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 evidence that today’s most promising market segment consists of smaller development studios. In his conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, Hammes emphasizes that while compact teams can punch above their weight creatively and technically, the need for solid business management does not disappear. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet the business side remains essential," he explains. "Even if your studio is just three people, someone still has to handle contracts, budgeting, marketing, and the myriad administrative tasks that keep the operation afloat.
I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where developers can soak up production expertise, programming know‑how, creative direction, design insights, and, crucially, learn how to run a sustainable business. No matter how advanced the technology gets, the fundamentals of running a company stay vital." The event, originally known as Devcom, underwent a rebranding in August 2025 to become Gamescom Dev, effectively extending the broader Gamescom experience into a full‑week affair.
Hammes believes that aligning the two conferences under a single banner brings clear advantages. "The case for bringing Dev closer to Gamescom is compelling," he says. "We now have a powerful partner in Gamescom, which simplifies things for attendees. Previously there were two separate conferences, two ticketing systems, and little crossover.
Now there’s a single ticket portal that grants access to everything from Monday through Friday, allowing participants to move seamlessly between the business week and the main Gamescom exhibition." This year’s programme boasts 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Yet Hammes cautions against treating the event as a numbers game. "We don’t chase arbitrary speaker counts or session tallies.
It’s always about matching supply with demand, and we’re seeing a trend toward greater specialization." Space constraints, however, are beginning to show. The venue – the Confex Center at Koelnmesse – currently accommodates the event, but Hammes acknowledges that “there is limited room to grow.” Should the industry continue its rapid expansion, the organisers may need to consider a larger footprint or a tighter integration with the main Gamescom site. "We’re not planning a massive scale‑up right now because that would require a more physical proximity to Gamescom, which is a possibility we’re keeping under review. If the democratization of game development persists, we’ll eventually need more space to serve the influx of small studios and independent creators." Gamescom Dev traces its origins to 2017, filling the void left when GDC Europe ceased operations.
While the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference naturally competes for similar audiences, Hammes prefers to view the relationship as complementary rather than adversarial. "There’s a strong sense of community behind the scenes," he notes.
"We’re separate entities, each trying to make a profit, but the competition isn’t cut‑throat. The industry is a global circus in a positive sense – people travel from one conference to another, sharing ideas and building networks. If all conferences thrive, the whole ecosystem benefits." He also expresses empathy for GDC’s current challenges, attributing them to external environmental factors beyond the organizers’ control, and hopes for a swift recovery.
A fresh feature on this year’s agenda is the series of Leadership Summits – intimate, one‑day gatherings where senior industry figures can speak candidly without the presence of press, microphones, or recordings. Hammes stresses the importance of providing a "safe space" for leaders to discuss the turbulent market conditions. "It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging perspectives," he says.
"During the inaugural summit, we asked participants to raise their hands if they had delivered bad news to their teams this year – every hand went up. When we asked who had heard bad news about their own company, the hands stayed raised. The environment is undeniably tricky right now.
Leaders often feel compelled to project confidence, but we need a venue where they can be honest about challenges and seek collective guidance." 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 disparity as a sign that technical proficiency alone won’t navigate the coming wave of change. "You could argue we’re over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," he remarks. "In reality, the most critical skill, according to 27 % of respondents, is leadership. This tells us that the industry recognizes change is inevitable and is looking for people who can guide teams through it, rather than hoping a new technology will solve everything." In summary, Hammes paints a picture of an industry at a crossroads: smaller studios are emerging as the engine of growth, the need for business acumen remains paramount, and the community is seeking collaborative, leadership‑focused environments to steer through uncertainty.
Gamescom Dev aims to be that nexus – a place where creativity, technical know‑how, and solid management converge, all within a framework that supports the next generation of game makers.