The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed that Hendrik Lesser will continue in his role as president, following a successful re‑election at the federation’s latest governance meeting. Alongside this leadership continuity, the organization unveiled its new board of directors for the 2026‑2028 term, signalling a fresh strategic direction for the continent’s game‑development community. Two prominent figures stepped away from the board at the same time. David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of the game‑publisher Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, studio director at the independent developer No Brakes Games, both announced their resignations.
Their departures open space for new voices and expertise to shape EGDF’s agenda. The freshly appointed board now includes a diverse mix of industry veterans and representatives from national associations: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association, bringing operational insight and a strong network within the Netherlands’ vibrant indie scene. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, tasked with championing Finnish developers and fostering cross‑border collaborations in the Nordic region. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering a perspective that blends cultural policy with commercial strategy.
- **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo, Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, providing a deep understanding of Central‑European market dynamics and startup ecosystems. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Leader of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for organising large‑scale networking events that connect Polish studios with international partners. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French developers and advocating for policy frameworks that support creative and technical innovation.
Together, this board is charged with implementing EGDF’s two‑year roadmap, which centres on three core pillars: enhancing developers’ position within the value chain, expanding access to financial resources, and strengthening talent pipelines and skill development programmes. **A Path to the Top of the Value Chain** The federation emphasises that European studios, ranging from boutique indie teams to mid‑size publishers, often encounter barriers when trying to move beyond basic development and into higher‑margin activities such as live‑service management, global distribution, and intellectual‑property licensing. EGDF intends to act as a conduit, facilitating connections with larger platform owners, strategic investors, and service providers that can help studios capture more of the revenue generated by their games. Initiatives may include mentorship schemes with established publishers, joint‑venture matchmaking events, and advisory services focused on monetisation strategies and post‑launch support.
**Improved Access to Funding** Funding remains a critical challenge, especially for studios seeking to scale up or experiment with emerging technologies. The board plans to lobby European Union bodies and national governments for more targeted grant programmes, tax incentives, and co‑investment schemes that reflect the unique risk profile of game development. In addition, EGDF will curate a catalogue of private‑sector investors—venture capital firms, angel networks, and corporate venture arms—who are specifically interested in interactive entertainment.
By creating a transparent pipeline of capital, the federation hopes to reduce the time it takes for promising projects to secure the resources they need. **Talent, Skills and Education** A skilled workforce is the backbone of any thriving industry. To address shortages in areas such as AI‑driven design, real‑time rendering, and cross‑platform optimisation, EGDF will partner with universities, technical schools, and online learning platforms to develop curricula that match industry demand.
The federation also aims to launch apprenticeship programmes, certification tracks, and knowledge‑sharing webinars that bring seasoned professionals into direct contact with emerging talent. These efforts are designed to both retain skilled workers within Europe and attract international experts who wish to work in a supportive, collaborative ecosystem. Beyond these three pillars, the federation highlighted its broader mission of monitoring and nurturing the European game‑industry ecosystem. By maintaining close relationships with studios across the continent, EGDF intends to act as an early‑warning system for market shifts, regulatory changes, and technological trends.
The organization also aspires to raise the global profile of European games, positioning the region as a hub of creative excellence and technical innovation. A notable ambition outlined by the board is to become the first AI‑focused European trade association within the gaming sector. Recognising that the industry is at the forefront of adopting artificial‑intelligence tools—ranging from procedural content generation to player‑behaviour analytics—EGDF plans to develop standards, best‑practice guidelines, and ethical frameworks for AI usage.
This forward‑looking stance aims to ensure that European developers can leverage AI responsibly while maintaining competitive advantage on the world stage. In parallel with these strategic moves, EGDF recently collaborated with Video Games Europe (VGE) to release the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024. The report provides a comprehensive snapshot of the sector’s economic health, noting that European game companies generated a turnover of €24 billion in 2024.
The industry now comprises more than 6,600 studios, employing upwards of 95 000 individuals across a wide array of disciplines, from programming and art to marketing and localisation. These figures underscore the sector’s significance as a major contributor to Europe’s digital economy and cultural output.
They also highlight the importance of continued investment in infrastructure, education, and policy support to sustain growth. By aligning its board’s expertise with these macro‑level trends, EGDF aims to translate raw economic data into actionable programmes that benefit developers of all sizes. In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser provides continuity at the helm, while the infusion of new board members brings fresh perspectives and regional representation.
The federation’s upcoming agenda—focused on value‑chain integration, funding accessibility, talent development, and AI leadership—positions it as a catalyst for the next phase of European game‑development excellence. As the industry continues to expand its global footprint, EGDF’s coordinated efforts are expected to help European studios not only compete internationally but also shape the future direction of interactive entertainment.