The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed the composition of its governing board for the 2026‑2028 term, and in the process reaffirmed Hendrik Lesser as its president. Lesser’s re‑election signals continuity at the helm of an organisation that is positioning itself as a central advocate for Europe’s thriving game‑development sector.
Two prominent figures stepped away from the board this cycle. David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, director of the No Brakes Games studio, both chose not to seek re‑appointment.
Their departures make way for a refreshed roster of industry leaders who bring a blend of operational, strategic, and creative expertise to the federation’s leadership. The newly appointed board members are: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association. Spaans brings extensive experience in both studio management and national industry coordination, positioning her to bridge the interests of independent developers and larger Dutch game entities.
- **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association. Hiltunen is well‑known for championing Finnish game‑development talent and for fostering cross‑border collaborations within the Nordic ecosystem.
- **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council. His background in cultural policy and regional economic development equips him to advocate for gaming as a cultural export and a driver of local economies. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia.
Mitic’s multifaceted role across business development, industry advocacy, and community building makes him a valuable conduit for Central‑European developers. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation.
His experience in organising large‑scale industry events and supporting indie creators will help amplify Poland’s growing game‑development scene. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo (SNJV) in France.
Kaplan’s leadership of France’s primary video‑game trade union adds a strong French perspective to the federation’s pan‑European outlook. Together, this board is tasked with executing EGDF’s strategic agenda for the forthcoming biennium.
Central to that agenda is the ambition to provide developers with "a route to the top of the value chain," a phrase that encapsulates the federation’s desire to help creators move beyond basic production roles toward higher‑margin activities such as publishing, IP licensing, and international distribution. To achieve this, EGDF plans to roll out a suite of initiatives aimed at improving access to three core resources: 1. **Funding** – The federation will work closely with European Union bodies, national grant programmes, and private investors to streamline the application process for development grants, venture capital, and co‑production funds. By creating a clearer roadmap for financing, EGDF hopes to reduce the administrative burden that often hampers smaller studios.
2. **Talent** – Recognising the acute skills gap in areas such as AI integration, advanced graphics, and live‑ops management, EGDF intends to partner with universities, vocational schools, and online learning platforms to develop targeted curricula and apprenticeship schemes. The goal is to cultivate a pipeline of qualified professionals who can meet the evolving technical demands of modern game production. 3.
**Skills** – Beyond formal education, EGDF will launch mentorship programmes, peer‑learning networks, and best‑practice workshops. These offerings will be designed to disseminate knowledge on topics ranging from effective project management and agile development to marketing strategies and post‑launch community engagement.
In a formal statement, EGDF underscored its commitment to monitoring and facilitating the growth of the European game‑industry ecosystem. The federation pledged to deepen collaboration with studios across the continent, to serve as a conduit between developers and policy‑makers, and to elevate the global visibility of Europe’s gaming output. "Our role is to act as both a catalyst and a champion for European creators," the statement read, highlighting the dual focus on internal industry health and external perception. A notable element of EGDF’s forward‑looking vision is its emphasis on artificial intelligence.
The federation acknowledges that the gaming sector is at the forefront of AI‑driven tools—from procedural content generation to player‑behavior analytics—and has set an ambitious target to become the first AI‑centric European trade association. This initiative will involve establishing ethical guidelines for AI use in games, facilitating research collaborations, and promoting the adoption of AI technologies that enhance creativity while safeguarding player experience. 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 gaming landscape: in 2024, European studios collectively generated €24 billion in turnover, and the sector employed more than 95 000 individuals across over 6 600 studios. These figures illustrate not only the economic weight of the industry but also its role as a major employer and a source of cultural export. Looking ahead, EGDF’s board plans to leverage these data points to advocate for policies that support sustainable growth, such as tax incentives for research and development, streamlined cross‑border licensing procedures, and investment in digital infrastructure. By aligning its strategic priorities with the broader economic objectives of the European Union, the federation aims to ensure that game development remains a vibrant, innovative, and internationally competitive sector.
In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the introduction of a diverse, experienced board signal a period of strategic continuity and renewal for the European Games Developer Federation. With a clear focus on financing, talent cultivation, skill development, and AI integration, EGDF is positioning itself to guide European developers toward higher value creation, stronger global presence, and a more resilient industry ecosystem over the next two years.