The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed that Hendrik Lesser will continue in his role as president, following his re‑election at the federation’s latest assembly. In conjunction with this leadership renewal, the organization disclosed the composition of its new board of directors for the 2026‑2028 term, marking a significant moment for the European game‑development community. Two prominent figures stepped away from the board at this juncture. David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, director of the No Brakes Games studio, both announced their resignations, creating space for fresh voices and perspectives to join the governing body.
The freshly appointed board now includes a diverse group of industry professionals representing a broad geographic and functional spectrum: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association. Spaans brings extensive experience in both studio operations and national industry advocacy.
- **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, offering insight into the Nordic development ecosystem and policy engagement. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, providing a cultural‑policy bridge between gaming and broader creative sectors. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, delivering a strong commercial and networking focus from Central Europe. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, adding expertise in event production and indie ecosystem support.
- **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French industry interests and bringing a deep understanding of regulatory and labour matters. Together, this board is tasked with executing the EGDF’s strategic agenda for the forthcoming biennium. Central to that agenda is the ambition to create "a route to the top of the value chain" for European developers.
In practical terms, this means the federation will concentrate on three interrelated pillars: enhanced access to financing, improved talent pipelines, and the development of specialised skill sets. **Financing pathways** – The EGDF plans to act as an intermediary between developers and a variety of funding sources, ranging from national grant programmes and EU cultural funds to private venture capital.
By mapping the complex landscape of available capital and offering matchmaking services, the federation hopes to reduce the administrative burden on studios and accelerate the conversion of creative concepts into market‑ready products. **Talent development** – Recognising that the industry’s growth is contingent on a skilled workforce, the EGDF will expand collaborations with educational institutions, vocational schools and apprenticeship schemes across Europe. Initiatives will include joint curriculum design, mentorship programmes linking seasoned professionals with emerging creators, and mobility grants that enable talent to work across borders, thereby fostering a more integrated European talent pool. **Skill enhancement** – In addition to formal education, the federation aims to provide continuous professional development through workshops, webinars and certification tracks focused on emerging technologies, production methodologies, and business acumen.
Particular emphasis will be placed on areas such as user‑experience design, live‑ops management, and, notably, the responsible integration of artificial intelligence into game development workflows. The EGDF’s public statement underscored its commitment to monitoring and facilitating the evolution of the European game‑industry ecosystem. It highlighted the intention to deepen cooperation with studios of all sizes, from indie creators to large multinational publishers, and to amplify the sector’s visibility on the global stage. By positioning Europe as a hub of innovation and creativity, the federation hopes to attract international investment and talent while retaining home‑grown expertise.
A forward‑looking component of the federation’s strategy is its focus on artificial intelligence. The statement noted that the gaming sector is often at the forefront of AI‑driven tools and techniques, ranging from procedural content generation to sophisticated analytics. Consequently, the EGDF has set an ambitious target to become the first AI‑centric trade association in Europe, aiming to develop best‑practice guidelines, ethical frameworks, and shared resources that help members harness AI responsibly and competitively.
In parallel with these strategic moves, the EGDF recently collaborated with Video Games Europe (VGE) to release the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024. The report provides a snapshot of the sector’s economic impact, revealing that European games generated a turnover of €24 billion in 2024.
It also documented the scale of the industry’s employment base, with more than 6 600 studios collectively employing over 95 000 individuals across the continent. These figures illustrate both the sector’s robust health and its potential for further expansion, reinforcing the rationale behind the EGDF’s planned initiatives.
Looking ahead, the newly formed board will convene regularly to assess progress against its objectives, engage with policymakers at the EU level, and coordinate with national associations to ensure that the European game‑development landscape remains vibrant, competitive, and inclusive. By leveraging the combined expertise of its members and fostering cross‑border collaboration, the EGDF aspires to solidify Europe’s position as a leading global hub for video‑game creation and innovation.