Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) as its president, coinciding with the federation’s announcement of the new 2026‑2028 board of directors. The leadership reshuffle also saw two prominent figures step away from their board positions: David Rabineau, chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, director of the studio No Brakes Games.
The freshly constituted EGDF board now includes a diverse group of industry veterans and representatives from a range of European gaming organisations: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association, bringing extensive experience in both studio operations and national game policy. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, a key advocate for the Finnish development community. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and member of the Stockholm Region Business Council, known for his work linking cultural initiatives with commercial growth.
- **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, offering a strong network across Central and Eastern Europe. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, providing insight into indie‑focused events and community building. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French developers at a national level.
The federation’s strategic plan for the 2026‑2028 term is built around three core pillars: creating a clear pathway for developers to ascend the value chain, expanding access to financial resources, and strengthening the talent pipeline through education and skill‑building initiatives. In its official statement, EGDF emphasized that it will continue to monitor and nurture the European game‑industry ecosystem, deepen collaboration with studios across the continent, and raise the global profile of European game development. A notable ambition highlighted by the federation is its intention to become the first AI‑driven European trade association. Recognising that the gaming sector is often at the forefront of adopting artificial‑intelligence tools—whether for procedural content generation, player analytics, or automated testing—EGDF plans to embed AI into its own operations and advocacy work.
This forward‑looking stance aims to set standards, share best practices, and ensure that European developers can leverage AI responsibly and competitively. The announcement follows the recent 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 market, noting that in 2024 the sector generated approximately €24 billion in turnover.
More than 6,600 studios were active across Europe, collectively employing over 95,000 people. These figures underscore the sector’s economic significance and its role as a major employer of creative and technical talent. Looking ahead, the new board intends to focus on several concrete actions. First, it will launch a series of funding‑access programmes designed to help studios of all sizes navigate national and EU‑level grant schemes, venture‑capital opportunities, and public‑private partnership models.
By simplifying the application process and providing mentorship, EGDF hopes to lower the barriers that often prevent promising projects from reaching market. Second, the federation will expand its talent‑development initiatives. This includes partnering with universities, vocational schools, and specialised bootcamps to create curricula that reflect current industry needs, such as immersive technologies, live‑ops management, and AI‑enhanced design.
Scholarships, internships, and mentorship schemes will be broadened to reach under‑represented groups, aiming to diversify the workforce and foster inclusive growth. Third, EGDF plans to strengthen its advocacy and visibility efforts.
Through targeted lobbying at the European Union level, the federation seeks to influence policy on issues ranging from intellectual‑property rights to digital taxation and cross‑border data flows. Simultaneously, it will organise high‑profile events, trade missions, and showcase opportunities that position European studios on the global stage, helping them secure distribution deals and media coverage. Finally, the AI‑centric goal will be operationalised through the creation of an AI‑lab within EGDF. This hub will serve as a collaborative space where developers can experiment with emerging AI tools, share case studies, and develop ethical guidelines.
By acting as a catalyst for AI adoption, the federation hopes to keep European studios at the cutting edge of technology while mitigating risks associated with data privacy and algorithmic bias. In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the appointment of a new, geographically diverse board signal a period of strategic renewal for the European Games Developer Federation. With a clear focus on funding access, talent cultivation, AI integration, and international visibility, EGDF aims to reinforce Europe’s position as a vibrant, innovative, and globally competitive hub for video‑game creation.