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 growth avenue lies with smaller development studios. In his conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, Hammes explains that while compact teams can punch above their weight creatively and technically, the need to manage the commercial side of the business never disappears. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," he says. "Even if you’re a three‑person studio, someone still has to handle contracts, budgeting, marketing, and all the other non‑technical duties that keep the company afloat.
I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where developers can soak up production know‑how, programming techniques, artistic direction, and design theory, while also picking up the fundamentals of running a sustainable business. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, solid business acumen is still the backbone of any successful studio." The event itself underwent a significant rebranding in August 2025, when Devcom was renamed Gamescom Dev, effectively extending the reach of the flagship Gamescom exhibition into a full week of industry‑focused programming. Hammes believes this integration creates a stronger, more cohesive experience for attendees.
"The case for aligning closer with Gamescom is compelling," he notes. "We now have a powerful partner behind us, which brings a host of practical benefits.
Previously, participants had to juggle two separate conferences, buy two different tickets, and navigate distinct registration platforms. Now everything is consolidated into a single ticketing system. If you purchase a pass, you gain access to the entire Gamescom business week—from Monday through Friday—and you can easily swing over to the main Gamescom exhibition whenever you wish." This year’s schedule is impressive, featuring 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages.
Yet Hammes cautions against treating the event as a mere numbers game. "It’s not about hitting arbitrary attendance targets," he asserts.
"It’s about matching supply with demand and recognizing that the industry is becoming increasingly specialized. We want to curate content that matters to developers, not just fill rooms for the sake of statistics." Despite its ambitions, the growth of Gamescom Dev is constrained by the physical limits of its venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. The current layout accommodates the event comfortably, but Hammes acknowledges that “there is limited room to grow.” Should the gaming sector continue its rapid expansion, the conference may need to consider relocating closer to the main Gamescom site or finding a larger facility altogether. "We’re not planning a massive scale‑up right now because that would entail a more complex logistical shift, potentially moving physically nearer to Gamescom.
If the democratization of game development continues—if small studios keep proliferating—we’ll need more space to serve that broader audience," he explains. Gamescom Dev traces its origins back to 2017, when it was launched to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe. While the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference remains a natural competitor due to overlapping audiences and topics, Hammes prefers to view the relationship as collaborative rather than adversarial.
"There’s a genuine sense of community behind the scenes," he says. "We’re separate organizations, each trying to make a profit, but the competition isn’t cut‑throat.
The industry is like a global circus—people travel from one conference to another, sharing ideas and building networks. If all the events thrive, the whole ecosystem benefits. Right now, GDC is facing some challenges tied to its operating environment, and we hope those issues improve.
Ultimately, we all want the industry to be healthy." A notable new feature on the Gamescom Dev agenda is the introduction of Leadership Summits. These one‑day, invitation‑only gatherings provide senior executives with a private forum free from press, microphones, or recordings. Hammes stresses the importance of such “safe spaces” for candid discussion, especially given the turbulent market conditions many studios face.
"It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging perspectives," he remarks. "When we opened the first summit, we asked for a show of hands: who had delivered bad news in the past year? Every hand went up. Then we asked who had received bad news about their own company—again, everyone raised their hand.
It’s a tough environment right now, and leaders often feel pressure to project confidence and stability. These summits let them lower that guard and talk openly about the challenges they’re confronting." The speaker survey also revealed a split opinion on the role of artificial intelligence in the industry’s future.
While 47 % of speakers believe AI will be the most transformative development over the next three years, only 11 % consider AI literacy the top skill developers need to acquire. Hammes interprets this discrepancy as a sign that technical expertise alone won’t drive success. "You might think we’re either over‑hyping AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," he says. "In reality, the most critical skill, according to 27 % of respondents, is leadership.
That tells us we recognize change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet. We’re looking for people who can guide teams through uncertainty, make strategic decisions, and inspire confidence. In short, we need leaders who can chart the course as the industry evolves." In summary, Gamescom Dev under Frederik Hammes’ stewardship is positioning itself as a comprehensive resource for both creative and business aspects of game development, with a particular emphasis on empowering small studios.
By merging with the larger Gamescom ecosystem, streamlining ticketing, and adding exclusive leadership forums, the conference aims to foster a collaborative environment where knowledge sharing and strategic thinking go hand in hand. As the gaming landscape continues to shift—driven by emerging technologies, evolving market dynamics, and an ever‑growing pool of indie creators—Hammes believes the event must remain adaptable, ensuring that it can accommodate the needs of a diverse and increasingly specialized community while staying true to its core mission of supporting developers of all sizes.