The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed that Hendrik Lesser will continue in his role as president, having been re‑elected by the federation’s members. The announcement also introduced the new board that will steer the organization from 2026 through 2028, marking a fresh chapter for the pan‑European body that represents game developers, studios, and related stakeholders. Two prominent figures stepped away from the board at the close of the previous term.
David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of the game‑development consultancy Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, the studio director of No Brakes Games, both announced their resignations, creating space for new voices and expertise to join the governing panel. The refreshed EGDF board now comprises a diverse group of industry leaders from across the continent: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association, bringing operational and advocacy experience from the Netherlands. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, representing the interests of Finnish developers and fostering cross‑border collaboration. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and member of the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering insight into cultural policy and regional economic development.
- **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, providing a strong network in Central and Eastern Europe. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for championing indie creators and organizing industry events. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, the French national video‑game union, adding a perspective on labour issues and collective bargaining. Together, these six individuals form a board that reflects a broad geographic spread, a mix of large‑scale and independent development experience, and a blend of business, cultural, and policy expertise.
Their mandate is to guide EGDF’s strategic priorities for the 2026‑2028 period. **Strategic agenda for 2026‑2028** The federation has laid out an ambitious roadmap that focuses on three core pillars: enhancing developers’ position within the value chain, improving access to financial resources, and strengthening talent pipelines and skill development programs. In practical terms, this means the EGDF will work to create clearer pathways for studios—especially smaller and mid‑size companies—to secure funding from public and private sources, attract and retain skilled professionals, and adopt best‑practice training. One of the key objectives is to "offer developers a route to the top of the value chain," a phrase that underscores the desire to move European studios from peripheral roles (such as outsourcing or service work) toward higher‑margin activities like original IP creation, publishing, and global distribution.
To achieve this, the board intends to lobby EU institutions for more targeted grants, tax incentives, and co‑funding schemes that reward innovation and cultural impact. In addition, the EGDF will expand its mentorship and networking programmes, pairing emerging studios with seasoned veterans from its board and partner organisations.
These initiatives aim to bridge the gap between technical talent and business acumen, ensuring that creators have the managerial and entrepreneurial skills needed to scale their projects. **Visibility and ecosystem monitoring** The federation also reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring the health of the European game‑industry ecosystem. By collecting data, publishing regular market analyses, and facilitating dialogue among developers, publishers, investors, and policymakers, EGDF seeks to act as a central hub of information and advocacy.
The organization highlighted its role in increasing the global visibility of European games, positioning the continent as a hub of creativity and technological excellence. A notable statement from the federation reads: "The EGDF will continue to monitor and facilitate the development of the European game industry ecosystem, strengthen its collaboration with European game development studios, and increase the European game industry's global visibility." This reflects a dual focus on internal cohesion and external promotion.
**AI leadership ambition** Recognising that the gaming sector is often at the forefront of adopting artificial‑intelligence tools—from procedural content generation to player‑behavior analytics—the EGDF set an explicit goal to become the first AI‑based European trade association. This ambition involves integrating AI into the federation’s own operations—such as using machine‑learning models to predict market trends, automate member services, and streamline policy research—while also championing responsible AI use among its members. By positioning itself as an AI‑savvy body, EGDF hopes to guide the industry through ethical considerations, data‑privacy concerns, and the potential for AI to democratise game development by lowering technical barriers.
**Industry context: 2024 market snapshot** 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 overview of the sector’s economic performance, revealing that the European games industry generated approximately €24 billion in turnover during 2024.
This figure underscores the sector’s significance as a major contributor to the continent’s digital economy. The report also highlighted that more than 6,600 studios were active across Europe, employing over 95 000 people.
These numbers illustrate not only the breadth of the industry but also its role as a substantial source of high‑skill employment. The data serves as a baseline for EGDF’s advocacy work, informing policy recommendations on workforce development, education, and investment. **Looking ahead** With Hendrik Lesser at the helm for another term and a board composed of seasoned professionals from a variety of national contexts, the EGDF is positioned to pursue its agenda with renewed vigor.
The federation’s focus on funding access, talent cultivation, AI integration, and global promotion aligns with broader trends in the digital entertainment landscape, where technological innovation and cross‑border collaboration are increasingly essential. Stakeholders—including independent developers, large studios, academic institutions, and investors—can expect a more coordinated effort to address common challenges such as financing gaps, skill shortages, and market fragmentation.
By leveraging its expanded network and data‑driven insights, EGDF aims to help European game creators not only survive but thrive in an increasingly competitive global market. In summary, the 2026‑2028 board’s composition reflects a strategic blend of expertise designed to advance the European games ecosystem. Through targeted initiatives, policy advocacy, and a forward‑looking AI strategy, the federation seeks to cement Europe’s reputation as a leader in creative, technologically advanced game development.