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 most promising market segment belongs to smaller development studios. According to Hammes, the data underscores a shift in the industry: independent teams, often operating with just a handful of members, are becoming the engine of innovation and commercial potential.
"You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," he explained to GamesIndustry.biz. "Even if you’re a three‑person outfit, someone still has to handle contracts, budgeting, marketing and all the other non‑technical aspects that keep a studio afloat. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can tap into production expertise, coding know‑how, creative direction, design insight, and also pick up the fundamentals of running a business. No matter how advanced the technology gets, the business side remains a critical pillar." The event itself underwent a significant rebranding in August 2025, when Devcom adopted the Gamescom Dev name.
Hammes says this change effectively extends the larger Gamescom experience into a full‑week program, aligning the two gatherings more closely. "There are strong arguments for bringing the two events together under a single banner," he noted. "We now have a powerful partner in Gamescom, which brings a host of practical benefits. Previously attendees had to navigate two separate conferences, buy tickets from different platforms, and manage two distinct schedules.
Now everything is consolidated into one ticketing system. You purchase a single pass, and you have access to the entire Gamescom business week—from Monday through Friday—and you can also wander over to the main Gamescom exhibition whenever you wish." This year’s lineup is impressive: 390 speakers will deliver talks across 220 sessions, spread over 17 stages. Hammes cautions, however, that success shouldn’t be measured solely by numbers.
"It shouldn’t be a numbers game," he said. "We don’t need to hit arbitrary targets for speaker counts or session totals. The real driver is supply and demand, and we’re seeing the market become more specialized." One logistical challenge Hammes acknowledges is the capacity of the current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the space comfortably accommodates the present program, he admits that “there is limited room to grow.” Should the industry continue its rapid expansion, the event may need to consider a larger footprint or a tighter physical integration with Gamescom.
"At this stage we’re not planning a massive expansion because that would require a more substantial move closer to Gamescom’s main site, which is a possibility we’re keeping in mind," he explained. "If the democratization of game development continues—if small studios keep proliferating—we’ll eventually need more space to serve everyone adequately." Gamescom Dev traces its origins back to 2017, when it was launched to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe.
Although the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference shares a similar audience and topic focus, Hammes stresses that the two events coexist rather than compete. "We’re still separate organisations," he said.
"Everyone wants to make a profit, but the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat. The industry feels like a global circus in a positive sense—people travel from one conference to another, sharing ideas and building relationships.
It’s not about wiping out other events; it’s about all of us thriving together. Right now GDC is facing some logistical challenges that are beyond their control, and I hope the situation improves for them. When one conference does well, it lifts the entire ecosystem." A fresh addition to the Gamescom Dev agenda is the series of Leadership Summits.
These one‑day gatherings provide senior industry figures with a private environment—no press, no microphones, no recordings—where they can speak candidly about the turbulent market conditions. "It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," Hammes said. "When we launched the summit, we asked the room to raise their hands if they had delivered bad news that year.
Every hand went up. We then asked who had received bad news for their own company, and again, every hand stayed raised. The climate is challenging, and leaders often feel compelled to project confidence. We wanted to create a safe space where they can be honest about the difficulties they face." The speaker survey also revealed a split opinion on artificial intelligence.
While 47 % of speakers believe AI will be the most transformative development over the next three years, only 11 % view AI literacy as the top skill to cultivate. "How do we reconcile that?
Some might say we’re over‑estimating AI’s impact, others that we’re under‑preparing for it," Hammes reflected. "My take is that neither is entirely correct.
When you ask what the most crucial skill is, the answer is leadership—27 % of respondents named it as the top priority. This tells us that the industry recognises change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet.
We’re looking for people—leaders—who can guide teams through uncertainty and help them adapt." In summary, Hammes paints a picture of an industry in flux, where small studios are emerging as the primary growth engine, where business acumen remains indispensable, and where collaborative, transparent leadership is the key to navigating future challenges. Gamescom Dev aims to support this evolution by offering a unified platform that blends technical knowledge, creative inspiration, and practical business education—all under one roof, and with an eye toward accommodating the ever‑expanding landscape of independent game development.