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 evidence that today’s most promising market segment lies with smaller development studios. In his conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, Hammes explains that while a compact team can punch above its weight creatively and technically, the need for solid business management never disappears. "Even if you’re a three‑person outfit, someone still has to handle contracts, finances, and strategy," he says.
"I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where developers can soak up production know‑how, programming expertise, creative guidance, and design insights—all while learning the essentials of running a sustainable business. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the business fundamentals remain crucial." The event itself underwent a significant transformation in August 2025 when Devcom was rebranded as Gamescom Dev, effectively extending the renowned Gamescom experience into a full‑week affair. Hammes believes this closer alignment brings tangible benefits.
"We now have a powerful partner in Gamescom, which simplifies things for attendees. Previously there were two separate conferences, two ticketing systems, and little synergy between them. Today it’s a single ticket portal that grants access to everything from Monday through Friday, allowing participants to move seamlessly between Gamescom Dev and the main Gamescom exhibition." This year’s programme is ambitious, featuring 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Yet Hammes cautions against treating the event as a numbers game.
"Success isn’t about hitting arbitrary speaker or session counts; it’s about matching supply with demand. The market is becoming more specialized, and we aim to reflect that specialization rather than simply scaling up for the sake of size." A practical limitation for further expansion is the venue itself—the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the current layout accommodates the existing programme, Hammes acknowledges that space is finite.
"There isn’t much room to grow within the current hall," he notes, adding that if the industry’s trajectory continues upward, the event may need to relocate closer to the main Gamescom site to secure additional capacity. Looking ahead, Hammes envisions a scenario where the democratization of game development—driven by accessible tools and smaller teams—could demand a larger, more flexible venue. "If the trend toward indie and micro‑studio production persists, we’ll need more space to serve everyone interested," he says. Gamescom Dev’s origins trace back to 2017, when it was launched to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe.
Although the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference targets a similar audience, Hammes stresses that the two events coexist rather than compete. "There’s a strong sense of community behind the scenes," he explains.
"We’re separate organisations, each trying to make a profit, but the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat. The industry functions like a global circus—people travel from one conference to another, sharing knowledge and networking.
If one event thrives, it lifts the whole ecosystem." Hammes also expresses empathy for GDC’s current challenges, noting that external factors have created a difficult operating environment for them. He hopes the situation improves, emphasizing that a healthy, collaborative industry benefits everyone. A notable new feature at Gamescom Dev this year is the introduction of Leadership Summits—intimate, one‑day gatherings where senior executives can converse without the presence of press, microphones, or recordings.
Hammes believes these private forums are vital for navigating the turbulent market conditions facing game developers today. "It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," he says. "When we opened the first summit, every participant raised their hand to admit they’d delivered bad news that year, and the same hands stayed raised when asked about hearing bad news from their own companies.
The environment is tough, and leaders need a safe space to be candid, rather than always projecting confidence and stability." The speaker survey also reveals a split opinion on artificial intelligence. While 47 % of speakers anticipate AI will be the most transformative development over the next three years, only 11 % consider AI literacy the top skill to cultivate. Hammes interprets this disparity as a sign that the industry may be overestimating AI’s impact while under‑preparing for it, or vice versa. He ultimately concludes that leadership, not technology, is the critical competency.
"27 % of respondents named leadership as the most important skill," he notes. "That tells us we recognize change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet.
We need leaders who can guide teams through uncertainty and help them adapt effectively." In summary, Frederik Hammes paints a picture of an industry in flux, where small studios hold outsized promise, where business acumen remains indispensable, and where thoughtful, collaborative leadership is the key to thriving amid rapid technological and market shifts. Gamescom Dev aims to support this evolution by offering a consolidated, accessible platform for learning, networking, and strategic discussion, while remaining mindful of its physical limits and the broader ecosystem of global gaming conferences.