Hendrik Lesser has been confirmed for a second term as president of the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), coinciding with the unveiling of the federation’s new governing board for the 2026‑2028 period. The leadership reshuffle follows the departure of two prominent figures in the European gaming community: 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 refreshed EGDF board now comprises a diverse group of industry professionals representing a broad geographic and functional spectrum across Europe: - **Martine Spaans** – currently serving as Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and also holding the role of General Manager for the Dutch Games Association, bringing extensive operational and advocacy experience to the table.
- **KooPee Hiltunen** – director of the Neogames Finland Association, known for championing Finnish indie developers and fostering cross‑border collaborations. - **Per Strömbäck** – a board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and an active participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering insights into cultural policy and regional economic development.
- **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 commercial strategy and community building. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – leader of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, recognized for his work in organizing industry events and supporting indie creators. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – director general of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French game developers and advocating for regulatory and funding frameworks.
The federation’s strategic agenda for the upcoming biennium is centred on creating a clearer pathway for developers to ascend the value chain of the industry. This involves not only improving access to capital and investment opportunities but also enhancing the availability of skilled talent and specialised training programmes. By addressing these three pillars—funding, talent, and skills—EGDF hopes to reduce friction points that often impede small and medium‑sized studios from scaling their operations and reaching broader markets. In an official statement, the EGDF emphasized its commitment to continuously monitor and nurture the European game‑development ecosystem.
The organisation plans to deepen its collaboration with studios across the continent, facilitating knowledge exchange, joint ventures, and cross‑border projects that can amplify the sector’s competitiveness on a global stage. Moreover, EGDF aims to raise the international profile of European games, positioning the region as a hub of innovation, creativity, and high‑quality production.
A particularly forward‑looking element of the federation’s roadmap is its ambition to become the first AI‑driven European trade association within the gaming sector. Recognising that the video‑game industry has long been a testing ground for artificial‑intelligence technologies—ranging from procedural content generation to player‑behaviour analytics—the EGDF intends to leverage AI tools to streamline its own operations, provide data‑rich insights to members, and foster the responsible adoption of AI across development pipelines.
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, noting that in 2024 the European games market generated approximately €24 billion in turnover.
This economic activity is underpinned by more than 6,600 active studios, which collectively employ upwards of 95,000 professionals across a wide array of roles, from programming and art to marketing and community management. These figures underscore the sector’s significance not only as a cultural force but also as a major contributor to European GDP and employment. The EGDF’s renewed focus on funding pathways aims to address the financing gap that many indie studios face, by facilitating connections with public grant programmes, private investors, and venture‑capital funds that have shown an increasing appetite for interactive entertainment projects.
Talent development is another cornerstone of the federation’s plan. By partnering with educational institutions, vocational schools, and industry‑led training initiatives, EGDF seeks to nurture the next generation of developers, designers, and producers. This includes expanding apprenticeship schemes, supporting mentorship programmes, and promoting diversity and inclusion to ensure that the talent pool reflects the varied demographics of Europe’s gaming audience.
Skill enhancement will be pursued through a series of workshops, webinars, and conferences that address emerging technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, cloud gaming, and, of course, artificial intelligence. By equipping developers with up‑to‑date technical knowledge and best‑practice frameworks, the federation hopes to boost the overall quality and competitiveness of European games on the world stage.
In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the introduction of a new, multi‑national board signal a period of strategic growth for the European Games Developer Federation. With a clear agenda that targets funding accessibility, talent cultivation, skill advancement, and AI integration, EGDF is positioning itself to not only support its members but also to elevate the European gaming industry’s standing globally. The recent industry report’s robust financial and employment numbers provide a strong foundation upon which these initiatives can build, promising a vibrant and sustainable future for game development across Europe.