The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed its leadership lineup for the 2026‑2028 term, and in a clear show of confidence, Hendrik Lesser has been re‑elected to continue serving as the federation’s president. Lesser’s renewed mandate comes at a pivotal moment for the European games sector, which is navigating rapid technological change, expanding market opportunities, and an increasingly competitive global landscape. In addition to reaffirming Lesser’s role, the federation announced a reshuffle of its board members.
Two prominent figures stepped aside: David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, the studio director at No Brakes Games. Their departures opened space for a fresh slate of industry veterans and representatives from a broad cross‑section of the European gaming community.
The newly constituted EGDF board now comprises: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association. Spaans brings extensive experience in both studio operations and national industry advocacy, positioning her to bridge the gap between independent developers and larger market players. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association. Hiltunen’s background in Finnish game development policy equips the board with insights into one of Europe’s most innovative ecosystems.
- **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and member of the Stockholm Region Business Council. Strömbäck’s dual focus on cultural impact and regional economic development adds a valuable perspective on how games can contribute to broader societal goals. - **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 collaborations in the Balkans enhance the federation’s reach into emerging markets. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation. Marszalkowski is known for championing indie creators and facilitating knowledge exchange across Central and Eastern Europe.
- **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo (SNJV) in France. Kaplan’s leadership of the French games union brings a strong voice for labor rights, funding mechanisms, and regulatory matters. Together, this diverse group is tasked with steering the EGDF’s strategic agenda for the next two years.
Central to that agenda is the ambition to provide developers with “a route to the top of the value chain,” a phrase that underscores the federation’s commitment to helping creators move beyond the early stages of concept and prototype toward full commercial success and long‑term sustainability. To achieve this, the board has outlined three interlocking pillars: 1.
**Enhanced Access to Funding** – The EGDF will work closely with national and EU‑level financing bodies, venture capital funds, and private investors to streamline application processes, improve transparency, and create new grant programmes tailored to different development stages. By acting as an intermediary, the federation hopes to reduce the administrative burden on studios and ensure that capital reaches projects with the highest creative and commercial potential.
2. **Talent Development and Skills Building** – Recognising that the industry’s growth is limited by the availability of qualified professionals, the board will expand partnerships with universities, vocational schools, and online learning platforms. Initiatives will include mentorship schemes, apprenticeship pipelines, and industry‑led workshops that cover emerging disciplines such as immersive storytelling, live‑ops management, and advanced analytics. 3.
**Strengthening the European Game Ecosystem** – The EGDF intends to act as a hub for collaboration, facilitating networking events, cross‑border co‑development projects, and shared‑services platforms that allow smaller studios to pool resources for localisation, quality assurance, and distribution. By fostering a more interconnected community, the federation aims to raise the collective visibility of European games on the world stage. The federation’s public statement emphasised that it will continue to monitor and support the development of the European game industry ecosystem, deepen cooperation with studios across the continent, and amplify the sector’s global profile. A notable aspect of the statement highlighted the industry’s role as a pioneer in artificial intelligence (AI).
The EGDF set an ambitious target to become the first AI‑driven European trade association, signalling a willingness to integrate AI‑based tools for everything from market analysis to regulatory compliance and member services. In parallel with these governance updates, the EGDF recently partnered with Video Games Europe (VGE) to release the *European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024*. The report provides a data‑rich snapshot of the market’s health, revealing that the European games industry generated approximately €24 billion in turnover in 2024.
This figure reflects a robust and growing sector, supported by more than 6,600 studios employing over 95,000 professionals across a wide range of roles—from programmers and artists to marketers and community managers. The insights from the report reinforce the board’s priorities. The sizable economic contribution underscores the need for sustained investment, while the employment numbers highlight the sector’s importance as a job creator and a driver of digital skills development.
Moreover, the report points to emerging trends such as the rise of live‑service games, the expansion of cloud‑gaming platforms, and the increasing integration of AI in game design and production workflows. Looking ahead, the EGDF’s refreshed leadership team plans to leverage these trends to position Europe as a leader in innovative game development.
By championing AI adoption responsibly, advocating for supportive policy frameworks, and nurturing a pipeline of skilled talent, the federation aims to ensure that European studios can compete not only with North American and Asian counterparts but also set new standards for creativity, inclusivity, and technological excellence. In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the appointment of a new, geographically and functionally diverse board signal a forward‑looking strategy for the European Games Developer Federation.
Over the 2026‑2028 period, the organization will concentrate on unlocking financing, expanding skill‑building opportunities, and fostering a collaborative ecosystem that elevates European games to the forefront of the global market. The combination of strong leadership, clear strategic pillars, and data‑driven insight from the 2024 industry report provides a solid foundation for achieving these goals and ensuring the continued growth and influence of Europe’s vibrant game development community.