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 evidence that the greatest growth potential in today’s gaming market lies with smaller development studios. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," Hammes explained to GamesIndustry.biz.
"Even if you’re a three‑person outfit, someone still has to handle contracts, finances, and the myriad administrative tasks that keep the studio afloat. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can absorb production techniques, programming tricks, design theory, and creative inspiration, while also learning how to run a sustainable business. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, solid business fundamentals remain crucial." The event, which was rebranded 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 creates a stronger, more cohesive offering for attendees. "The synergy with Gamescom gives us a massive partner and a host of practical benefits. Previously we operated two separate conferences with distinct ticketing systems and little cross‑promotion. Now there’s a single ticket portal, a unified schedule, and the ability for participants to move seamlessly between Gamescom Dev sessions and the broader Gamescom exhibition from Monday through Friday." This year’s programme features 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages.
Hammes cautions against treating the event as a numbers game. "It’s not about hitting arbitrary targets for speaker count or session volume. The market is becoming more specialised, and we aim to match supply with genuine demand rather than simply inflating the schedule." A practical limitation for the conference is the size of its venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the current space accommodates the event comfortably, Hammes notes that there is "limited room to grow" within those walls.
Should the industry’s momentum continue, the organisers may need to consider expanding the footprint or moving even closer to the main Gamescom site. "Our current plan isn’t to balloon the event dramatically, because that would entail a major logistical shift. However, if the democratisation of game development continues—if more indie and micro‑studios emerge—we’ll inevitably need more room to serve that audience." 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 targets a similar demographic, Hammes stresses that the two conferences coexist rather than compete. "There’s a strong sense of community behind the scenes.
We’re separate organisations, each trying to make a profit, but the competition isn’t cut‑throat. The industry is a global circus in the best sense—people travel from one event to another, sharing knowledge and networking. If one conference thrives, it lifts the whole ecosystem." He also expressed empathy for GDC’s recent challenges, noting that external factors beyond the organisers’ control have created difficulties for the U.S. event.
"I hope the situation improves for them, because a healthy GDC benefits everyone." A notable new feature on the Gamescom Dev agenda is the series of Leadership Summits. These one‑day gatherings provide senior executives a private environment—no press, no microphones, no recordings—to discuss the turbulent state of the market.
Hammes argues that such a "safe space" is vital for candid dialogue. "It’s not about passive listening; it’s about speaking up and exchanging ideas. When we opened the first summit, every participant raised their hand to acknowledge delivering bad news that year, and the same hands stayed up when asked about hearing bad news from their own companies. The climate is tough, and leaders often feel pressure to project unwavering confidence.
We want to give them a room where vulnerability is accepted and constructive conversation can happen." The speaker survey also revealed a split view on artificial intelligence. While 47 % of speakers 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 misalignment rather than an over‑ or under‑estimation of AI’s impact.
"If you ask what skill truly matters, leadership tops the list at 27 %. That tells us the industry recognises change is coming, but it isn’t looking for a technological silver bullet.
Instead, it seeks 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 emerging as the engine of innovation, conferences are consolidating to provide richer, more integrated experiences, and leadership development is becoming as crucial as technical expertise. As Gamescom Dev continues to evolve, its focus remains on delivering practical knowledge, fostering community, and equipping creators—big and small—with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly shifting landscape.