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 belongs to smaller development studios. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," he told GamesIndustry.biz. "Even if your studio is just three people, someone still has to handle contracts, budgeting, and all the administrative duties that keep the company afloat. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can absorb production techniques, programming insights, artistic direction, and design theory, while also learning the fundamentals of running a business.
No matter how advanced the technology becomes, solid business acumen remains crucial." The event, which was renamed from Devcom to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, now effectively extends the main Gamescom festival into a full‑week experience. Hammes explained that aligning the two events under a single brand brings clear advantages. "We now have a strong, well‑known partner in Gamescom, and that creates a host of practical benefits.
Previously attendees had to juggle two separate conferences, two ticketing systems, and two distinct schedules. Today there is a single ticket portal that grants access to everything from Monday through Friday, allowing participants to move seamlessly between Gamescom Dev sessions and the broader Gamescom exhibition." This year’s programme features 390 speakers and 220 individual sessions spread across 17 stages. Hammes cautioned against treating the event as a mere numbers game.
"Success isn’t about hitting a predefined quota of talks or attendees. It’s about matching supply with demand and responding to the increasing specialization we see in the industry." One logistical challenge Hammes highlighted is the capacity of the current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse.
While the space comfortably accommodates the present format, he warned that "there is limited room to grow". Should the industry continue its rapid expansion, the conference may need to consider a larger site or a tighter physical integration with the main Gamescom grounds. "We’re not planning a massive scale‑up right now because that would require a major logistical shift, potentially moving closer to Gamescom itself. If the trend toward smaller, more democratized studios continues, we’ll need more room to serve that broader community." Gamescom Dev traces its origins back to 2017, when it was launched to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe.
Although the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference (GDC) targets a similar audience, Hammes emphasizes a collaborative rather than competitive stance. "Both events are run by different organisations, and while everyone wants to be profitable, the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat.
The industry is like a global circus where people travel from one conference to the next. It’s not about crushing the competition; it’s about everyone thriving, which lifts the whole sector." He also expressed empathy for GDC’s recent challenges, noting that external factors have created a difficult operating environment for them. "We hope conditions improve for our colleagues at GDC, because when one part of the ecosystem struggles, it affects us all," he said. A notable new feature at Gamescom Dev this year is the series of Leadership Summits.
These one‑day gatherings provide a private setting—no press, no microphones, no recordings—where senior executives can speak candidly about the turbulent market conditions. Hammes stressed the importance of a "safe space" for leaders to share concerns without the pressure to project unshakeable confidence. "During the opening session, we asked how many attendees had delivered bad news in the past year, and every hand went up. When we asked who had heard bad news about their own company, the hands stayed raised.
It’s a tough climate, and we want leaders to feel comfortable voicing uncertainty and seeking collective solutions." 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 % view AI literacy as the top skill to cultivate. Hammes interpreted this disparity as a sign that technical expertise alone won’t navigate the coming changes.
"People either overestimate AI’s impact or underestimate the preparation needed, but the real answer lies elsewhere. The survey shows 27 % of respondents consider leadership the most critical skill. That tells us the industry recognizes that change is inevitable and that we need leaders who can guide teams through uncertainty, rather than relying solely on new technology to solve every problem." In summary, Hammes sees Gamescom Dev as a growing platform that reflects broader shifts in the gaming world: a move toward smaller, agile studios that still require solid business foundations, a need for venues that can adapt to expanding participation, and an industry that values leadership and collaborative dialogue as much as technical innovation.
The conference’s integration with Gamescom, its expanded schedule, and the introduction of private leadership forums all aim to support developers—big and small—in navigating an evolving landscape while maintaining a sense of community and shared purpose.