Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), securing a second term as its president while the organization unveiled its new board for the 2026‑2028 period. The announcement also noted the departure of two prominent figures: David Rabineau, chief executive of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, studio director at No Brakes Games, who have stepped away from their board responsibilities. The freshly constituted EGDF board now brings together a diverse group of industry veterans and representatives from a range of European gaming bodies: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association, providing a strong link between Dutch development talent and broader European initiatives. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, tasked with championing Finnish studios and fostering cross‑border collaboration.
- **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering insight into cultural policy and regional business development. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, bringing a blend of commercial acumen and grassroots community experience.
- **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for his work in nurturing indie ecosystems and organising industry events. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French developers and advocating for policy support at the national level. Together, these six individuals form a board that reflects the geographic and sectoral breadth of Europe’s gaming landscape, from large‑scale commercial enterprises to indie studios and cultural institutions. ### Strategic Priorities for 2026‑2028 The EGDF has outlined an ambitious agenda that centres on three core pillars: enhancing developers’ access to financial resources, expanding the talent pool, and strengthening skill development pathways.
In its own words, the federation seeks to provide "a route to the top of the value chain" for European creators, meaning that studios of all sizes should be able to move beyond early‑stage development and compete for higher‑value contracts, publishing deals and international distribution. To achieve this, the federation plans to: 1. **Facilitate Funding Opportunities** – Work closely with EU cultural funds, national grant programmes and private investors to create clearer, more streamlined application processes.
The board intends to publish a comprehensive guide that maps out which funding streams are available for different project phases, from prototype to market launch. 2. **Cultivate Talent Pipelines** – Partner with educational institutions, coding bootcamps and vocational schools across the continent to align curricula with industry needs.
Initiatives will include mentorship schemes, apprenticeship placements and joint research projects that keep European talent at the cutting edge of game design, narrative, and technology. 3. **Boost Skills Development** – Organise workshops, webinars and master‑class series covering emerging topics such as live‑ops, monetisation models, cross‑platform optimisation and, increasingly, the integration of artificial intelligence into game creation. The federation also emphasised its role as a monitor and facilitator of the broader European game‑industry ecosystem.
By strengthening ties with development studios, publishers, technology providers and policy makers, EGDF aims to raise the global visibility of European games, ensuring that the region is recognised not only for its creative output but also for its technological innovation. ### Pioneering AI Integration One of the most forward‑looking statements in the board’s roadmap concerns artificial intelligence. Recognising that the gaming sector has been an early adopter of AI‑driven tools—ranging from procedural content generation to player‑behaviour analytics—the EGDF has set an aspirational goal: to become the first AI‑centric European trade association for the video‑game industry.
This ambition involves establishing an AI advisory committee, developing best‑practice guidelines for ethical AI use, and lobbying for supportive regulatory frameworks at the EU level. By positioning itself at the intersection of gaming and AI, the federation hopes to attract research funding, foster collaborations with tech firms, and provide its members with early access to cutting‑edge AI solutions that can streamline development pipelines, enhance player experiences and open new revenue streams. ### Industry Context and Recent Data The timing of these initiatives coincides with a robust performance report released earlier in the week by the EGDF in partnership with Video Games Europe (VGE). The "European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024" highlighted that the continent’s gaming sector generated a turnover of €24 billion in 2024.
This figure underscores the sector’s economic significance, especially when coupled with the fact that more than 6,600 studios collectively employ over 95,000 individuals across a wide range of roles—from programming and art to marketing and localisation. These statistics not only demonstrate the sector’s growth trajectory but also reinforce the need for coordinated support structures. As the market expands, issues such as talent shortages, funding bottlenecks, and the rapid evolution of technology become more pronounced.
The EGDF’s renewed focus on these challenges reflects a proactive stance aimed at sustaining momentum and ensuring that European developers can continue to compete on a global stage. ### Looking Ahead With Hendrik Lesser at the helm for another term and a board composed of seasoned professionals from multiple European gaming hubs, the EGDF is well‑positioned to drive meaningful change. The federation’s commitment to improving funding pathways, nurturing talent, and embracing AI promises to deliver tangible benefits for developers of all scales.
Moreover, by championing the European gaming ecosystem as a whole, the EGDF seeks to amplify the region’s cultural and economic impact worldwide. Stakeholders, from indie creators to large publishers, can anticipate a series of new programs, policy briefs and collaborative platforms over the next two years. As the industry continues to evolve, the EGDF’s strategic direction aims to ensure that Europe remains a vibrant, innovative, and globally recognised centre for video‑game development.