The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed that Hendrik Lesser will continue at the helm as its president, following a successful re‑election during the unveiling of the federation’s new board for the 2026‑2028 term. Lesser’s renewed mandate comes at a pivotal moment for the European gaming sector, which is seeking to consolidate its position on the global stage while navigating rapid technological change, especially in the realms of artificial intelligence and cross‑border collaboration. Two notable departures were announced alongside the board reshuffle.
David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, the studio director of No Brakes Games, have both stepped down from their previous roles within the EGDF governance structure. Their exits make room for a fresh cohort of leaders drawn from a broad spectrum of the European gaming ecosystem, ensuring that the federation benefits from a wide range of perspectives and expertise.
The freshly appointed board members are: - **Martine Spaans** – currently serving as Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and also holding the position of General Manager at the Dutch Games Association. Spaans brings extensive experience in both studio operations and national industry advocacy. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – director of the Neogames Finland Association, a body that supports Finnish developers through networking, funding advice, and market research.
- **Per Strömbäck** – a board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering a blend of cultural policy insight and regional economic development know‑how. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – head of business development at GamesCo., secretary‑general of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, giving him a strong foothold in Central‑Eastern European market dynamics. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for championing indie creators and fostering international showcase events.
- **Vanessa Kaplan** – director‑general of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, the French national union representing video game companies, providing a crucial link to the francophone market and policy circles. Together, this diverse group is tasked with steering the EGDF’s strategic agenda for the upcoming biennium.
Central to their mission is the ambition to create a “route to the top of the value chain” for European developers. In practical terms, this means designing pathways that enable smaller studios to scale up, access higher‑margin markets, and integrate more deeply into publishing and distribution networks that have traditionally been dominated by a handful of large players. To achieve this, the federation will concentrate on three interrelated pillars: 1.
**Enhanced Funding Access** – EGDF plans to act as a liaison between developers and a variety of financing sources, ranging from national cultural grants and EU‑wide creative funds to private venture capital and corporate investment programmes. By mapping out funding opportunities and providing mentorship on proposal writing, the federation hopes to lower the barrier for innovative projects that might otherwise struggle to secure capital.
2. **Talent Development and Mobility** – Recognising that the industry’s growth is tightly linked to the availability of skilled professionals, EGDF will launch initiatives aimed at upskilling existing workforces and attracting new talent.
This includes partnerships with universities, vocational schools, and online learning platforms to create curricula that reflect current industry needs, as well as mobility schemes that allow developers to work across borders within Europe more easily. 3. **Skill‑Sharing and Knowledge Transfer** – The board intends to facilitate regular workshops, masterclasses, and peer‑learning events where seasoned developers can share best practices on topics such as live‑ops management, monetisation strategies, and emerging technologies like cloud gaming and AI‑driven content creation. In a statement released by the federation, the board underscored its commitment to monitoring and nurturing the European game‑industry ecosystem.
"Our goal is to strengthen collaboration with studios across the continent, amplify the sector’s visibility on the world stage, and ensure that European creators have the tools they need to compete globally," the statement read. A particularly forward‑looking element of the EGDF’s roadmap is its focus on artificial intelligence. The gaming sector has become a testing ground for AI‑based tools—ranging from procedural content generation and automated testing to sophisticated player‑behavior analytics.
The federation has set an ambitious target to become the first AI‑centric trade association in Europe, positioning itself as a hub for policy guidance, ethical standards, and shared resources related to AI adoption in game development. 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 provides a comprehensive snapshot of the industry’s health and trajectory. According to its findings, the European games market generated approximately €24 billion in revenue in 2024, a figure that reflects steady growth despite broader economic uncertainties.
The sector is supported by more than 6,600 studios, which collectively employ upwards of 95,000 individuals across a wide array of roles—from programming and artistic design to marketing, localisation, and community management. These numbers illustrate the sector’s significance not only as an entertainment medium but also as a major contributor to the European digital economy. The report highlights several trends that align with EGDF’s strategic priorities: an increasing share of revenue coming from live‑service models, a rising demand for cross‑platform experiences, and a growing interest in sustainable development practices that reduce the environmental footprint of game production.
Looking ahead, the EGDF board intends to leverage the insights from the report to shape policy recommendations for EU institutions, national governments, and private stakeholders. By advocating for supportive regulatory frameworks, tax incentives, and investment in research and development, the federation aims to create an environment where European studios can thrive, innovate, and retain talent.
In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the appointment of a new, geographically and functionally diverse board signal a renewed vigor within the European Games Developer Federation. With a clear focus on funding, talent, skill development, and AI integration, the organization is poised to guide European developers toward greater competitiveness and visibility on the global stage, while also contributing to the broader economic and cultural fabric of the continent.