The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed the composition of its governing board for the 2026‑2028 term, and alongside that announcement it confirmed that Hendrik Lesser has been re‑elected to continue serving as the federation’s president. Lesser’s renewed mandate comes at a pivotal moment for the European games sector, which is seeking to strengthen its position both within the continent and on the global stage. Two notable departures were also highlighted in the federation’s press release. David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, the studio director of No Brakes Games, have both stepped down from their previous roles within EGDF.
Their exits make way for a refreshed roster of board members who bring a broad spectrum of experience from across the European gaming ecosystem. The newly appointed board now includes: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association.
Spaans brings a blend of operational expertise and industry advocacy from the Netherlands. - **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 member of the Stockholm Region Business Council, providing insight into cultural policy and regional business development.
- **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, offering a deep understanding of Central‑Eastern European market dynamics. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, championing indie development and industry networking.
- **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French game developers and influencing national policy. The federation’s strategic agenda for the forthcoming two‑year period centers on creating a clear pathway for developers to ascend the value chain, thereby ensuring they can capture a larger share of the economic benefits generated by their creations.
EGDF aims to improve access to three core pillars: funding, talent, and skill development. By streamlining financing mechanisms, facilitating connections with educational institutions, and offering targeted training programs, the federation hopes to reduce the friction that often hampers growth for small and medium‑sized studios. In a statement, the EGDF emphasized its commitment to monitoring and nurturing the European game industry ecosystem.
"We will continue to facilitate collaboration among European development studios, enhance the visibility of the continent’s gaming output on the world stage, and act as a catalyst for sustainable growth," the organization declared. This commitment includes a focus on policy advocacy, market research, and the promotion of best practices across the industry. A particularly forward‑looking element of EGDF’s plan is its ambition to become the first AI‑driven European trade association for games.
Recognising that the gaming sector is often at the forefront of adopting artificial‑intelligence tools—whether for procedural content generation, player analytics, or automated testing—the federation intends to embed AI into its own operational framework. This could involve using AI for member services, data analysis, and even predictive modelling to anticipate market trends, thereby setting a benchmark for other trade bodies. The announcement coincided with the release of the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024, a joint effort by EGDF and Video Games Europe (VGE). The report provides a comprehensive snapshot of the continent’s gaming landscape, noting that the industry generated approximately €24 billion in turnover in 2024.
It also highlighted that more than 6,600 studios were active across Europe, employing upwards of 95,000 individuals in roles ranging from programming and design to marketing and support. These figures underscore the sector’s significant economic contribution and its role as a major employer. The report further details regional variations, noting strong growth in the Nordics, the Benelux region, and the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe.
It also points to rising investment in emerging technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and cloud gaming, all of which are expected to shape the next wave of game development. Looking ahead, EGDF’s board plans to leverage these insights to tailor support programs that address the specific needs of different sub‑regions and market segments.
For instance, they intend to launch mentorship schemes pairing established studios with emerging indie developers, and to negotiate with national governments for tax incentives that can lower the cost of production for mid‑size companies. In addition to financial and talent initiatives, the federation will prioritize skill‑building through workshops, webinars, and certification programs that cover emerging topics like AI integration, sustainable game design, and cross‑platform development.
By fostering a culture of continuous learning, EGDF hopes to equip European developers with the tools needed to compete with major global players from North America and Asia. Overall, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the introduction of a diverse, experienced board signal a period of renewed vigor for the European Games Developer Federation. With a clear focus on funding, talent acquisition, skill development, and AI‑driven innovation, the organization is poised to help European studios climb higher on the value chain, increase their global footprint, and sustain the industry’s robust growth trajectory for years to come.