Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), securing a second term as its president as the organization unveiled its new board for the 2026‑2028 period. The announcement also noted the departure of two prominent figures: David Rabineau, chief executive of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, director of the studio No Brakes Games, both of whom have stepped down from their board positions.
The refreshed EGDF board now comprises a diverse group of industry veterans and representatives from key European gaming bodies: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia.
- **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo. Together, these six individuals bring a blend of operational expertise, policy insight, and creative vision that the federation hopes will steer European game development toward a more prosperous and innovative future. **Strategic Priorities for 2026‑2028** The EGDF has laid out a clear agenda for the next two years, centering on three main pillars: enhancing developers’ access to financial resources, strengthening the talent pipeline, and expanding skill‑building opportunities across the continent.
The federation describes its mission as providing "a route to the top of the value chain" for game creators, meaning that studios—whether indie startups or mid‑size firms—should be able to move beyond the early stages of production and capture greater share of the market’s revenue. To achieve this, EGDF plans to: 1. **Facilitate Funding Access** – Work closely with EU cultural funds, national grant programmes, and private investors to create clearer, more streamlined pathways for developers seeking capital. This includes hosting matchmaking events, publishing best‑practice guides, and lobbying for more favorable tax incentives.
2. **Cultivate Talent** – Partner with universities, technical schools, and vocational training centres to align curricula with the evolving needs of the gaming sector. Initiatives will focus on emerging disciplines such as immersive storytelling, live‑ops management, and cross‑platform development. 3.
**Boost Skills Development** – Offer workshops, mentorship schemes, and certification programmes that cover both technical competencies (e.g., AI integration, real‑time rendering) and business acumen (e.g., monetisation strategies, international publishing). "The EGDF will continue to monitor and facilitate the development of the European game industry ecosystem, strengthen its collaboration with European game development studios, and increase the European game industry's global visibility," the federation said in its statement. This commitment underscores a dual focus: nurturing home‑grown talent while also ensuring European games gain a stronger foothold in worldwide markets. **AI as a Strategic Frontier** One of the more forward‑looking goals highlighted by the EGDF is its ambition to become the first AI‑driven European trade association.
The gaming sector has long been a testing ground for artificial‑intelligence technologies—ranging from procedural content generation to advanced player‑behavior analytics. By embedding AI into its own operational framework, EGDF intends to set a benchmark for how trade bodies can leverage data‑driven insights to better serve their members.
This could involve AI‑powered matchmaking between studios and investors, predictive analytics for market trends, or automated compliance monitoring for regulatory changes. **Industry Context: 2024 Insights** Earlier in the week, the EGDF collaborated with Video Games Europe (VGE) to release the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024.
The study paints a robust picture of the continent’s gaming economy: in 2024, European game companies generated approximately €24 billion in revenue, a figure supported by more than 6,600 active studios employing over 95,000 individuals. These numbers illustrate both the scale and the growth potential of the sector, reinforcing the federation’s argument for greater investment and policy support. The report also highlights several trends that will shape the federation’s work over the next two years.
Notably, there is a rising demand for cross‑border collaboration, as studios seek partners in neighboring countries to share expertise and reduce development costs. Additionally, the data shows an uptick in the adoption of live‑service models and a growing appetite for games that incorporate social and multiplayer components, which in turn drives the need for robust server infrastructure and ongoing post‑launch support. **Looking Ahead** With Hendrik Lesser at the helm for another term, the EGDF is poised to build on the momentum generated by its recent initiatives. The newly appointed board members bring regional perspectives—from the Netherlands and Finland to Croatia and Poland—ensuring that the federation’s policies reflect the diverse realities of Europe’s gaming landscape.
In summary, the EGDF’s 2026‑2028 roadmap is anchored in three core objectives: unlocking financing channels, nurturing a skilled workforce, and pioneering AI‑enabled association services. By pursuing these goals, the federation aims to elevate European game development from a collection of national silos into a cohesive, globally competitive ecosystem that can attract talent, investment, and audience attention on a scale previously reserved for a few dominant markets. The upcoming years will likely see EGDF acting as both advocate and facilitator, championing the interests of developers while also providing concrete tools and programs to help them thrive. If successful, the federation’s efforts could not only boost the continent’s economic contribution—potentially surpassing the €24 billion benchmark—but also cement Europe’s reputation as a hotbed of innovative, culturally rich gaming experiences.