Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), securing a second term as its president while the organization simultaneously revealed the composition of its board for the 2026‑2028 mandate. Lesser’s re‑election comes at a pivotal moment for the European games sector, which is seeking to cement its position on the global stage and to navigate the rapid technological changes reshaping the industry.
Two notable figures stepped away from the board this cycle: David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, the studio director of No Brakes Games. Their departures opened space for a fresh set of representatives drawn from a broad cross‑section of the European development community, ensuring that the federation benefits from a diversity of perspectives and expertise.
The newly appointed board members are: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association. Spaans brings a strong background in both studio operations and national industry advocacy, positioning her to bridge the gap between grassroots developers and policy makers.
- **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association. Hiltunen’s experience in nurturing Finland’s vibrant indie scene equips the board with insights into how small‑scale studios can scale sustainably. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council.
Strömbäck’s dual involvement in cultural initiatives and regional economic development adds a valuable dimension to discussions about the cultural impact of games. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia.
Mitic’s entrepreneurial track record and his work fostering cross‑border collaboration in the Balkans broaden the federation’s geographic reach. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation. Marszalkowski’s deep connections with the Polish indie ecosystem and his experience organising large‑scale industry events will help amplify EGDF’s outreach efforts.
- **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo (SNJV) in France. Kaplan’s leadership within one of Europe’s most influential national game unions brings a strong voice for French developers and a keen understanding of regulatory environments. Together, this board is tasked with steering the federation’s strategic agenda for the next two years.
Central to that agenda is the promise to provide developers with "a route to the top of the value chain," a phrase that encapsulates EGDF’s ambition to help studios move beyond basic production roles toward higher‑value activities such as intellectual property creation, international publishing, and advanced technology integration. Key priorities outlined by the federation include: 1.
**Enhanced Access to Funding** – EGDF intends to act as a conduit between developers and a variety of financing sources, ranging from EU cultural grants to private venture capital. By simplifying application processes and offering mentorship on pitch preparation, the federation hopes to lower the barriers that many small and medium‑sized studios face when seeking capital. 2.
**Talent Development and Skills Training** – Recognising the acute shortage of specialised talent in areas such as AI, real‑time graphics, and network security, EGDF will launch a series of workshops, mentorship schemes, and partnership programmes with universities and technical schools across Europe. The goal is to create a pipeline of skilled professionals who can meet the evolving technical demands of modern game production.
3. **Strengthening the European Game Ecosystem** – The federation will continue to monitor market trends, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies, providing members with timely intelligence that can inform strategic decisions. By fostering closer collaboration among studios, publishers, service providers and public institutions, EGDF aims to build a more resilient and interconnected ecosystem. 4.
**Boosting Global Visibility** – Through coordinated marketing campaigns, participation in international trade shows, and the promotion of success stories, EGDF plans to raise the profile of European games on the world stage. This includes highlighting the region’s strengths in narrative design, artistic innovation, and emerging tech integration.
5. **Pioneering AI Integration** – Acknowledging that the gaming sector is at the forefront of adopting artificial‑intelligence tools—from procedural content generation to player‑behaviour analytics—EGDF has set an ambitious target to become the first AI‑centric European trade association. This will involve establishing ethical guidelines, facilitating research collaborations, and offering training programmes that help developers harness AI responsibly and effectively.
In addition to its internal initiatives, EGDF recently collaborated with Video Games Europe (VGE) to release the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024. The report paints a robust picture of the continent’s gaming market, indicating that European studios generated approximately €24 billion in turnover during 2024. The sector comprises more than 6,600 active studios and employs upwards of 95,000 individuals, underscoring its significance as both a cultural force and an economic engine. The data from the report also reveal trends such as the growing share of mobile and live‑service titles, the increasing export of European games to North America and Asia, and the rising importance of sustainability and inclusivity in development practices.
These insights will inform EGDF’s policy advocacy, ensuring that the federation’s lobbying efforts align with the real‑world needs of its members. Overall, the re‑elected leadership and the newly appointed board signal a continuity of purpose combined with fresh energy. By concentrating on financing pathways, talent pipelines, ecosystem cohesion, international promotion, and AI leadership, the European Games Developer Federation aims to empower its members to thrive in a rapidly changing industry while reinforcing Europe’s reputation as a hub of creative and technological excellence.