The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed its leadership lineup for the 2026‑2028 term, with Hendrik Lesser once again chosen to serve as president. Lesser’s re‑election comes at a pivotal moment for the federation, which is gearing up to roll out a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening the European game‑development ecosystem. In addition to the continuity at the top, the board has seen a few notable departures.
David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, the studio director at No Brakes Games, have both stepped down from their board positions. Their exits open the way for fresh perspectives and new expertise to guide the federation’s strategy.
The refreshed EGDF board now comprises a diverse group of industry veterans and representatives from key European gaming organisations: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association. Spaans brings a wealth of experience in both studio operations and national industry advocacy. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, offering insight into the Nordic development scene and its unique funding mechanisms. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, linking cultural policy with commercial growth.
- **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, providing a strong Balkan perspective on market expansion. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, championing indie visibility across Central Europe. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing the French gaming sector and its regulatory environment.
Together, this board is set to steer the federation toward its declared agenda for the next two years. Central to that agenda is the ambition to give European developers "a route to the top of the value chain," meaning that creators of all sizes will have clearer pathways to higher‑value activities such as publishing, international distribution, and advanced monetisation strategies. The federation also plans to enhance access to three critical resources: funding, talent, and specialised skills.
**Funding pathways** will be expanded through closer collaboration with national and EU‑level grant programmes, as well as private investment networks. The board intends to publish a comprehensive guide that maps out existing financial instruments, eligibility criteria, and application timelines, helping studios navigate the often‑complex landscape of public subsidies and venture capital. **Talent development** will be addressed by launching mentorship schemes, apprenticeship pipelines, and cross‑border exchange programmes. By partnering with universities, technical schools, and industry‑led bootcamps, EGDF aims to create a talent pool that is not only larger but also more diverse in terms of gender, ethnicity, and disciplinary background.
These efforts are expected to reduce skill shortages that many mid‑size studios currently face. **Skill‑building initiatives** will focus on emerging technologies such as real‑time rendering, cloud‑based multiplayer infrastructure, and, notably, artificial intelligence. The federation has publicly pledged to become the first AI‑centric European trade association, reflecting the reality that AI tools are rapidly becoming integral to game design, testing, and production pipelines.
To that end, EGDF plans to host a series of AI‑focused workshops, publish best‑practice whitepapers, and facilitate pilot projects where member studios can experiment with generative art, procedural content creation, and AI‑driven quality assurance. In a statement released alongside the board announcement, EGDF underscored its commitment to monitoring and nurturing the broader European game‑industry ecosystem.
"We will continue to act as a catalyst for collaboration among studios across the continent, amplify the sector's visibility on the global stage, and ensure that European games retain a competitive edge," the federation said. The organization also highlighted its recent partnership with Video Games Europe (VGE) to release the *European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024*. The report provides a snapshot of the sector’s economic impact, revealing that European game companies generated a turnover of €24 billion in 2024.
More than 6,600 studios were active across the region, collectively employing upwards of 95,000 individuals. These figures illustrate both the scale and the growth potential of the market, reinforcing the need for coordinated support mechanisms. Looking ahead, the EGDF board intends to leverage these data points to advocate for policy measures that protect intellectual property, streamline cross‑border licensing, and encourage investment in high‑growth areas such as cloud gaming and immersive experiences. By aligning the interests of developers, publishers, educators, and policymakers, the federation hopes to create a virtuous cycle where innovation drives revenue, which in turn funds further innovation.
In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the introduction of a refreshed, internationally representative board signal a period of strategic renewal for the European Games Developer Federation. With a clear focus on funding access, talent cultivation, skill development, and AI integration, EGDF is positioning itself as a pivotal advocate for the continent’s game‑development community.
The upcoming two‑year plan promises to deliver concrete tools and programmes that will help studios of all sizes climb the value chain, compete more effectively on the world stage, and ultimately contribute to a more vibrant and sustainable European gaming industry.