Frederik Hammes, who stepped into the role of managing director of Gamescom Dev after Stephan Reichart earlier this year, points to the latest Gamescom Dev speaker survey as clear evidence that independent, smaller development houses now represent the most significant opportunity in the video‑game market. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," Hammes explains to GamesIndustry.biz. "Even if your studio consists of just three people, someone still has to handle contracts, finances, and the myriad administrative tasks that keep the company afloat.
I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can access production expertise, programming know‑how, artistic guidance, design insights, and, crucially, education on how to run a sustainable business. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the fundamentals of running a company stay vital." The event, which was rebranded from Devcom to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, now effectively extends the famous Gamescom week into a full‑blown business week. Hammes notes that aligning the two conferences under a single banner brings clear practical advantages.
"Having Gamescom as a strong partner gives us a lot of leverage. Previously we ran two separate conferences with distinct ticketing systems, which could be confusing for newcomers.
Now everything is consolidated into one ticket portal. Attendees can purchase a single pass and enjoy both the Gamescom Dev programme and the main Gamescom exhibition from Monday through Friday.
It simplifies the experience and makes the whole week feel like one cohesive event." This year’s programme features an impressive 390 speakers delivering 220 sessions across 17 different stages. Despite the impressive numbers, Hammes cautions against treating the event as a mere numbers game. "We don’t aim to hit arbitrary targets for speaker counts or session totals. It’s always about matching supply with demand.
We’re seeing a trend toward more specialised content, which is exactly what our audience wants." However, the rapid growth of Gamescom Dev is beginning to bump up against the physical limits of its current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. Hammes admits that while the space currently accommodates the event, "there is limited room to expand further." He hints that if the industry’s momentum continues, the conference may need to consider moving closer to the main Gamescom site or finding a larger venue altogether. "Our current plan isn’t to balloon the event dramatically because that would require a more substantial logistical shift, possibly relocating nearer to Gamescom. If the democratization of game development continues—more small studios entering the market—we’ll inevitably need more room to serve everyone effectively." Gamescom Dev’s origins trace back to 2017, when it was launched to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe.
While the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference remains a natural competitor—targeting similar audiences and covering comparable topics—Hammes prefers to view the relationship as collaborative rather than adversarial. "There’s a strong sense of community behind the scenes," he says. "We’re separate organisations, each trying to make a profit, but the competition isn’t cut‑throat.
The industry is a global circus, in a good way—people travel from one conference to another, sharing ideas and building networks. If one event thrives, it lifts the whole ecosystem. Right now GDC is facing some challenges due to external conditions, and we hope those improve soon. Success for everyone benefits the whole sector." A notable addition to this year’s schedule is the introduction of Leadership Summits.
These one‑day gatherings provide a private setting where senior executives can speak candidly without the presence of journalists, microphones, or recordings. Hammes emphasises the importance of such a “safe space” during turbulent times for the industry.
"It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," he remarks. "When we opened the first summit, we asked attendees to raise their hands if they had delivered bad news that year—every hand went up. When we asked if they’d heard bad news about their own companies, the same result. The environment is undeniably tricky right now.
Leaders often feel pressure to project confidence and stability, but we need a forum where they can be honest about challenges and seek collective solutions." The speaker survey also reveals a split opinion on the role of artificial intelligence in gaming. While 47 % of speakers believe AI will be the most transformative development over the next three years, only 11 % consider AI literacy the top skill developers need to acquire. Hammes interprets this disparity as a sign that technical expertise alone won’t drive success.
"You could argue we’re either over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," he says. "In reality, the most critical skill, according to 27 % of respondents, is leadership. That tells us we recognise change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet. We’re looking for people—leaders—who can guide teams through uncertainty, make strategic decisions, and foster resilience.
The industry needs visionaries who can translate emerging tech into sustainable business models, not just coders who can implement the latest algorithms." In summary, Hammes envisions Gamescom Dev as a catalyst for the next wave of indie and mid‑size studios, offering them the resources, knowledge, and networking opportunities required to thrive in a competitive market. By consolidating the event with Gamescom, expanding its educational offerings, and creating confidential leadership forums, the conference aims to support the sector’s evolution while acknowledging the logistical challenges of growth. As the gaming landscape continues to shift toward smaller, more agile developers, the emphasis on strong leadership, business acumen, and community collaboration will likely define the next chapter of the industry.