Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), securing a second term as its president while the federation unveiled the composition of its 2026‑2028 governing board. The announcement also noted the departure of two prominent figures in the European gaming community: David Rabineau, chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, studio director at No Brakes Games, both of whom have stepped down from their board positions.
The refreshed EGDF board now brings together a diverse group of industry veterans and representatives from a range of national and sectoral organisations. The members are: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association, bringing extensive experience in both studio operations and national advocacy.
- **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, a key voice for Finnish developers and a strong proponent of cross‑border collaboration. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering insight into cultural policy and regional economic development.
- **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, providing a blend of commercial strategy and community building. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for championing indie creators and organising major industry events. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French game makers and advocating for regulatory and funding frameworks. Collectively, this board reflects a broad geographic spread—covering the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Croatia, Poland and France—and a balance of perspectives from large studios, indie collectives, trade bodies and cultural institutions.
Their combined expertise is expected to guide EGDF’s strategic priorities through 2028. ### Strategic Focus for 2026‑2028 The federation has laid out a clear agenda that centres on three interrelated pillars: enhancing developers’ access to financial resources, nurturing talent pipelines, and expanding skill‑building opportunities across the continent. In its own words, EGDF aims to provide "a route to the top of the value chain" for European studios, meaning that creators of all sizes should be able to move beyond basic production and enter higher‑value activities such as international publishing, live‑service management, and advanced technology integration.
Key initiatives under this umbrella include: 1. **Funding Pathways** – Working closely with national ministries, EU programmes and private investors to streamline grant applications, create joint funding pools, and develop mentorship schemes that pair emerging studios with seasoned publishers. 2.
**Talent Development** – Launching cross‑border apprenticeship programmes, expanding university‑industry collaborations, and supporting specialised bootcamps that address gaps in areas such as narrative design, user‑experience research, and technical art. 3. **Skill Enhancement** – Organising a series of workshops, webinars and certification tracks focused on emerging technologies (e.g., cloud‑based multiplayer infrastructure, real‑time ray tracing) and business competencies like data‑driven monetisation and international market entry. The board also reaffirmed EGDF’s commitment to monitoring the health of the European game ecosystem, fostering stronger ties between studios, service providers and policy makers, and raising the global profile of European games.
A particular emphasis will be placed on sustainability and diversity, ensuring that the sector grows in an inclusive and environmentally responsible manner. ### Pioneering AI Integration One of the most forward‑looking statements in the federation’s roadmap is its ambition to become the first AI‑based European trade association. Recognising that the gaming industry is often at the forefront of adopting artificial‑intelligence tools—ranging from procedural content generation to player‑behavior analytics—EGDF intends to embed AI into its own operations. This could involve using machine‑learning models to predict funding trends, automate matchmaking between developers and investors, or provide real‑time regulatory compliance checks.
By doing so, the federation hopes to set a benchmark for how trade bodies can leverage AI to deliver more efficient services to their members. ### Recent Industry Insights In conjunction with Video Games Europe (VGE), EGDF released the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024 earlier this week. The report paints a robust picture of the continent’s gaming market: in 2024, European developers generated a total turnover of €24 billion, a figure that underscores the sector’s economic significance.
Moreover, the industry employed more than 95,000 individuals across over 6,600 studios, ranging from indie startups to multinational publishers. These statistics highlight both the scale and the fragmentation of the European market. While the aggregate revenue is impressive, the distribution of that revenue remains uneven, with a small number of large publishers capturing a substantial share. EGDF’s agenda seeks to address this imbalance by providing smaller studios with the tools and connections needed to capture higher‑value segments of the market.
### Looking Ahead As the new board settles into its roles, the federation will begin rolling out its planned programmes. Stakeholders can expect a series of public consultations aimed at refining funding mechanisms, as well as pilot projects that test AI‑driven matchmaking platforms for talent and investment. The federation also plans to host an annual summit in 2027 that will bring together developers, policymakers, investors and technology partners to showcase best practices and celebrate European creativity. In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the appointment of a geographically and professionally diverse board signal continuity and renewal for the European Games Developer Federation.
With a clear focus on financing, talent cultivation, skill development, and pioneering AI adoption, EGDF is positioning itself to help European game creators climb the value chain, increase their global competitiveness, and sustain the vibrant ecosystem that has made Europe a major player in the worldwide gaming landscape.