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 market segment belongs to smaller development studios. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," he explains to GamesIndustry.biz. "Even if your studio consists of just three people, someone still has to handle contracts, finances, and the myriad administrative tasks that keep the company afloat.
I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can access production expertise, programming know‑how, creative guidance, design insights, and also learn the fundamentals of running a business. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, solid business acumen remains crucial." The event, formerly known as Devcom, was rebranded as Gamescom Dev in August 2025, a change that effectively extends the reach of the main Gamescom exhibition into a full‑week program. Hammes believes the closer alignment with Gamescom offers tangible benefits. "We now have a powerful, established partner on our side, and that brings a host of advantages.
Practically speaking, it simplifies things for attendees who may not have been familiar with the separate conferences before. Previously there were two distinct ticketing systems, two sets of sessions, and little cohesion between the two events. Now everything is consolidated under a single ticketing platform.
Visitors can purchase one pass and enjoy both the Gamescom business week from Monday through Friday and the dedicated Gamescom Dev program without juggling multiple tickets." This year’s lineup features 390 speakers delivering 220 sessions across 17 stages. Hammes cautions against treating the event as a mere numbers game. "We don’t aim to hit arbitrary targets for speaker counts or session totals.
It’s always about matching supply with demand. We’re seeing a trend toward greater specialization, and that shapes how we curate the program." One practical limitation, Hammes notes, is the venue itself. The conference currently occupies the Confex Center at Koelnmesse, which comfortably houses the present schedule but leaves little room for substantial expansion.
"If the industry continues on its current trajectory, we may eventually need a larger space or a closer physical link to the main Gamescom fair," he says. "At the moment we’re not planning a massive scale‑up because that would require a more substantial logistical undertaking, possibly moving nearer to Gamescom. If the democratization of game development persists—more indie and micro studios entering the market—we’ll need additional capacity to serve that broader community." Devcom originated in 2017 to fill the void left when GDC Europe ceased operations. While the San‑Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference (GDC) naturally competes for a similar audience, Hammes emphasizes a collaborative rather than adversarial relationship.
"There’s a strong sense of community behind the scenes," he remarks. "We’re separate companies, each looking to make a profit, but the competition isn’t cut‑throat. The industry functions like a global circus in a positive sense—people travel from one conference to another, sharing knowledge and networking.
It’s not about eliminating rivals; it’s about everyone thriving, which lifts the entire sector. Our colleagues at GDC are currently facing challenges due to external conditions, and we hope those issues improve soon. When all conferences succeed, the whole ecosystem benefits." A notable new feature on the Gamescom Dev agenda is the series of Leadership Summits.
These one‑day gatherings provide senior executives a private environment—no press, no microphones, no recordings—to discuss the turbulent state of the market openly. Hammes stresses the importance of such a “safe space.” "It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," he says. "During the inaugural summit, we asked participants to raise their hands if they had delivered bad news to their teams that year—every hand went up. When we asked who had received bad news, the same response.
It underscores how challenging the current climate is. Leaders often feel compelled to project confidence, but these summits allow them to be candid, share concerns, and collectively navigate uncertainty." The speaker survey also revealed a split opinion on artificial intelligence. 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 to cultivate.
Hammes interprets this discrepancy as a signal that technical proficiency alone won’t steer the industry through upcoming changes. "You could argue we’re either over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," he notes. "In reality, the most critical competency emerging from the data is leadership—27 % of respondents identified it as the key skill. This tells us that the industry recognizes a wave of change is coming and isn’t looking for a technological silver bullet.
Instead, we need leaders who can guide teams, make strategic decisions, and foster resilience in the face of rapid evolution." Overall, Hammes envisions Gamescom Dev as an evolving platform that not only showcases cutting‑edge development techniques but also equips creators—especially those in small studios—with the business insight and leadership tools necessary to thrive. By integrating with Gamescom’s broader ecosystem, simplifying ticketing, and adding focused leadership forums, the event aims to support the next generation of developers who are doing more with fewer resources while still navigating the complex commercial realities of the gaming world.