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 evidence that independent, smaller‑scale studios now constitute the most promising segment of the gaming market. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," he explained to GamesIndustry.biz. "Even if your studio consists of just three people, someone still has to handle the administrative 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 direction, design insights – and also pick up the fundamentals of running a business. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the commercial aspect stays crucial." The event, formerly known as Devcom until its rebranding in August 2025, has effectively become an extension of the main Gamescom week. Hammes says the new name signals a tighter integration with the larger festival, offering practical benefits for attendees. "There are strong arguments for aligning more closely with Gamescom," he noted.
"We now have a powerful partner behind us, which brings many advantages. For example, it simplifies the ticketing process. Previously there were two separate conferences, two ticket types, two purchasing systems, and little connection between them.
Now everything is sold through a single ticket portal, and participants can move freely between Gamescom Dev sessions and the broader Gamescom programme from Monday through Friday." This year’s agenda features 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Hammes cautions that success should not be measured purely by numbers.
"It shouldn't be a numbers game. We don't need to hit arbitrary attendance targets. It's about matching supply with demand and recognizing that the market is becoming increasingly specialized," he said. He also acknowledges that the venue – the Confex Center at Koelnmesse – imposes physical limits on growth.
While the current layout accommodates the event, there is "limited room to expand". Should the industry continue its rapid expansion, Hammes suggests the conference may need to move even closer to the main Gamescom site or find a larger space. "At the moment we aren't planning a massive scale‑up because that would require a more substantial logistical shift, possibly relocating nearer to Gamescom.
If the trend toward smaller, democratized studios continues, we will eventually need more capacity to serve everyone," Hammes explained. Devcom originated in 2017 to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe.
Although the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference targets a similar audience, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor. He emphasizes a collaborative spirit within the industry. "We are separate organisations, each trying to make a profit, but the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat.
The global conference circuit feels like a circus in a positive sense – people travel from one event to another, sharing knowledge. It’s not about eliminating other conferences; when all of them thrive, the whole industry benefits.
Our colleagues at GDC are currently facing challenges due to external circumstances, and I hope their situation improves soon," he said. A fresh addition to the Gamescom Dev programme 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 volatile state of the market. "It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," Hammes said.
"When we first launched the summits, we asked the room how many had delivered bad news that year; every hand went up. We asked how many had received bad news about their own company; the hands stayed up.
The environment is undeniably tricky right now. Leaders often feel pressure to project confidence, but we want to create a safe space where they can be candid about challenges." The speaker survey also revealed a split view 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 to cultivate. "How do we interpret that?
Either we overestimate AI’s impact or we under‑prepare for it," Hammes reflected. "My conclusion is that neither is quite right. When you ask what skill truly matters, 27 % say leadership tops the list.
That tells us we recognize change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet. We need leaders who can guide teams through uncertainty and help them adapt." In summary, Hammes envisions Gamescom Dev as a comprehensive platform that supports small studios in both creative and commercial dimensions, while also fostering a collaborative, forward‑looking community among industry leaders. The event’s evolution—through rebranding, venue integration, and new formats like Leadership Summits—aims to keep pace with a rapidly diversifying market, ensuring that developers of all sizes have the resources and guidance they need to thrive in an era defined by both technological advancement and the enduring importance of strong leadership.