Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), securing a second term as its president as the association publicly presented its new board for the 2026‑2028 period. Lesser’s re‑election signals continuity in the federation’s strategic direction, while the refreshed board brings together a diverse group of industry veterans from across the continent, each tasked with advancing the collective interests of European game creators. Two notable figures stepped away from the board this cycle: David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, the studio director at No Brakes Games. Their departures open space for fresh perspectives and underscore the dynamic nature of the federation’s governance structure.
The newly constituted EGDF board now includes: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association. Spaans brings extensive experience in both studio operations and national industry advocacy.
- **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, offering insight into the Nordic development scene and its unique funding mechanisms. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, providing a bridge between cultural policy and commercial gaming initiatives. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, giving him a strong foothold in Central and Eastern European market growth. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for championing indie developers and fostering networking opportunities.
- **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French game developers and contributing a deep understanding of regulatory and labor issues. Together, this board reflects a broad geographic spread—covering the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Croatia, Poland, and France—and a mix of operational, policy, and community‑building expertise. Their combined mandate is to steer the federation toward a more integrated and competitive European game ecosystem.
**Strategic Priorities for 2026‑2028** The EGDF has articulated a clear agenda for the next two years, centered on three core pillars: enhancing developers’ access to capital, expanding the talent pipeline, and strengthening skill development programs. The federation describes its mission as creating "a route to the top of the value chain" for European studios, meaning that developers of all sizes should be able to move beyond early‑stage production and capture higher‑margin opportunities such as publishing, live‑service management, and intellectual property licensing. To achieve this, the EGDF plans to: 1. **Facilitate Funding Opportunities** – By forging stronger links with European Union cultural funds, national grant bodies, and private investors, the federation aims to demystify the application process and provide tailored advisory services.
Workshops, matchmaking events, and a centralized database of funding sources will be rolled out. 2.
**Cultivate Talent and Skills** – The organization will partner with universities, vocational schools, and online learning platforms to develop curricula that reflect current industry needs, including game design, programming, art production, and emerging fields such as immersive reality and procedural generation. Apprenticeship schemes and mentorship programs will be expanded, with a particular focus on under‑represented groups.
3. **Promote Knowledge Sharing** – Regular conferences, webinars, and regional meet‑ups will be organized to disseminate best practices, case studies, and technological advancements. The board intends to leverage its members’ networks to create cross‑border collaborations that can accelerate innovation. In a statement, the EGDF emphasized its commitment to monitoring the health of the European game industry ecosystem, deepening collaboration with studios across the continent, and raising the global profile of European games.
"We will continue to act as a catalyst for growth, ensuring that European developers have the tools, connections, and visibility they need to compete on the world stage," the federation said. **AI as a Strategic Frontier** Recognizing that the gaming sector is often at the forefront of adopting artificial‑intelligence technologies—ranging from procedural content generation to player‑behavior analytics—the EGDF has set an ambitious goal: to become the first AI‑focused European trade association for games.
This initiative will involve establishing an AI working group, commissioning research on ethical AI use in games, and providing members with guidance on integrating AI tools responsibly and efficiently. **Industry Context and Recent Data** The federation’s renewed focus comes at a time of robust growth for the European gaming market. Earlier in the week, the EGDF, in partnership with Video Games Europe (VGE), released the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024.
The report highlighted that the continent’s games sector generated approximately €24 billion in revenue in 2024, supporting more than 6,600 studios and employing upwards of 95,000 professionals. These figures underscore the sector’s significance as a driver of economic activity, cultural export, and technological innovation.
The report also noted trends such as increasing investment in live‑service models, the rising popularity of cloud‑gaming platforms, and a surge in cross‑border collaborations that leverage the diverse talent pools across Europe. These dynamics reinforce the EGDF’s strategic emphasis on funding access, talent development, and AI integration, as they are essential ingredients for sustaining momentum.
**Looking Ahead** With Hendrik Lesser at the helm and a board that blends operational know‑how with policy expertise, the European Games Developer Federation is positioned to play a pivotal role in shaping the next chapter of European game development. By championing financial pathways, nurturing a skilled workforce, and pioneering AI adoption, the federation aims to ensure that European studios not only thrive domestically but also achieve greater prominence on the global stage. Stakeholders—including independent developers, mid‑size studios, and large publishers—are encouraged to engage with the EGDF’s upcoming initiatives, contribute to policy discussions, and take advantage of the resources that will be made available over the 2026‑2028 term.
The federation’s proactive stance promises to foster a more resilient, innovative, and internationally competitive European gaming ecosystem.