Hendrik Lesser has secured a second term as president of the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), coinciding with the unveiling of the organisation’s new governing board for the 2026‑2028 period. The announcement also noted 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 constituted EGDF board now comprises a diverse group of industry veterans and representatives from a range of European gaming associations and enterprises: - **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, tasked with championing Finnish developers on the continental stage. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering insight into cultural funding 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 strategic view of the Central‑Eastern European market.
- **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for fostering indie talent and organising large‑scale industry events. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French developers and advocating for policy reforms at the national level.
Together, this board is set to steer the federation through a period of rapid transformation within the European gaming sector. The EGDF has articulated a clear agenda for the 2026‑2028 term, emphasizing three core pillars: creating a clear pathway for developers to ascend the value chain, improving access to financial resources, and bolstering the availability of skilled talent and professional development opportunities.
In a statement released alongside the board announcement, EGDF highlighted its commitment to monitoring and facilitating the growth of the European game‑development ecosystem. The federation intends to deepen collaboration with studios across the continent, promote cross‑border partnerships, and elevate the global profile of European games. "Our goal is to ensure that European developers not only compete but lead in the worldwide market," the statement read.
A notable element of the federation’s forward‑looking strategy is its focus on artificial intelligence. Recognising that the gaming industry often pioneers the adoption of AI‑driven tools—from procedural content generation to advanced analytics—the EGDF aims to become the first AI‑centric trade association in Europe. This ambition includes establishing standards for ethical AI use, facilitating knowledge‑sharing workshops, and advocating for supportive regulatory frameworks that enable developers to harness AI responsibly.
The timing of the board’s formation 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 provides a comprehensive snapshot of the sector’s economic health, revealing that the European games industry generated approximately €24 billion in revenue during 2024. Moreover, the industry comprises more than 6,600 studios and employs upwards of 95,000 individuals across a wide spectrum of roles, from programming and art to marketing and localisation. These figures underscore the sector’s significance as a driver of employment and innovation within the European economy.
They also highlight the importance of the EGDF’s mission to improve funding pathways. By lobbying for increased public and private investment, the federation hopes to make capital more accessible to both established studios seeking to scale up and emerging indie teams looking to bring fresh ideas to market. Talent development is another cornerstone of the EGDF’s plan. The board intends to work closely with educational institutions, vocational training providers, and industry mentors to create curricula that reflect current market needs.
Initiatives may include apprenticeship schemes, mentorship programmes, and specialised bootcamps focused on emerging technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and AI integration. In addition to these internal efforts, the federation will continue to serve as a collective voice for European developers in policy discussions at the EU level. By presenting unified positions on issues such as intellectual property rights, digital taxation, and cross‑border data flows, EGDF seeks to shape a regulatory environment that supports sustainable growth. Overall, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the appointment of a new, internationally representative board signal a period of strategic continuity combined with fresh perspectives.
As the European games industry continues to expand its global footprint, the EGDF’s focus on funding, talent, and AI readiness aims to ensure that developers across the continent have the tools and support they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.