industry continue its rapid trajectory, the event may need to relocate or physically integrate more closely with the main Gamescom site.
"Our immediate plan isn’t to balloon the event dramatically because that would require a much larger logistical effort, possibly moving nearer to Gamescom itself—a viable option. If the democratization of game creation persists, with ever‑smaller studios entering the field, we’ll eventually need more capacity to serve that broader audience," he says.
Gamescom Dev traces its origins to 2017, launched to fill the void left when GDC Europe discontinued its European edition. While the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference (GDC) targets a similar demographic and covers comparable topics, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor. Instead, he emphasizes a collaborative spirit within the industry.
"We’re distinct organizations, but there’s a strong sense of community behind the scenes. Everyone wants to be profitable, yet the atmosphere isn’t as cut‑throat as one might imagine.
The global conference circuit is like a circus in a good way—people travel from one event to another, sharing knowledge. It’s not about eliminating other conferences; it’s about all of us thriving together.
Right now, GDC is dealing with challenges related to their venue and broader environment, which are beyond their control. I sincerely hope those issues improve and that the whole industry continues to prosper." A fresh feature on the Gamescom Dev agenda is the series of Leadership Summits. These one‑day gatherings provide senior executives a private environment—no press, no microphones, no recordings—to discuss the turbulent state of the market openly.
Hammes stresses the importance of such a "safe space" for candid dialogue. "It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," he remarks. "When we launched the summit, 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 for their own company—again, every hand stayed raised. The climate is undeniably tough right now.
Leaders often feel pressured to project confidence and stability, but we need a venue where they can be honest about challenges and seek collective solutions." The speaker survey also reveals a split opinion on artificial intelligence. 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 for professionals to acquire. "What does that tell us? Either we’re over‑estimating AI’s impact or we’re under‑preparing for it," Hammes observes.
"My reading is that it’s actually neither. When you ask what skill truly matters, leadership tops the list at 27 %.
That translates to: ‘We recognize change is coming. We’re not looking for a technological silver bullet; we’re looking for people who can guide us through it.’ In other words, the industry needs leaders who can chart a course through uncertainty, not just technologists who can code the next AI tool." Overall, Hammes envisions Gamescom Dev as a catalyst for small studios, offering them the resources, mentorship, and business acumen necessary to thrive in a competitive landscape. By fostering collaboration, emphasizing leadership, and maintaining a flexible, integrated format with Gamescom, the event aims to support the next wave of indie innovators while accommodating the evolving needs of the broader gaming ecosystem.