Hendrik Lesser has been confirmed for a second term as the president of the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), coinciding with the unveiling of the federation’s new board for the 2026‑2028 period. The leadership reshuffle also sees the departure of two prominent figures: David Rabineau, chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, studio director at No Brakes Games, both of whom have stepped down from their board positions.
The freshly assembled EGDF board brings together a diverse group of industry veterans and representatives from a range of national and regional gaming organisations. The members are: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer of Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association, offering deep insight into both studio operations and national industry advocacy. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, a key voice for the Finnish development community and its growing export market. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, bridging cultural policy and commercial interests in the Swedish market.
- **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 business strategy and regional network building. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, representing the indie sector and event‑driven community engagement. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, bringing French industry perspectives and labour‑related expertise to the table. Together, this board is tasked with steering the EGDF’s strategic agenda for the next two years, an agenda that is explicitly centred on creating a clear “route to the top of the value chain” for European game developers.
In practical terms, this means the federation will focus on three interlinked pillars: enhanced access to financing, stronger pipelines for talent acquisition and development, and the provision of up‑to‑date skill‑building resources. The EGDF’s public statement underscores its commitment to monitoring and facilitating the growth of the European game‑industry ecosystem. By strengthening collaboration with studios across the continent, the federation hopes to boost the sector’s visibility on the global stage, positioning Europe as a hub of innovation, creativity, and commercial success. The statement also highlights a forward‑looking ambition: because the gaming sector is often at the forefront of adopting artificial‑intelligence tools and technologies, the EGDF aims to become the first AI‑driven European trade association.
This goal reflects a desire to embed AI‑enhanced processes into everything from matchmaking and player analytics to development pipelines and regulatory compliance. In addition to its internal strategic work, the EGDF has recently partnered with Video Games Europe (VGE) to release the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024. The report provides a snapshot of the sector’s economic health, revealing that European games generated a total turnover of €24 billion in 2024. This figure is supported by a robust ecosystem of more than 6,600 studios, which together employ upwards of 95 000 individuals across a wide range of roles, from programming and art to marketing and community management.
The data points from the report illustrate the scale and diversity of the European market. The €24 billion turnover not only signifies strong consumer demand but also underscores the region’s capacity to produce high‑quality, commercially successful titles that compete globally.
Moreover, the employment numbers highlight the sector’s role as a significant job creator, offering career pathways for a new generation of talent and contributing to the broader digital economy. Looking ahead, the EGDF intends to translate these macro‑level insights into concrete support mechanisms for developers. For instance, the federation plans to lobby for more favourable public‑funding schemes at both EU and national levels, ensuring that smaller studios can access seed capital and that mid‑size companies can secure growth financing. It will also work closely with educational institutions and training providers to develop curricula that reflect the latest industry standards, including modules on AI‑assisted design, procedural content generation, and ethical considerations in game development.
Talent acquisition is another focal point. The board members, drawing on their varied networks, will facilitate cross‑border talent exchanges, internships, and mentorship programmes. By creating a more fluid labour market, the EGDF hopes to alleviate skill shortages that many studios currently face, especially in specialised areas such as advanced graphics programming, sound design, and live‑ops management.
Finally, the federation’s ambition to become an AI‑centric trade body will involve establishing a dedicated working group to explore best practices for integrating AI into the development lifecycle. This group will produce guidelines, host webinars, and publish case studies that demonstrate how AI can accelerate prototyping, improve quality assurance, and enhance player experience without compromising artistic vision. In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the appointment of a new, geographically diverse board signal a period of renewal and strategic focus for the European Games Developer Federation.
With a clear mandate to improve funding routes, talent pipelines, and skill development—while pioneering AI adoption—the EGDF is positioning itself as a catalyst for sustained growth and heightened global competitiveness for Europe’s vibrant game‑development community.