The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed that Hendrik Lesser will continue at the helm as its president, following a successful re‑election that coincided with the announcement of the federation’s new governing board for the 2026‑2028 term. Lesser’s renewed mandate comes at a pivotal moment for the European gaming sector, as the organization prepares to roll out a series of initiatives designed to strengthen the industry’s competitiveness on the global stage.
Two notable departures were also disclosed as part of the board reshuffle. David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, director of the studio No Brakes Games, have stepped away from their previous board responsibilities. Their exits make way for a fresh cohort of representatives drawn from a diverse cross‑section of the European gaming ecosystem. The freshly constituted EGDF board now includes the following members: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at 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, tasked with championing Finnish developers and fostering cross‑border collaborations. - **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 blend of commercial strategy and community building expertise. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Leader of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for his work in nurturing indie talent and organizing industry events.
- **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French game developers and influencing national policy frameworks. Collectively, this board reflects a balance of operational leadership, advocacy, and strategic vision across several key European markets. Their combined mandate focuses on delivering a clear pathway for developers to ascend the value chain, ensuring that creators can move beyond basic production to capture higher‑margin activities such as publishing, IP licensing, and service‑based revenue models. In its strategic outline for the 2026‑2028 period, EGDF emphasizes three core pillars: 1.
**Enhanced Funding Access** – The federation plans to negotiate more favorable financing conditions with both public institutions and private investors, facilitating grant programs, venture capital introductions, and co‑funding schemes tailored to the unique cycles of game development. 2. **Talent Development and Mobility** – By partnering with educational bodies, vocational schools, and apprenticeship networks, EGDF aims to create pipelines that nurture technical, artistic, and business talent.
Initiatives will include mentorship schemes, cross‑border exchange programs, and certifications that align with industry standards. 3.
**Skills Upskilling and Knowledge Sharing** – Recognizing the rapid evolution of technology, the federation will host workshops, webinars, and master‑classes covering emerging topics such as immersive media, cloud‑based game services, and, notably, artificial intelligence applications. The organization’s public statement underscored its commitment to monitoring and facilitating the growth of Europe’s gaming 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 federation declared.
This pledge highlights an ongoing effort to act as a liaison between policymakers, investors, and the creative community, ensuring that regulatory environments remain conducive to innovation while promoting the region’s cultural output. A particularly forward‑looking ambition mentioned by the board is the federation’s intention to become the first AI‑centric European trade association within the gaming sector. As the industry increasingly adopts AI‑driven tools—ranging from procedural content generation and automated testing to player behavior analytics—EGDF seeks to position itself at the forefront of these developments.
By establishing best‑practice guidelines, ethical frameworks, and collaborative research initiatives, the federation hopes to harness AI’s potential while mitigating associated risks. The timing of these announcements coincides with the release of the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024, a joint effort by EGDF and Video Games Europe (VGE).
The report paints a robust picture of the continent’s market health, noting that European game companies generated approximately €24 billion in turnover during 2024. Moreover, the sector comprises more than 6,600 studios employing upwards of 95,000 individuals across a wide range of roles, from programming and design to marketing and community management.
These figures not only illustrate the economic weight of gaming in Europe but also reinforce the urgency of the federation’s agenda. With such a sizable workforce and revenue base, ensuring that developers have streamlined access to capital, skilled personnel, and cutting‑edge technology becomes essential for sustaining growth and competing with dominant markets in North America and Asia. In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the introduction of a diversified board signal a renewed vigor within EGDF.
Their strategic focus on financing, talent pipelines, skill development, and AI integration aims to empower European developers to capture more value, expand internationally, and shape the future of interactive entertainment. As the industry continues to evolve, the federation’s role as a catalyst and advocate will likely prove instrumental in maintaining Europe’s position as a vibrant, innovative hub for game creation.