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 independent, smaller‑scale studios now represent the most significant growth prospect within the gaming sector. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," Hammes explained to GamesIndustry.biz.
"Even if your studio consists of just three people, someone still has to handle contracts, finances, marketing and all the other non‑technical tasks that keep the operation afloat. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can access everything they need – from production techniques and coding expertise to design inspiration and creative feedback – while also picking up the fundamentals of running a sustainable business.
No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the commercial side of game development remains a critical pillar." The event, which was renamed from Devcom to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, now effectively extends the main Gamescom festival into a full‑week experience. Hammes believes that aligning the two events brings considerable advantages. "The synergy with Gamescom is powerful," he said. "We now have a strong partner on our side, which simplifies things for attendees.
Previously, there were two separate conferences, two ticketing systems, and little overlap. Today, there is a single ticket portal that gives you access to everything from Monday through Friday. If you buy a ticket for Gamescom Dev, you can also wander over to the main Gamescom exhibitions without needing a second pass.
It creates a seamless business week for the whole industry." This year’s programme features 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Hammes cautions against treating the event as a pure numbers game. "We don’t aim to hit arbitrary targets for speaker counts or session totals. It’s always about matching supply with demand.
The market is becoming more specialized, and we want the content to reflect that specialization rather than simply inflating the schedule." However, the growth of Gamescom Dev is constrained by its current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the space comfortably accommodates the present programme, Hammes acknowledges that there is "limited room to expand". Should the industry continue its rapid expansion, the organisers may need to consider moving closer to the main Gamescom site or finding a larger venue.
"Our current plan isn’t to dramatically increase the size of the event right now," he noted. "If the democratization of game development continues – with more small studios emerging – we will eventually need more space to serve that broader community." Gamescom Dev originally launched in 2017 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 does not view it as a direct competitor.
He emphasizes a collaborative spirit within the industry, describing a strong sense of community that operates "behind the scenes." "We’re separate organisations, each trying to make a profit, but the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat," he said. "The industry is like a global circus where people travel from one conference to another. It isn’t about crushing the competition; it’s about all of us thriving together.
When one conference faces challenges – as GDC is currently experiencing due to external circumstances – we hope the situation improves for everyone. A healthy ecosystem benefits all participants." A notable new feature on the Gamescom Dev agenda is the series of Leadership Summits.
These one‑day gatherings provide a private setting where senior executives can converse without the presence of journalists, microphones, or recording devices. Hammes stresses the importance of such a "safe space" given the turbulence currently affecting the market.
"It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," he explained. "During the inaugural summit, we asked attendees to raise their hands if they had delivered bad news in the past year – every hand went up. We then asked who had heard bad news about their own company – again, every hand stayed raised.
The environment is undeniably challenging. Leaders often feel pressure to project confidence and stability, but we need a venue where they can be candid about difficulties and explore solutions together." 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.
Hammes interprets this disparity as a sign that technical proficiency alone will not suffice. "You could argue we either overestimate AI’s impact or under‑prepare for it," he said. "In reality, the most crucial skill, according to 27 % of respondents, is leadership. That tells us we recognize change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet.
We’re seeking leaders who can guide teams through uncertainty, make strategic decisions, and inspire confidence. People, not just algorithms, will determine how successfully the industry navigates the coming wave of innovation."