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 the most promising segment of today’s gaming market lies with smaller development studios. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet the business side remains essential," Hammes explains to GamesIndustry.biz. "Even if your studio consists of just three people, someone still has to handle contracts, budgeting, and the myriad administrative tasks that keep the operation afloat. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can access production expertise, coding know‑how, design insight, and creative inspiration, while also picking up the fundamentals of running a sustainable business.
No matter how advanced the technology gets, the commercial aspect never disappears." The event, which was renamed from Devcom to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, now effectively extends the main Gamescom festival into a full week of industry‑focused programming. Hammes believes this integration offers tangible benefits. "Linking the two events makes a lot of sense," he says.
"We now have a powerful partner behind us, and that brings many practical advantages. Previously, attendees had to navigate two separate conferences, purchase two different tickets, and deal with disconnected schedules. Today everything is consolidated into a single ticketing platform.
If you buy a pass for Gamescom Dev, you automatically have access to the broader Gamescom business week from Monday through Friday, allowing you to move seamlessly between the two." This year’s lineup features 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Hammes cautions against treating the event as a pure numbers game. "We shouldn’t chase arbitrary attendance targets. It’s always about matching supply with demand, and we’re seeing the market become more specialised," he notes.
However, the growth of Gamescom Dev is constrained by its current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the space comfortably accommodates the existing program, Hammes acknowledges that “there is limited room to expand.” Should the industry continue on its current trajectory—especially with the democratisation of game development and the rise of micro‑studios—the event may need to relocate closer to the main Gamescom site or secure a larger facility.
"We’re not planning a massive expansion right now because that would require a more permanent physical proximity to Gamescom, which is a possibility for the future. If the trend toward smaller studios continues, we’ll need more capacity to serve everyone," he adds. Gamescom Dev traces its origins 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 remains a natural competitor—targeting similar audiences and covering comparable topics—Hammes prefers to view the relationship as complementary rather than adversarial.
"There’s a strong sense of community behind the scenes," he says. "We’re separate organisations, each trying to make a profit, but the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat. The industry is like a global circus where people travel from one conference to the next. It’s not about crushing the competition; it’s about everyone thriving, which lifts the whole sector." He also comments on the current challenges facing GDC, noting that the conference is grappling with environmental constraints beyond its control.
"I hope their situation improves soon. Ultimately, if all conferences succeed, the industry as a whole benefits," Hammes remarks. A fresh addition to this year’s agenda is the series of Leadership Summits—private, one‑day gatherings where senior executives can speak candidly without the presence of press, microphones, or recordings.
Hammes stresses the importance of providing a “safe space” for leaders to discuss the turbulent market conditions. "It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," he says. "When the summit began, we raised our hands to see how many had delivered bad news in the past year—every hand went up. When we asked who had received bad news about their own company, the hands stayed raised.
The environment is clearly challenging. Leaders often feel pressured to project confidence and stability, but we need a forum where they can be honest about difficulties and seek collective solutions." The speaker survey also reveals 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 % consider AI literacy the top skill to cultivate. Hammes interprets this disparity as a sign that the industry may be over‑estimating AI’s impact while under‑preparing for it.
"The real priority, according to 27 % of respondents, is leadership," he explains. "People recognise that change is coming, but they aren’t looking for a technological silver bullet. They’re looking for leaders who can guide teams through uncertainty, make strategic decisions, and foster resilience. In other words, we need people who can steer the ship, not just engineers who can build the next AI tool." In summary, Hammes paints a picture of an industry at a crossroads: smaller studios are emerging as the most fertile ground for growth, the Gamescom Dev event is evolving to better serve this segment, and leadership—more than any single technology—will determine how successfully the sector navigates upcoming challenges.
The emphasis on integrated programming, venue considerations, and private leadership forums underscores a strategic shift toward nurturing both creative talent and business acumen within the ever‑changing landscape of game development.