Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), securing a second term as president as the organization unveiled its new board of directors for the 2026‑2028 period. Lesser’s re‑election comes at a pivotal moment for the federation, which is positioning itself as a central hub for European game creators seeking to navigate an increasingly complex industry landscape. Two notable figures stepped away from the board at the same time: David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, the studio director of No Brakes Games.
Their departures opened space for a refreshed lineup of industry professionals who bring a blend of operational expertise, policy experience, and creative insight. The freshly constituted EGDF board now includes: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and general manager of the Dutch Games Association. Spaans brings a strong background in both studio management and national advocacy for game development. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, representing the interests of Finnish developers and fostering cross‑border collaboration.
- **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering a perspective that bridges cultural initiatives with commercial growth. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., secretary‑general of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, providing a strategic view on market expansion and regional networking. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for championing indie talent and organizing industry events.
- **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French game developers and influencing policy at a national level. Together, this diverse group is tasked with executing a two‑year agenda that emphasizes a "route to the top of the value chain" for European developers.
In practical terms, the federation plans to streamline pathways that enable studios—whether emerging indie teams or established mid‑size companies—to access larger pools of capital, attract skilled professionals, and acquire the specialized knowledge required to compete on a global stage. The EGDF’s public statement underscores several key priorities. First, the organization will continue to monitor the health and evolution of the European game‑development ecosystem, acting as an early‑warning system for emerging challenges such as regulatory shifts, market volatility, or talent shortages.
By maintaining close ties with studios across the continent, the federation hopes to facilitate information exchange and best‑practice sharing that can accelerate growth. Second, EGDF aims to deepen collaboration with European game‑development studios themselves. This means not only offering networking events and matchmaking services but also advocating for favorable policy conditions at the EU level, such as tax incentives, research grants, and cross‑border mobility schemes that make it easier for talent to move between countries.
Third, the federation is set on raising the global visibility of the European games sector. By promoting success stories, participating in international trade shows, and publishing data‑driven insights, EGDF wants the world to recognize Europe as a hotbed of innovation, creativity, and technical expertise. A distinctive element of the federation’s forward‑looking strategy is its focus on artificial intelligence.
Recognizing that the gaming industry is often at the forefront of AI adoption—whether through procedural content generation, player‑behavior analytics, or advanced graphics pipelines—EGDF has declared an ambition to become the first AI‑centric European trade association. This goal entails establishing standards for ethical AI use, facilitating workshops on AI tools, and partnering with research institutions to ensure that European developers can 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 paints a vivid picture of the sector’s economic weight: European game companies generated a turnover of €24 billion in 2024.
Moreover, the industry is a substantial employer, with more than 6,600 studios collectively providing jobs for over 95,000 individuals across the continent. These figures highlight both the sector’s contribution to the European economy and its potential for further expansion. The insights from the report reinforce the federation’s belief that a stronger, more coordinated support structure can unlock additional value.
By improving access to financing—through EU‑backed funds, venture capital networks, and public‑private partnerships—studios can scale their operations, invest in cutting‑edge technology, and bring ambitious projects to market. Likewise, expanding talent pipelines—via education initiatives, apprenticeship programs, and cross‑border mobility—will address skill gaps that currently limit growth.
In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the introduction of a new board signal continuity blended with fresh perspectives for the European Games Developer Federation. Over the next two years, EGDF will strive to act as a catalyst for developers, offering clearer routes to higher‑value segments of the market, bolstering financial and human‑resource access, and championing AI as a transformative force.
With the backing of robust industry data and a renewed governance team, the federation is poised to elevate the European gaming landscape both domestically and on the world stage.