Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) as its president, coinciding with the federation’s announcement of the new board that will serve from 2026 through 2028. Lesser’s re‑election comes at a pivotal moment for the European games sector, which is seeking to consolidate its position on the global stage while navigating rapid technological change, especially the rise of artificial intelligence in game creation and distribution. Two notable figures stepped away from the board at the end of the previous term: David Rabineau, chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, studio director at No Brakes Games.
Their departures opened space for fresh perspectives and a broader geographic representation across Europe’s diverse gaming ecosystem. The freshly appointed board now includes a mix of industry executives, association leaders, and cultural advocates: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer of Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association. Spaans brings extensive experience in both studio operations and national-level advocacy for Dutch developers.
- **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, providing insight into the Nordic market and its strong tradition of indie and mobile game development. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering a bridge between cultural policy and commercial interests. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, giving him a deep understanding of the emerging Central‑European scene.
- **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for championing indie creators and organizing industry events. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French developers and helping align national policy with European objectives.
Together, this board is tasked with delivering on EGDF’s strategic agenda for the 2026‑2028 period. The federation’s stated priorities revolve around creating a clearer pathway for developers to ascend the value chain, meaning that studios of all sizes should be able to move from concept and prototype phases to full‑scale production, distribution, and post‑launch support with fewer obstacles. To achieve this, EGDF will concentrate on three core pillars: 1.
**Enhanced Access to Funding** – By lobbying EU institutions, national governments, and private investors, the federation aims to unlock new streams of capital for game projects, especially those that incorporate innovative technologies such as AI‑driven design tools, procedural content generation, and advanced analytics. EGDF plans to publish a guidebook of funding opportunities, host matchmaking events, and facilitate joint applications for cross‑border grants. 2.
**Talent Development and Mobility** – Recognising the shortage of specialised skills in areas like game programming, narrative design, and user‑experience research, EGDF will expand mentorship programmes, support vocational training, and promote exchange schemes that allow developers to work across European studios. Partnerships with universities, bootcamps, and industry‑led academies will be deepened to create curricula that reflect current market needs.
3. **Skill‑Sharing and Knowledge Transfer** – The federation will organise workshops, webinars, and conferences focused on best practices in areas such as live‑ops, monetisation strategies, and ethical AI usage. By fostering a culture of open knowledge, EGDF hopes to raise the overall competence of European studios, enabling them to compete with North American and Asian counterparts. In a statement released alongside the board announcement, EGDF emphasized its commitment to monitoring the health of the European game‑development ecosystem.
The federation will continue to act as a conduit between studios, policymakers, and investors, ensuring that regulatory frameworks remain conducive to innovation while also protecting creators’ rights. Moreover, EGDF highlighted its ambition to boost the global visibility of European games, a goal that will be pursued through coordinated marketing campaigns, participation in major international trade fairs, and the promotion of success stories from the continent. A particularly forward‑looking element of EGDF’s roadmap is its intention to become the first AI‑centric European trade association for the gaming sector. As AI tools become integral to tasks ranging from asset creation to player‑behaviour prediction, the federation seeks to set industry standards, provide ethical guidelines, and champion responsible adoption.
This initiative will involve collaboration with research institutions, AI startups, and existing game‑tech consortia to ensure that European developers can leverage AI without compromising artistic integrity or consumer trust. The board’s formation also coincides with the recent release of the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024, a joint effort by EGDF and Video Games Europe (VGE).
The report paints a robust picture of the continent’s gaming economy: in 2024, European studios generated approximately €24 billion in revenue, supporting over 6,600 companies and employing more than 95,000 professionals across a wide range of disciplines. These figures underscore the sector’s significance as a driver of digital innovation, cultural expression, and employment. Looking ahead, EGDF’s leadership envisions a European gaming landscape that is not only economically strong but also socially inclusive and technologically advanced. By improving funding pathways, nurturing talent, and embracing AI responsibly, the federation hopes to empower developers—from small indie teams in Lisbon to large studios in Warsaw—to bring their creative visions to a worldwide audience.
The re‑elected president, Hendrik Lesser, expressed confidence that the new board’s diverse expertise will enable EGDF to fulfill its mission and to keep Europe at the forefront of the global gaming industry.