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 evidence that today’s most promising opportunity in the gaming sector lies with smaller development studios. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," he told GamesIndustry.biz. "Even if your studio consists of just three people, someone still has to handle the administrative side.
I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can access everything they need—production expertise, programming know‑how, development practices, creative direction, design insights, and also guidance on running a business. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the commercial aspect stays crucial." The event, originally known as Devcom, was rebranded to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, effectively extending the broader Gamescom experience into a full week of focused industry activities.
Hammes explained that aligning the two events under a single banner brings clear advantages. "The case for bringing Dev closer to Gamescom is compelling," he said. "We now have a powerful partner on our side, which simplifies matters for attendees who may be unfamiliar with the separate conferences.
Previously there were two distinct ticketing systems, two sets of tickets, and little integration. Now there is a single ticket shop that grants access to everything—from the Dev sessions to the main Gamescom exhibition—Monday through Friday." This year’s program is ambitious, featuring 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages.
Yet Hammes cautions against treating the event as a mere numbers game. "It shouldn't be about hitting a specific quota of speakers or sessions.
It's always a balance of supply and demand, and we’re seeing the market become more specialized," he noted. A practical limitation, however, is the venue itself.
Gamescom Dev currently occupies the Confex Center at Koelnmesse, which, while adequate for now, offers limited capacity for future expansion. Hammes warned that if the industry continues on its current trajectory, the conference may need to seek a larger space or move even closer to the main Gamescom site. "We aren’t planning a massive enlargement at this stage because that would entail a more complex move to a physically adjacent location. But if the democratization of game development continues—if small studios keep multiplying—we’ll eventually need more room to accommodate everyone." Devcom was launched in 2017 to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe.
Although the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference (GDC) targets a similar audience and covers comparable topics, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor. He emphasizes a collaborative spirit within the industry. "We’re separate organisations, each aiming to generate revenue, but the competition isn’t cut‑throat.
The global conference circuit feels like a circus in a positive sense—people travel from one event to another, sharing ideas and building connections. If every conference thrives, the whole industry benefits." Hammes also expressed empathy for GDC’s recent challenges, which stem from external factors rather than internal missteps.
"Our colleagues at GDC are dealing with circumstances beyond their control, and we hope the situation improves for them. Ultimately, a healthy ecosystem means all of us succeed." A notable new feature on the Gamescom Dev agenda is the series of Leadership Summits. These one‑day gatherings provide top‑level executives a private environment—no press, no microphones, no recordings—to speak candidly about the turbulent state of the market. Hammes stressed the importance of such a "safe space" for leaders to voice concerns and exchange ideas.
"It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and sharing," he said. "When we opened the first summit, every hand went up when we asked who had delivered bad news that year, and the same hands stayed raised when we asked who had received bad news. The current climate is undeniably tricky.
Leaders often feel pressure to project confidence, but we need a forum where they can be honest about challenges." The speaker survey also revealed a split opinion on artificial intelligence. While 47 % of speakers believe AI will be the most transformative development for the industry over the next three years, only 11 % consider AI literacy the top skill to cultivate. Hammes interpreted this discrepancy as a sign that technical expertise alone won’t suffice. "You could argue we’re either over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," he explained.
"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 need leaders who can guide teams through uncertainty and help them adapt." In summary, Hammes envisions a future where small studios drive innovation, larger events adapt to space constraints, and industry leaders prioritize human skills over purely technical ones.
Gamescom Dev aims to be the nexus where creative talent, technical knowledge, and business acumen converge, ensuring that even the tiniest teams have access to the resources they need to thrive in an ever‑evolving market.