Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), securing a second term as its president as the association unveils the composition of its 2026‑2028 governing board. The announcement also noted the departure of two prominent members of the previous board: David Rabineau, chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, studio director at No Brakes Games, who have both stepped down from their board responsibilities. The newly constituted EGDF board now brings together a diverse set of leaders from across the European gaming ecosystem, each representing different facets of the industry. The roster includes: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer of Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association, bringing extensive experience in both studio operations and national industry advocacy.
- **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, a key figure in nurturing Finland’s vibrant indie and mid‑size development scene. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering insights 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 connection to the emerging markets of Southeast 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, representing the interests of French game developers at a national level. Together, these six individuals form a board that reflects a broad geographical spread—from the Benelux region to the Nordic countries, the Balkans, Central Europe, and France—ensuring that the federation’s strategic decisions consider the varied needs of developers across the continent.
In outlining its priorities for the 2026‑2028 term, the EGDF emphasized a commitment to creating "a route to the top of the value chain" for European studios. This phrase encapsulates the federation’s intention to help developers move beyond the traditional roles of production and distribution toward higher‑margin activities such as intellectual property ownership, service‑based revenue models, and cross‑border collaborations. To achieve this, the EGDF plans to focus on three interrelated pillars: 1. **Improved Access to Funding** – The federation will work closely with public institutions, private investors, and EU‑level funding programmes to streamline grant applications, provide matchmaking services, and develop educational resources that demystify financial instruments such as equity financing, tax incentives, and co‑production treaties.
2. **Talent Development and Skills Enhancement** – Recognising that the industry’s growth is tightly linked to the availability of skilled professionals, EGDF will launch mentorship schemes, expand apprenticeship programmes, and partner with universities and vocational schools to align curricula with current studio needs. Special attention will be given to under‑represented groups, with initiatives aimed at increasing gender diversity and supporting creators from smaller markets. 3.
**Strengthening the European Game Ecosystem** – By facilitating dialogue among developers, publishers, technology providers, and policy makers, the federation hopes to nurture a more cohesive ecosystem. This includes organizing pan‑European networking events, supporting cross‑border co‑development projects, and advocating for regulatory frameworks that protect creators while encouraging innovation. The federation’s public statement highlighted its ongoing role as a monitor and facilitator of the European game industry’s health.
"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," the organization said. This reflects a dual strategy of internal support—helping studios grow—and external promotion—raising the profile of European games on the world stage. A notable element of EGDF’s forward‑looking agenda is its ambition to become the first AI‑driven trade association in Europe. The statement noted that the gaming sector has historically been an early adopter of artificial‑intelligence tools, from procedural content generation to player‑behaviour analytics.
By integrating AI into its own operations—such as using predictive analytics to identify funding opportunities, automating routine administrative tasks, and offering AI‑enhanced matchmaking services—the federation aims to set a benchmark for how trade bodies can leverage technology to better serve their members. In parallel with these strategic moves, the EGDF recently collaborated 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 games generated a turnover of €24 billion in 2024. The industry is supported by more than 6,600 studios, which collectively employ over 95,000 individuals across a range of roles—from programming and art to marketing and community management.
These figures underscore the sector’s significance as a driver of employment, cultural output, and export revenue for the continent. The data also highlighted several trends that are likely to shape the federation’s work in the coming years.
First, the continued rise of live‑service and subscription models is prompting studios to invest heavily in ongoing content pipelines and player‑retention strategies. Second, the growing importance of cross‑platform play and cloud gaming is encouraging developers to adopt more flexible, technology‑agnostic development practices. Finally, the report pointed to an increasing concentration of talent in a handful of regional hubs—such as Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, and Stockholm—while also noting the emergence of vibrant micro‑clusters in smaller markets like Croatia, Lithuania, and Portugal. Against this backdrop, the EGDF’s renewed board and its expanded agenda aim to address both the opportunities and challenges identified in the insights report.
By improving access to capital, fostering skill development, and championing AI integration, the federation hopes to ensure that European developers can not only compete with global peers but also set the standards for innovation and sustainable growth in the interactive entertainment industry. In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the appointment of a geographically diverse board signal continuity and renewal for the European Games Developer Federation. Their stated focus on funding pathways, talent pipelines, ecosystem cohesion, and AI‑driven services positions the organization to play a pivotal role in shaping the next phase of Europe’s vibrant gaming landscape.