Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), securing a second term as president while the organisation publicised its new board for the 2026‑2028 period. 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. The refreshed EGDF board now brings together a diverse group of industry veterans and representatives from key European gaming bodies: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer of Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association, providing a blend of operational expertise and national industry insight.
- **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, tasked with championing Finnish development talent and fostering cross‑border collaborations. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering a perspective that bridges cultural initiatives 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, bringing a strong entrepreneurial and networking background. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for his work in promoting indie creators and organising high‑impact industry events.
- **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing the French video‑game sector and its policy interests at a European level. These six individuals replace the outgoing members and together form a board that reflects a broad geographic spread—from the Netherlands and Finland to Sweden, Croatia, Poland, and France—ensuring that the federation’s strategic decisions will consider the varied needs of developers across the continent.
### Strategic Priorities for 2026‑2028 The EGDF has laid out a clear agenda for the forthcoming two‑year cycle, centred on three main pillars: 1. **Creating a Pathway to the Top of the Value Chain** – The federation intends to develop programmes and support mechanisms that enable smaller studios and independent creators to move up the production and distribution ladder. This includes mentorship schemes, matchmaking events with publishers, and guidance on intellectual‑property management.
2. **Improving Access to Funding** – Recognising that financial constraints remain a major hurdle for many European developers, EGDF will work closely with national funding bodies, EU cultural programmes, and private investors to streamline application processes and raise the visibility of funding opportunities. The board plans to launch a centralised portal where developers can discover grants, tax‑incentive schemes, and venture‑capital contacts tailored to the gaming sector.
3. **Strengthening Talent and Skills Development** – To address the growing demand for specialised skills—ranging from advanced programming and AI integration to narrative design and live‑ops management—the federation will partner with educational institutions, vocational schools, and online learning platforms.
Initiatives will include scholarship programmes, industry‑led workshops, and a Europe‑wide talent‑exchange network that facilitates short‑term placements and knowledge sharing. In a statement released alongside the board announcement, EGDF emphasised its commitment to monitoring the health of the European game‑development ecosystem, deepening collaboration with studios of all sizes, and boosting the global profile of Europe’s gaming output. "We will continue to act as a catalyst for growth, ensuring that developers have the tools, connections, and visibility they need to thrive on the world stage," the federation said.
### Pioneering AI Integration One of the most forward‑looking goals highlighted by the federation is its ambition to become the first AI‑driven European trade association for the gaming industry. As games increasingly incorporate artificial‑intelligence technologies—whether for procedural content generation, player‑behaviour analytics, or sophisticated in‑game NPCs—EGDF aims to embed AI into its own operations.
This could involve using AI to analyse market trends, automate administrative tasks, and provide personalised support to member studios. By doing so, the federation hopes to set a benchmark for how trade bodies can leverage emerging technologies to better serve their constituencies. ### Industry Context: 2024 Market Snapshot Earlier in the week, EGDF collaborated with Video Games Europe (VGE) to release the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024. The report paints a robust picture of the continent’s gaming sector: in 2024, European studios generated a combined turnover of €24 billion, an indicator of both consumer demand and the region’s capacity for high‑value production.
The industry employed more than 95 000 individuals across over 6 600 studios, underscoring its role as a major employer and economic driver. These figures reinforce the federation’s strategic focus.
With such a sizable market, there is ample opportunity to refine the value chain, attract additional investment, and nurture the next generation of talent. Moreover, the data highlights the importance of continued advocacy at the European policy level to safeguard favorable tax regimes, intellectual‑property protections, and cross‑border trade agreements that benefit developers. ### Looking Ahead As Hendrik Lesser steps into his second term, the EGDF’s renewed board is poised to translate its strategic objectives into concrete actions. Stakeholders can anticipate a series of initiatives designed to lower barriers to entry, amplify European voices in global forums, and harness AI to streamline both creative and administrative processes.
By fostering a collaborative environment and championing the interests of developers—from indie teams in Warsaw to large studios in Paris—the federation aims to solidify Europe’s standing as a vibrant, innovative hub for video‑game creation. The coming years will be pivotal for the sector, with rapid technological change and evolving consumer expectations shaping the landscape.
Through its renewed leadership and clear agenda, the European Games Developer Federation seeks to ensure that European developers are not only participants in this evolution but also leaders who set the standards for the global gaming community.