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 today’s most promising market segment lies with smaller development studios. In his conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, Hammes emphasizes that even a tiny team can accomplish a great deal, but the need for solid business management never disappears.
"If you have a three‑person studio, someone still has to handle contracts, budgeting, and marketing," he explains. "Gamescom Dev aims to be a one‑stop hub where creators can access production expertise, programming guidance, creative input, design advice, and also learn how to run a sustainable business, because technology alone isn’t enough to succeed." The event, which was rebranded from Devcom to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, now effectively extends the famous Gamescom week, creating a seamless experience for attendees.
Hammes believes the alignment with Gamescom offers numerous practical advantages. "We now have a strong partner in Gamescom, which simplifies things for newcomers. Previously, there were two separate conferences, two ticketing systems, and little connection between them.
Today, everything is unified under a single ticket shop, allowing participants to attend the full business week from Monday through Friday and then easily transition into the main Gamescom exhibition," he says. This year’s program is ambitious, featuring 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Yet Hammes cautions that success should not be measured purely by numbers.
"It’s not a numbers game. We focus on matching supply with demand and delivering specialized content that meets the evolving needs of the industry," he notes.
Despite the growth, the venue – the Confex Center at Koelnmesse – imposes physical limits. Hammes acknowledges that the current space is adequate but offers little room for significant expansion. If the gaming sector continues its rapid trajectory, the event may need to relocate closer to the main Gamescom site or find a larger venue. "We are not planning a massive increase right now because that would require a bigger logistical effort and possibly a move nearer to Gamescom.
However, if the democratization of game development continues and more indie studios emerge, we will need additional capacity to accommodate everyone," he adds. Gamescom Dev originated in 2017 to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe. While the San‑Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference (GDC) shares a similar audience and topics, Hammes stresses that the two events coexist rather than compete. "There is a strong sense of community behind the scenes.
Both conferences aim to generate profit, but the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat. The industry functions like a global circus where professionals travel from one event to another. Success for one conference benefits the whole ecosystem," he remarks. He also expresses empathy for GDC’s current challenges, noting that external factors have created a difficult environment for them and hoping for improvement.
A notable new feature at Gamescom Dev is the Leadership Summits, a series of one‑day sessions designed for senior executives to converse in a private setting without media, microphones, or recordings. Hammes believes such a safe space is crucial given the turbulent market conditions. "It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas. During the inaugural summit, every participant raised their hand when asked if they had delivered bad news that year, and the same hands stayed up when asked if they had received bad news.
It underscores how challenging the climate is. Leaders need a venue where they can be vulnerable, rather than always projecting confidence and stability," he explains. The speaker survey also reveals a split opinion on artificial intelligence. While 47% of speakers consider AI the most transformative development for the next three years, only 11% view AI literacy as the top skill to develop.
Hammes interprets this discrepancy as a sign that the industry may be overestimating AI’s impact while under‑preparing for it, or perhaps the opposite. "My conclusion is that neither is entirely correct. When you ask what the most critical skill is, 27% say leadership. 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," he says. Overall, Hammes paints a picture of an industry in transition, where small studios are emerging as key drivers of innovation, and where business acumen and strong leadership are becoming as vital as technical prowess.
Gamescom Dev aims to support this evolution by offering a comprehensive platform that blends creative, technical, and managerial education, fostering an environment where both indie developers and industry veterans can thrive together.