Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) as its president, coinciding with the public unveiling of the federation’s new governing board for the 2026‑2028 term. Lesser’s re‑election signals continuity at the helm of an organisation that is positioning itself as a central advocate for Europe’s vibrant game‑development community.
Two prominent figures stepped away from the board at the same time: David Rabineau, chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, director of the studio No Brakes Games. Their departures opened up space for fresh voices and a broadened geographic representation across the continent. The refreshed EGDF board now comprises the following members: - **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 coordination, offering a bridge between Dutch developers and broader European initiatives.
- **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association. Hiltunen’s background in Finnish game policy and support structures adds a strong Nordic perspective to the board’s strategic discussions. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council.
Strömbäck’s dual focus on cultural impact and regional business development equips him to champion games as both art and economic driver. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia.
Mitic’s multifaceted role across business growth, industry advocacy, and community building makes him a valuable conduit for Central‑Eastern European interests. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation. Marszalkowski’s expertise lies in event organisation, indie support, and fostering cross‑border collaboration within the Polish and wider European indie scene.
- **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo (SNJV) in France. Kaplan’s leadership of France’s national video‑game union brings a strong voice for French developers and a deep understanding of regulatory and labour matters. Together, this diverse group of leaders from the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Croatia, Poland, and France reflects EGDF’s ambition to be truly pan‑European, ensuring that policy, funding, and networking opportunities are balanced across the continent’s many markets.
### Strategic Priorities for 2026‑2028 The federation has laid out a clear agenda for the coming two years, centred on three interlinked pillars: 1. **Creating a Direct Path to the Upper Echelons of the Value Chain** – EGDF aims to help studios move beyond the traditional roles of development and publishing into higher‑margin activities such as IP ownership, live‑service monetisation, and cross‑media exploitation. By providing mentorship programmes, best‑practice workshops, and matchmaking events with investors and distributors, the federation hopes to elevate smaller and mid‑size studios onto the global stage. 2.
**Improving Access to Funding, Talent, and Skills** – Recognising that financial capital and human capital are the twin engines of growth, EGDF will lobby EU bodies for more targeted grant schemes, tax incentives, and co‑funding models that reflect the realities of modern game creation. In parallel, the federation will expand its training initiatives, partnering with universities, vocational schools, and private training providers to deliver curricula that cover emerging technologies such as cloud‑based development, virtual‑reality design, and, crucially, artificial‑intelligence‑enhanced pipelines.
3. **Boosting Visibility of the European Game Industry Worldwide** – The federation plans a series of high‑impact communication campaigns, participation in major international trade shows, and the production of data‑driven market reports to showcase Europe’s creative output and economic contribution.
By positioning European studios as leaders in innovation, diversity, and sustainable development, EGDF hopes to attract foreign investment and strengthen export opportunities. In a statement released alongside the board announcement, EGDF emphasised its commitment to monitoring and nurturing the European game‑industry ecosystem. The federation will continue to serve as a liaison between developers, policymakers, and ancillary service providers, ensuring that regulatory frameworks remain conducive to creativity while also safeguarding the rights and welfare of workers. ### AI as a Strategic Frontier One of the most forward‑looking goals highlighted by the federation is its intention to become the first AI‑focused European trade association within the gaming sector.
The organization recognises that artificial‑intelligence tools—ranging from procedural content generation and automated testing to player‑behaviour analytics—are reshaping how games are conceived, built, and maintained. To this end, EGDF will establish an AI‑task force tasked with: - Mapping the current landscape of AI applications in game development across Europe; - Facilitating knowledge‑sharing sessions where studios can learn from early adopters; - Engaging with EU research programmes to secure funding for AI‑driven innovation projects; - Drafting ethical guidelines that address concerns around data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the impact of AI on employment within the sector. By championing AI adoption while advocating for responsible use, EGDF aims to place European developers at the forefront of the next technological wave, ensuring they reap both creative and commercial benefits.
### Recent Industry Insights Earlier in the week, EGDF partnered with Video Games Europe (VGE) to release the **European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024**. The report provides a comprehensive snapshot of the continent’s economic health and workforce dynamics. Key findings include: - The European games market generated **€24 billion** in turnover during 2024, underscoring its status as a major contributor to the region’s digital economy.
- More than **6,600 studios** were active across the continent, ranging from indie micro‑studios to large multinational publishers. - Employment within the sector surpassed **95,000 individuals**, reflecting a robust and growing talent pool.
These figures illustrate both the scale of the industry and its potential for further expansion, especially as new technologies like AI, cloud gaming, and immersive media become mainstream. ### Looking Ahead With Hendrik Lesser at the helm and a board that brings together a rich mix of operational, policy, and creative expertise, the European Games Developer Federation is poised to drive meaningful change over the next two years. By focusing on funding pathways, skill development, AI integration, and global visibility, EGDF hopes to empower developers of all sizes to thrive in an increasingly competitive and technologically sophisticated market. Stakeholders—including studios, investors, educational institutions, and government bodies—are invited to engage with the federation’s initiatives, contribute to its policy discussions, and take part in the upcoming series of workshops, conferences, and networking events that will be announced throughout 2026 and 2027.
The overarching vision remains clear: to cement Europe’s reputation as a hub of innovative, high‑quality game development that can compete on the world stage while nurturing the diverse talent that fuels its creative engine.