The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed that Hendrik Lesser will continue at the helm as its president, following his successful re‑election, and has introduced the composition of its new 2026‑2028 governing board. The announcement also noted the departure of two prominent members of the previous board: David Rabineau, chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, director of the studio No Brakes Games. The refreshed board brings together a diverse group of industry veterans and representatives from a range of European gaming organisations. The lineup now includes: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association, where she has overseen numerous initiatives to boost the Dutch development scene.
- **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, a body that supports Finnish studios through networking, advocacy and educational programmes. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, known for his work on preserving gaming heritage and fostering regional collaboration. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, a platform that highlights Croatian talent on the international stage.
- **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, and a long‑time advocate for indie creators across Central Europe. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, the French national union that represents developers, publishers and service providers.
Together, these six individuals will steer the federation through a period that the organization describes as a "route to the top of the value chain" for European developers. The EGDF’s strategic plan for the 2026‑2028 term centres on three core pillars: improving access to financial resources, strengthening the talent pipeline, and expanding the skill set of the industry workforce. **Funding pathways** The federation intends to act as a bridge between developers and the myriad of public and private funding mechanisms that exist across the continent. By consolidating information about national grants, EU‑wide programmes such as Horizon Europe, and private investment funds, EGDF hopes to simplify the application process and increase the success rate for studios seeking capital.
In practice, this could involve curated webinars, one‑on‑one advisory sessions, and a centralized portal where developers can compare eligibility criteria and deadlines. **Talent and skills development** Recognising that the rapid evolution of technology demands a continuously up‑skilled workforce, EGDF will launch a series of initiatives aimed at education and professional growth.
These will include partnerships with universities, vocational schools and online learning platforms to create curricula that reflect current industry needs, from advanced game design and narrative development to emerging fields such as procedural generation and immersive XR experiences. Mentorship schemes linking seasoned veterans with early‑career creators are also on the agenda, as is the expansion of regional talent showcases that give newcomers a stage to display their work to potential employers and investors. **Visibility and ecosystem monitoring** The federation pledged to keep a close watch on the health of the European game development ecosystem, collecting data on market trends, employment figures and revenue streams. By publishing regular insight reports and maintaining an open dialogue with policymakers, EGDF aims to ensure that the sector’s contributions are recognised at both the national and EU levels.
The organization also highlighted its ambition to raise the global profile of European games, positioning the continent as a hub of innovation and artistic excellence. A particularly forward‑looking element of EGDF’s roadmap is its commitment to become the first AI‑driven European trade association for games.
The statement noted that the gaming sector has long been a testing ground for artificial‑intelligence tools—from procedural content generation to player‑behavior analytics—and that the federation intends to embed AI into its own operations. Potential applications include automated data analysis for market research, AI‑assisted matchmaking between developers and funding sources, and intelligent recommendation systems for skill‑building resources. In a related development, the EGDF and Video Games Europe (VGE) released the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024 earlier this week.
The report paints a robust picture of the continent’s gaming economy: in 2024, European studios generated roughly €24 billion in turnover, and more than 6,600 companies employed 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 major employer and exporter of cultural content. They also provide a quantitative foundation for the federation’s advocacy work, reinforcing arguments for increased public investment, supportive regulatory frameworks and cross‑border collaboration.
Looking ahead, the EGDF’s newly elected board is poised to translate these ambitions into concrete actions. By leveraging the expertise of its members—each of whom brings a unique perspective from different national contexts and industry niches—the federation aims to create a more cohesive, well‑funded and internationally recognised European gaming landscape.
The combination of targeted funding assistance, expanded educational programmes, AI‑enhanced services and a continued focus on visibility is expected to empower developers of all sizes, helping them navigate the complex value chain from concept to commercial success. In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the appointment of a fresh board signal continuity and renewal for the European Games Developer Federation. Over the next two years, the organization will work to streamline financial access, nurture talent, harness artificial intelligence, and amplify the global voice of European game creators, all while tracking the sector’s performance through rigorous data collection and reporting.