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 today’s most promising opportunity lies with smaller development studios. In his conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, Hammes explains that even a three‑person team must still allocate resources to handle the commercial side of the business.
He believes Gamescom Dev offers a unique, all‑in‑one environment where creators can access production expertise, programming know‑how, creative direction, design insights, and crucially, guidance on running a sustainable business despite the rapid pace of technological change. The event, which was rebranded from Devcom to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, now essentially extends the main Gamescom festivities into a full week of industry‑focused programming.
Hammes argues that aligning the two conferences under a single banner brings clear advantages: "We now have a powerful partner in Gamescom, and that partnership simplifies things for attendees. Previously there were two separate conferences, two ticketing systems, and little connection between them. Today everything is unified under one ticket portal, and participants can move freely between Gamescom Dev sessions and the broader Gamescom exhibition from Monday through Friday." This year’s lineup features 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Hammes cautions against treating the event as a pure numbers game, emphasizing that growth should be guided by genuine demand rather than arbitrary targets.
"The market is becoming more specialised," he notes, suggesting that the focus should be on delivering depth and relevance rather than simply scaling up the headcount of talks. One practical limitation, however, is the venue itself. The Confex Center at Koelnmesse can accommodate the current program, but Hammes acknowledges that its capacity leaves "limited room to grow".
Should the industry continue its upward trajectory, the organisers may need to consider relocating closer to the main Gamescom site or expanding the physical footprint to serve the burgeoning community of indie and mid‑size developers. The origins of Gamescom Dev 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 complementary rather than adversarial. He highlights a strong sense of community behind the scenes, describing the industry as a "global circus" where professionals travel from one conference to another, sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration.
"We’re still separate organisations," he says. "Everyone wants to make money, but it isn’t cut‑throat. If all conferences thrive, the whole ecosystem benefits." Hammes also comments on the current challenges facing GDC, noting that external factors have created a difficult operating environment for the event. He expresses hope that conditions improve and that all major gatherings can continue to serve their audiences effectively.
A notable new feature of Gamescom Dev this year is the introduction of Leadership Summits. These one‑day, invitation‑only gatherings provide senior executives a private space—free from press, microphones, and recordings—to discuss the turbulent market conditions facing the gaming sector.
Hammes stresses the importance of such "safe spaces" for candid dialogue. He recounts a striking moment during the inaugural summit when a simple show‑of‑hands revealed that every participant had delivered bad news to their teams that year, and all had also received disappointing updates from their own companies. "It’s a tricky environment right now," he admits.
"Leaders are used to projecting confidence, but we need venues where they can be honest about the difficulties they’re navigating." The speaker survey also uncovered a split view on artificial intelligence. 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 gap as neither an overestimation of AI’s impact nor an under‑preparation for it. Instead, he argues that the data points to leadership as the paramount competency, with 27 % of respondents naming it the most critical skill.
"We recognise change is coming," he explains. "We’re not looking for a technological silver bullet; we’re looking for people—leaders—who can guide us through the transition." In summary, Hammes envisions a gaming landscape where small studios drive innovation and where industry events like Gamescom Dev evolve to support both creative and commercial excellence. By consolidating resources, expanding educational offerings, and fostering open leadership dialogues, the conference aims to equip developers of all sizes with the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly complex market.
The emphasis on leadership, community, and adaptable infrastructure reflects a broader industry shift toward sustainable growth that balances technological advancement with human insight.