Frederik Hammes, who stepped into the role of managing director of Gamescom Dev after Stephan Reichart earlier this year, points to the latest Gamescom Dev speaker survey as evidence that independent, smaller‑scale studios now constitute the most promising segment of the gaming market. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," he told GamesIndustry.biz.
"Even if your studio is just three people, someone still has to handle contracts, finances, and the myriad administrative tasks that keep the operation afloat. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can access production expertise, programming know‑how, design insight, and creative feedback—all while learning the fundamentals of running a sustainable business.
No matter how advanced the technology becomes, solid business acumen remains a cornerstone of success." In August 2025, the former Devcom conference was rebranded as Gamescom Dev, effectively extending the broader Gamescom experience into a full‑week affair. Hammes explains that the rebranding was driven by a desire to bring the two events closer together. "We now have a powerful partner in Gamescom itself, which brings a host of practical advantages.
Previously, attendees had to navigate two separate conferences, two ticketing systems, and two distinct purchasing processes, which created a fragmented experience. Today, everything is consolidated under a single ticket portal. If you buy a ticket for Gamescom Dev, you automatically gain access to the main Gamescom programme from Monday through Friday. It’s truly a seamless, integrated business week for the industry." The 2024 edition of Gamescom Dev features an ambitious lineup: 390 speakers delivering 220 sessions across 17 stages.
Yet Hammes cautions against treating the event as a mere numbers game. "We’re not chasing arbitrary targets for speaker counts or session totals. The market is naturally becoming more specialised, and the right balance of supply and demand will dictate the appropriate scale.
Quality and relevance trump sheer volume." One logistical challenge Hammes acknowledges is the physical limitation of the venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the current space accommodates the event comfortably, there is little room for significant expansion. "If the industry continues on its current trajectory, we may eventually need a larger footprint or a location even closer to the main Gamescom site," he notes.
"For now, we’re not planning a massive enlargement because that would entail a complex relocation effort. However, if the democratization of game development continues—if more indie studios emerge and need representation—we’ll have to reconsider our capacity constraints." Gamescom Dev originated in 2017 as a response to the departure of GDC Europe, aiming to fill the void left by that conference.
Although the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference (GDC) targets a similar audience and covers comparable topics, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor. "There’s a strong sense of community behind the scenes," he says. "We’re separate organisations, each with our own business models, but the industry thrives when multiple events coexist. It’s not about crushing the competition; it’s about creating a healthy ecosystem where conferences complement each other.
When one event faces challenges—like GDC’s recent venue and logistical issues—it doesn’t reflect poorly on us. We all benefit when the whole industry does well." A notable new feature of the Gamescom Dev agenda is the introduction of Leadership Summits.
These one‑day, invitation‑only gatherings provide senior executives a private environment—free from press, microphones, and recordings—to discuss the turbulent market conditions openly. Hammes emphasizes the importance of such safe spaces.
"It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," he explains. "During the inaugural summit, we asked participants to raise their hands if they had delivered bad news to their teams that year; every hand went up. When we asked who had received bad news, the same result.
The current climate is undeniably challenging, and leaders often feel pressure to project confidence and stability. These summits let them be candid, share concerns, and collectively explore solutions without the fear of public scrutiny." The speaker survey also revealed a split opinion on artificial intelligence. While 47 % of respondents believe AI will be the most transformative development for the industry over the next three years, only 11 % consider AI literacy the top skill to cultivate. Hammes interprets this disparity as a sign that technical expertise alone won’t drive future success.
"The data suggests we either overestimate AI’s impact or under‑prepare for it," he says. "In reality, the most critical competency, according to 27 % of speakers, is leadership. That indicates a broader understanding: change is inevitable, but technology won’t rescue us on its own.
We need leaders who can guide teams through uncertainty, make strategic decisions, and inspire confidence. The industry is looking for people who can navigate the coming wave, not just engineers who can code the next AI tool." Overall, Hammes paints a picture of an industry at a crossroads: smaller studios are gaining prominence, the event landscape is evolving to become more integrated, and leadership—more than any single technology—will determine how the sector adapts to upcoming challenges. Gamescom Dev aims to serve as the nexus where creators, developers, and business minds converge, sharing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and equipping the next generation of game makers with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly complex market.