Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), securing a second term as president as the association unveils its new governing board for the 2026‑2028 period. The announcement also noted the departure of two prominent members of the previous board: David Rabineau, chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, studio director at No Brakes Games, who have both stepped down from their positions. The freshly constituted EGDF board now brings together a diverse group of industry veterans and representatives from a range of European game‑development organisations. The roster includes: - **Martine Spaans**, who serves as chief operating officer of Fourth Moon Games and also holds the role of general manager at the Dutch Games Association.
Her dual experience in studio operations and national industry advocacy equips her to bridge the gap between creative teams and policy makers. - **KooPee Hiltunen**, director of the Neogames Finland Association, a body that supports Finnish developers through networking, funding advice and market‑access initiatives.
- **Per Strömbäck**, a board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and a participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, bringing a strong focus on cultural impact and regional economic development to the table. - **Hrvoje Mitic**, head of business development at GamesCo., secretary‑general of the Croatian Game Development Alliance and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, whose background spans business strategy, industry coordination and community‑building across the Balkans. - **Jakub Marszalkowski**, head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for championing independent creators and fostering cross‑border collaboration.
- **Vanessa Kaplan**, director‑general of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, the French national union for video‑game professionals, adding a French perspective on labour standards and creative rights. Collectively, this board is tasked with steering the federation through a period of rapid technological change and growing global competition. In its strategic outline for the next two years, EGDF emphasises a commitment to providing developers with "a route to the top of the value chain," meaning that studios of all sizes should have clearer pathways to higher‑margin activities such as publishing, distribution and intellectual‑property monetisation.
The federation also pledges to improve access to essential resources, including financing mechanisms, talent pipelines and specialised training programmes. "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 organisation stated in its official release.
This statement underscores three core objectives: vigilant oversight of market trends, deeper partnership with the continent's myriad development houses, and a concerted effort to raise the profile of European games on the world stage. A particularly forward‑looking element of the agenda is the federation's ambition to become the first AI‑driven European trade association. Recognising that the gaming sector is at the forefront of artificial‑intelligence research—whether through procedural content generation, adaptive difficulty systems, or advanced analytics—the EGDF aims to embed AI tools into its own operations.
This could involve automated policy‑analysis, AI‑enhanced matchmaking between studios and investors, or predictive modelling to anticipate skill‑shortage areas. By pioneering such applications, the federation hopes to set a benchmark for how trade bodies can leverage emerging technologies to serve their members more efficiently. The timing of the board's formation coincides with the release of a major industry study.
Earlier in the week, EGDF partnered with Video Games Europe (VGE) to publish the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024. The report paints a robust picture of the market: European game developers generated a turnover of €24 billion in 2024, a figure that reflects both the continent's creative output and its commercial maturity. The sector comprises more than 6,600 studios, ranging from indie teams operating out of modest apartments to large multinational publishers with global reach.
Together, these companies employ over 95,000 individuals, spanning roles in design, programming, art, sound, marketing, and business development. These statistics highlight the economic significance of gaming within Europe and reinforce the federation's rationale for its upcoming initiatives. By improving access to capital, EGDF hopes to lower the barrier for small studios that often struggle to secure investment for ambitious projects.
Talent development programmes will aim to address skill gaps, particularly in areas such as AI integration, cloud‑based services and cross‑platform development, ensuring that European developers remain competitive against North American and Asian counterparts. In addition to financial and educational support, the board plans to advocate for regulatory environments that foster innovation while protecting creators' rights. This includes lobbying for clearer copyright frameworks, fair taxation policies for digital goods, and supportive visa regimes that allow studios to attract international expertise.
The re‑election of Hendrik Lesser provides continuity at a time when strategic consistency is crucial. Lesser, who has been a vocal proponent of pan‑European cooperation, will likely continue to champion initiatives that unify disparate national associations under a common European vision.
His leadership, combined with the fresh perspectives of the newly appointed board members, positions EGDF to navigate the challenges of a rapidly evolving industry while capitalising on the opportunities presented by new technologies and expanding global demand for European‑made games. Overall, the federation's roadmap for 2026‑2028 reflects a holistic approach: strengthening financial pathways, nurturing talent, embracing AI, and amplifying the global voice of European game developers.
If successfully implemented, these measures could not only sustain the sector's impressive growth but also propel it toward a more innovative and internationally recognised future.