The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed that Hendrik Lesser will continue in his role as president, having been re‑elected by the federation’s members. At the same time, the organization revealed the composition of its new governing board for the 2026‑2028 term, marking a fresh chapter for the pan‑European body that represents game‑development studios, publishers, and related service providers across the continent.
Two notable departures were announced alongside the board update. David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of the game‑development studio Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, director of the independent studio No Brakes Games, have stepped down from their previous positions within the federation’s leadership structure. Their exits make way for a slate of new members who bring a diverse set of experiences from different corners of the European gaming ecosystem.
The newly appointed board now comprises the following individuals: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and general manager of the Dutch Games Association. Spaans brings a strong background in both studio operations and industry advocacy within the Netherlands. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, representing Finnish developers and championing the country’s growing reputation for innovative game design. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering expertise in 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 blend of commercial insight and community‑building experience in the Balkans. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for his work in organizing industry events and supporting independent creators. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, the French national union for video‑game professionals, adding a strong voice from one of Europe’s largest gaming markets.
Together, this board is tasked with steering EGDF’s strategic agenda for the 2026‑2028 period. The federation has outlined a clear set of priorities that centre on elevating European developers within the global value chain. Central to this vision is the promise of "a route to the top of the value chain," meaning that EGDF intends to create pathways that enable studios—especially smaller and mid‑size firms—to access higher‑value opportunities such as publishing deals, cross‑border collaborations, and participation in major international showcases.
In practical terms, the federation will concentrate on three interlinked pillars: 1. **Enhanced Funding Access** – EGDF plans to act as a conduit between developers and a variety of financing sources, including national cultural funds, EU‑level creative‑industry grants, and private‑equity investors. By mapping out the funding landscape and providing tailored advisory services, the organization hopes to demystify the application processes that often deter smaller studios from seeking capital.
2. **Talent Development and Mobility** – Recognising that the industry’s growth is limited by skill shortages, the federation will launch initiatives aimed at up‑skilling the workforce. This includes partnerships with universities, vocational schools, and online learning platforms to deliver curricula that reflect current production pipelines, as well as exchange programmes that facilitate the movement of talent across borders, thereby strengthening the overall competence pool of European game creators.
3. **Skill‑Sharing and Best‑Practice Networks** – By fostering communities of practice, EGDF intends to enable developers to share technical know‑how, business strategies, and market insights. Regular workshops, webinars, and mentorship schemes will be organized, targeting both emerging studios and established companies that wish to adopt new production methodologies or explore emerging market segments.
The federation’s public statement emphasized its commitment to monitoring and supporting the broader European game‑industry ecosystem. "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 declared. This underscores a dual focus: nurturing domestic growth while also projecting a cohesive, competitive image of European gaming on the world stage.
A particularly forward‑looking element of EGDF’s roadmap is its ambition to become the first AI‑focused European trade association within the gaming sector. As the industry increasingly incorporates artificial‑intelligence tools—ranging from procedural content generation and automated testing to AI‑driven analytics—EGDF aims to position itself at the forefront of this technological shift. The federation plans to develop standards, ethical guidelines, and educational resources that help members adopt AI responsibly and effectively, thereby ensuring that European studios can leverage these innovations without compromising creative integrity or consumer trust.
In parallel with these strategic moves, 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 health, revealing that European game companies generated a total turnover of €24 billion in 2024. This impressive figure reflects the combined output of more than 6,600 studios, which together employ upwards of 95,000 individuals across a wide range of roles—from programming and art to marketing and community management.
These statistics highlight the sector’s significance as a major employer and contributor to the European digital economy. They also illustrate the scale of the challenge EGDF faces: supporting a highly fragmented landscape of thousands of companies, each with its own unique needs and aspirations.
By offering a unified voice in policy discussions, facilitating access to capital, and championing skill development, the federation hopes to translate this economic weight into greater influence at both the EU policy level and in global market negotiations. Looking ahead, the re‑elected president Hendrik Lesser expressed optimism about the federation’s capacity to drive meaningful change. He noted that continuity in leadership, combined with fresh perspectives from the newly appointed board members, positions EGDF to act as a catalyst for innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity within the European game‑development community. Lesser underscored the importance of collaboration among national associations, private enterprises, and educational institutions, stating that only through a coordinated effort can the continent maintain its competitive edge and continue to produce games that resonate with audiences worldwide.
In summary, the EGDF’s 2026‑2028 board brings together a blend of operational expertise, regional representation, and strategic vision. Their agenda—centered on funding, talent, skills, AI integration, and global visibility—aims to strengthen the European games ecosystem, ensuring that developers of all sizes can thrive in an increasingly complex and technology‑driven market. The federation’s ongoing data‑driven approach, exemplified by the 2024 industry insights report, will continue to inform its policies and initiatives, fostering a vibrant, resilient, and globally competitive European gaming sector.