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 today’s gaming landscape offers its greatest potential to smaller development studios. In his conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, Hammes explains that while a compact team can punch above its weight in terms of creative output, the need for solid business management never disappears. "Even a three‑person studio has to assign someone to handle contracts, finances, and the day‑to‑day administrative tasks," he says. "What I like to envision for Gamescom Dev is a one‑stop hub where creators can soak up expertise across the board—production techniques, coding tricks, artistic direction, design theory—and also pick up the practical know‑how of running a sustainable business.
No matter how advanced the technology gets, the commercial side stays crucial." The event itself underwent a significant rebranding in August 2025, when the former Devcom was renamed Gamescom Dev, effectively extending the larger Gamescom festival into a full‑week affair. Hammes believes that aligning the two events creates a stronger, more coherent offering for attendees. "We now have a powerful partner in Gamescom, which brings a host of advantages.
For participants, it simplifies ticketing—there’s a single shop instead of two separate ones, and the schedule runs from Monday through Friday. If you buy a pass for Gamescom Dev, you can also wander over to the main Gamescom exhibition later in the week without needing another ticket." This year’s programme is ambitious: 390 speakers will deliver 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Yet Hammes cautions against treating the event as a numbers game. "It’s not about hitting a target headcount; it’s about matching supply with demand.
We’re seeing a trend toward specialization, where niche topics attract highly engaged audiences rather than sheer volume of attendees." A practical limitation, however, is the venue itself. The Confex Center at Koelnmesse currently accommodates the show, but Hammes admits that space is finite.
"We’re at capacity now, and there isn’t much room for expansion within the existing halls. If the industry continues on its current trajectory, we may need to consider moving closer to the main Gamescom site or finding a larger venue altogether." He adds that any future growth will be measured. "We don’t plan to balloon the event just for the sake of size, because that would bring logistical challenges and potentially dilute the experience. If the democratization of game development continues—if more indie and micro‑studios emerge—we’ll need more room to serve that community, but we’ll do it thoughtfully." Gamescom Dev’s origins trace back to 2017, when it was launched to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe.
While the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference (GDC) targets a similar audience and covers comparable topics, Hammes emphasizes a collaborative rather than competitive stance. "There’s a genuine sense of community behind the scenes. We’re separate organisations, each with our own business goals, but the industry thrives when multiple conferences succeed.
It’s a global circus in the best sense—people travel from event to event, sharing ideas and fostering connections." He also expressed empathy for GDC’s recent challenges, noting that external factors beyond the conference’s control have created difficulties. "I hope the situation improves for them, because when one part of the ecosystem struggles, it affects us all," Hammes said.
A notable new feature at Gamescom Dev this year is the introduction of Leadership Summits. These one‑day, invitation‑only gatherings provide senior executives a private environment—no press, no microphones, no recordings—to discuss the turbulent state of the market. Hammes stresses the importance of such a “safe space.” "It’s less about listening and more about speaking openly. When we opened the room, every hand went up for having delivered bad news in the past year, and the same hands stayed up when asked if they’d heard bad news about their own companies.
The industry is navigating a tricky environment, and leaders need a venue where they can be vulnerable without the pressure to always appear infallible." The speaker survey also revealed a split opinion on artificial intelligence. While 47 % of presenters believe AI will be the most transformative development over the next three years, only 11 % consider AI literacy the top skill to cultivate.
Hammes interprets this gap as a signal that technology alone won’t drive the future; leadership will. "If you ask what skill matters most, 27 % point to leadership. That tells us the industry recognizes change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet.
We need people—leaders—who can guide teams through uncertainty, make strategic decisions, and inspire confidence." In summary, Hammes paints a picture of an industry in transition: smaller studios are gaining prominence, the conference ecosystem is becoming more integrated, and the real differentiator for success will be strong, adaptable leadership rather than just technical prowess. As Gamescom Dev continues to evolve, its role as a central hub for both creative and business education is set to become even more vital for the next generation of game makers.