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 clear evidence that the most promising segment of the current games market lies with smaller development studios. In his conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, Hammes emphasizes that even a tiny team can punch above its weight, but the necessity of handling business responsibilities never disappears. "You can accomplish a great deal with a lean team, but you still need someone to manage the commercial side," he explains.
"Even if your studio consists of just three people, someone must oversee contracts, budgeting, marketing, and the myriad other tasks that keep a business afloat. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can access production expertise, programming know‑how, artistic input, design guidance, and also receive mentorship on running a sustainable company. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, solid business fundamentals remain vital." The event itself underwent a major rebranding in August 2025, when Devcom was renamed Gamescom Dev, effectively extending the broader Gamescom experience into a full week of focused industry programming.
Hammes believes that aligning the two events more closely offers tangible benefits for attendees and partners alike. "The case for bringing Gamescom Dev nearer to the main Gamescom festival is compelling," he says. "We now have a powerful, well‑established partner on our side, and that opens up many practical advantages. Previously, participants had to navigate two separate conferences, purchase tickets from different platforms, and deal with fragmented schedules.
Today, everything is consolidated under a single ticketing system. If you buy a pass for Gamescom Dev, you automatically gain access to the broader Gamescom business week, running from Monday through Friday.
It simplifies logistics and creates a more cohesive experience for everyone." This year’s programme is ambitious, featuring 390 speakers and 220 individual sessions spread across 17 distinct stages. Yet Hammes cautions that success shouldn’t be measured merely by headcount. "It isn’t a numbers game," he asserts. "We’re not chasing arbitrary targets for speaker counts or session totals.
The market is naturally becoming more specialized, and we aim to match supply with genuine demand. Quality and relevance matter far more than sheer volume." One logistical challenge that Hammes acknowledges is the physical limitation of the venue—the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the current layout comfortably accommodates the event, the space leaves little room for substantial expansion.
"At the moment we’re fitting within the existing footprint, but there isn’t much wiggle room for growth," he notes. "If the industry continues its upward trajectory, we may eventually need to consider moving closer to the main Gamescom site or finding a larger venue altogether. The future plans are not to balloon the event indiscriminately; instead, we’ll assess whether a tighter integration with Gamescom would better serve the community, especially as smaller studios and the democratization of game development demand more space and resources." Gamescom Dev traces its origins back to 2017, when it was launched to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe. Although the San‑Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference (GDC) targets a similar audience and covers comparable topics, Hammes prefers to view the relationship as collaborative rather than competitive.
"There’s a strong sense of community behind the scenes," he says. "We’re separate organisations, each with our own goals, but the industry thrives when everyone succeeds. It’s not about out‑competing each other; it’s about fostering a healthy ecosystem.
Right now GDC is facing some challenges due to external factors, and we sincerely hope their situation improves. When one conference does well, it reflects positively on the whole sector." A notable new feature for this edition is the introduction of Leadership Summits—intimate, one‑day gatherings where senior executives can speak candidly without the presence of press, microphones, or recording devices.
Hammes stresses the importance of providing a secure environment for leaders to discuss the turbulent market conditions. "These summits are less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," he explains. "During the first session, we asked participants to raise their hands if they had delivered bad news to their teams this year—all hands went up. When we asked who had received bad news, the same result.
It’s a tough climate, and leaders often feel pressure to project confidence. By offering a safe space, we enable honest dialogue about the challenges we all face." The speaker survey also revealed a split opinion on artificial intelligence. While 47 % of speakers believe AI will be the most transformative development for the industry over the next three years, only 11 % consider AI literacy the top skill developers need to acquire. "That discrepancy is striking," Hammes observes.
"It could mean we’re either over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it. In reality, the most critical competency, according to 27 % of respondents, is leadership.
This tells us that the industry recognizes change is inevitable, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet. We need leaders who can guide teams through uncertainty, make strategic decisions, and cultivate adaptable cultures." In summary, Hammes paints a picture of an industry at a crossroads: small studios are poised to drive growth, the conference ecosystem is evolving to become more integrated and supportive, and the real differentiator for future success will be strong, empathetic leadership capable of navigating both technological disruption and market volatility.
The expanded Gamescom Dev week aims to provide the knowledge, networking, and safe spaces necessary for developers of all sizes to thrive in this dynamic environment.