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 independent, smaller‑scale studios now represent the most significant growth potential in the gaming sector. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," he told GamesIndustry.biz.
"Even if your studio consists of just three people, someone still has to handle the administrative and commercial side of things. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can access everything they need—production expertise, programming know‑how, development best practices, creative input, design guidance—and also pick up the fundamentals of running a business. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the business side stays 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 the rebranding was intended to bring the two gatherings closer together under a single banner. "The arguments for aligning more tightly with Gamescom are compelling," he said.
"We now have a powerful partner on our side, which brings many practical benefits. For attendees, the process is simpler: previously there were two separate conferences, two ticket types, two purchasing systems, and little integration. Now there is a single ticket shop that gives you access to everything from Monday through Friday.
If you buy a ticket for Gamescom Dev, you can also wander over to the main Gamescom floor during the same week." This year’s program features 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Hammes cautioned that success shouldn’t be measured solely by numbers. "It’s not about hitting a particular quota of speakers or sessions.
It’s about matching supply with demand and recognizing that the market is becoming increasingly specialised," he noted. One logistical challenge Hammes highlighted is the capacity of the current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the space comfortably accommodates the present scale of Gamescom Dev, there is "limited room to grow," according to the MD.
He warned that if the industry continues its rapid expansion, the event may eventually need to relocate or physically merge more closely with the main Gamescom site. "We’re not planning a massive expansion right now because that would require a bigger commitment to being physically nearer to Gamescom, which is a possibility for the future.
If the trend toward smaller studios and the democratisation of game development continues, we’ll need more space to serve everyone." 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 and covers comparable topics, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor. He emphasises a sense of camaraderie behind the scenes: "We’re still separate organisations, each trying to make a profit, but the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat.
The industry is like a global circus—in a good way—where people travel from one conference to the next. It’s not about eliminating other events; it’s about all of us thriving together. Our colleagues at GDC are currently facing some environmental challenges beyond their control, and I sincerely hope their situation improves.
When everyone does well, the whole ecosystem benefits." A fresh addition to the Gamescom Dev agenda is the series of Leadership Summits. These one‑day gatherings provide senior executives with a private setting—no press, no microphones, no recordings—to discuss the turbulent state of the market.
Hammes stressed the importance of offering a "safe space" for leaders to speak openly. "It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," he explained. "When we launched the summit, we asked the room how many had delivered bad news that year; every hand went up. We also asked how many had heard bad news about their own company, and again every hand stayed raised.
The environment is clearly challenging. Leaders are used to projecting confidence and stability, but we need a forum where they can be candid about difficulties and seek 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 for the industry over the next three years, only 11 % consider AI literacy the top skill developers need to acquire. Hammes interpreted this discrepancy as a sign that the sector may be over‑estimating AI’s impact while under‑preparing for it.
"How do those figures line up? You could argue we either over‑estimate AI’s influence or under‑prepare for it," he said. "My conclusion is that neither is entirely correct. When you ask what the most critical skill truly is, 27 % of respondents point to leadership.
That tells us we recognise change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet. We’re looking for people—leaders—who can guide us through the transition. In other words, the industry needs strong leadership to navigate the evolving landscape, not just technical know‑how." Overall, Hammes’s outlook positions Gamescom Dev as a catalyst for small‑studio empowerment, a bridge between creative development and business acumen, and a forum where industry leaders can confront challenges collectively.
As the gaming world continues to evolve, the event aims to adapt, expand, and remain a pivotal meeting point for innovators of all sizes.