The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed that Hendrik Lesser will continue in his role as president, having been re‑elected by the federation’s members. The announcement also introduced the newly appointed board that will guide the organization from 2026 through 2028. Two senior figures stepped away from their board positions: David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, director of the studio No Brakes Games. Their departures open space for fresh voices and a broader representation of the European game‑development community.
The refreshed EGDF board now comprises the following members: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association. Spaans brings extensive experience in both studio operations and national industry advocacy. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, representing Finnish developers and helping to shape policy at a regional level. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering insights into cultural funding and business development.
- **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, providing a strong network across Central and Eastern Europe. - **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 organizing large‑scale industry events. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, the French national video‑game union, adding a perspective from one of Europe’s largest gaming markets. Together, this diverse group will steer the federation’s strategic agenda for the 2026‑2028 term.
The EGDF has outlined a clear set of priorities that centre on elevating European developers along the entire value chain of game creation. By “providing a route to the top of the value chain,” the federation means that studios—whether small indie teams or mid‑size enterprises—should have clearer pathways to secure funding, attract skilled talent, and acquire the technical and creative expertise needed to compete internationally. Key initiatives include: 1. **Enhanced Funding Access** – Working closely with European cultural ministries, EU‑level grant programmes, and private investors to simplify application processes and increase the amount of capital available for game projects.
The board plans to publish a comprehensive guide that maps out all relevant funding sources, from national arts councils to Horizon Europe research grants that support innovative technology integration. 2. **Talent Development and Mobility** – Launching a pan‑European mentorship network that pairs emerging developers with seasoned industry veterans. The federation also intends to negotiate reciprocal recognition of professional qualifications across member states, making it easier for talent to move between studios in different countries without bureaucratic hurdles.
3. **Skills Upskilling** – Organising a series of workshops, webinars, and bootcamps focused on emerging disciplines such as procedural content generation, cloud‑based multiplayer infrastructure, and ethical AI usage in games. By partnering with universities and technical schools, EGDF aims to align curricula with the real‑world needs of game studios. 4.
**Visibility and Market Promotion** – Coordinating joint marketing campaigns that showcase European games at major international events like Gamescom, GDC, and the Tokyo Game Show. The federation will also maintain a regularly updated showcase portal featuring award‑winning titles, innovative indie projects, and success stories from across the continent. 5.
**AI Integration Leadership** – Recognising that the gaming sector is at the forefront of artificial‑intelligence research, the EGDF has set an ambitious target to become the first AI‑focused European trade association. This will involve establishing an AI advisory board, publishing best‑practice guidelines for responsible AI use, and facilitating pilot projects that explore AI‑driven narrative design, player‑behaviour analytics, and automated testing.
The EGDF’s public statement emphasised its commitment to monitoring the health of the European game‑industry ecosystem, strengthening collaboration among studios of all sizes, and boosting the sector’s global profile. “We will continue to act as a catalyst for growth, ensuring that European developers have the tools, connections, and visibility they need to thrive on the world stage,” the federation said.
In addition to internal initiatives, the EGDF recently collaborated with Video Games Europe (VGE) to release the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024. The report provides a snapshot of the market’s scale and momentum: in 2024, the European games sector generated roughly €24 billion in revenue, a figure that underscores the region’s economic significance.
The industry also employed more than 95,000 individuals across over 6,600 studios, ranging from boutique indie teams to large multinational publishers. These statistics illustrate why the federation’s agenda is both timely and essential. With a market size comparable to many national economies, the European gaming landscape demands coordinated policy support, robust talent pipelines, and strategic investment.
By fostering a collaborative environment and championing innovative technologies like AI, the EGDF aims to ensure that Europe not only retains its current market share but also expands its influence in emerging markets such as cloud gaming, virtual reality, and the burgeoning metaverse. Looking ahead, the newly appointed board members will convene regularly to assess progress against their objectives, adjust strategies in response to industry trends, and engage with stakeholders ranging from government bodies to independent creators. Their combined expertise—spanning operational leadership, cultural advocacy, business development, and union representation—positions the EGDF to act as a unifying voice for the continent’s diverse game‑development community. In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the formation of a refreshed board signal continuity and renewal for the European Games Developer Federation.
Over the next two years, the organization will focus on unlocking financing, nurturing talent, expanding skill sets, and leveraging AI to keep European games at the cutting edge of global innovation. The federation’s efforts, backed by solid data from the 2024 industry insights report, aim to reinforce Europe’s status as a vibrant, competitive, and forward‑looking hub for video‑game creation.