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‑scale studios now constitute the most significant growth opportunity within the gaming market. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," Hammes explained to GamesIndustry.biz. "Even if you’re a three‑person outfit, someone still has to handle the administrative and commercial side of things.
I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where developers can access everything they need – production know‑how, programming expertise, creative guidance, design insights – and also learn the fundamentals of running a business. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the business side stays crucial." The event, which was renamed from Devcom to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, now effectively extends the broader Gamescom experience into a full week of focused development content. Hammes believes that aligning the two conferences under a single banner brings considerable advantages. "We now have a powerful partner in Gamescom, and that partnership offers many practical benefits.
For attendees who may not be familiar with the previous format, the integration simplifies everything: instead of juggling two separate conferences, two ticket types, and two purchasing processes, there is now a single ticket portal. Participants can buy one pass and enjoy everything from Monday through Friday, moving freely between Gamescom Dev sessions and the main Gamescom exhibition." This year’s programme features 390 speakers delivering 220 sessions across 17 stages. Hammes cautions against treating the event as a numbers‑driven competition.
"It’s not about hitting a target figure; it’s about matching supply with demand. We’re seeing the market become more specialised, and the content reflects that shift," he said. However, the growth of Gamescom Dev is constrained by its current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse.
While the space comfortably accommodates the present schedule, Hammes acknowledges that there is "limited room to expand" within those walls. Should the industry continue its rapid trajectory, the organisers may need to consider moving the event closer to the main Gamescom site or finding a larger venue.
"Our immediate plan isn’t to dramatically increase the size, because that would entail a more complex logistical move. Yet if the democratization of game development continues—if smaller studios keep proliferating—we’ll eventually need more capacity to serve everyone," he noted. Devcom originated in 2017 as a response to the departure of GDC Europe, aiming to fill the gap left by that conference. While the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference (GDC) shares a similar audience and topic focus, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor.
"There’s a strong sense of community behind the scenes," he said. "We’re separate organisations, each striving for profitability, but the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat. The industry is like a global circus—people travel from one event to another.
It’s not about eliminating other conferences; it’s about all of us thriving together. When one conference faces challenges, like GDC’s current venue issues, we hope the situation improves for them because the health of the whole ecosystem matters." A notable new feature of this year’s agenda is the introduction of Leadership Summits. These one‑day gatherings provide senior industry figures with a private environment—no press, no microphones, no recordings—to discuss the volatile state of the market candidly. Hammes emphasises the need for such "safe spaces" where leaders can speak openly rather than merely listen.
"I was in the room when it started. We asked how many attendees had delivered bad news that year, and every hand went up. When we asked how many had heard bad news about their own company, the hands stayed up. It’s a challenging climate, and leaders often feel pressure to project confidence.
These summits let them break that façade and share genuine concerns." The speaker survey also revealed a split opinion 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 to cultivate. Hammes interprets this disparity as a sign that technical expertise alone won’t drive success.
"You could argue we’re over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it, but the data suggests something else: leadership tops the list, with 27 % of respondents naming it the most critical skill. That tells us the industry recognises change is coming, but it’s not looking for a technological quick‑fix. It’s seeking leaders who can guide teams through uncertainty and help them adapt." In summary, Gamescom Dev under Hammes’ direction is positioning itself as an integrated, specialist‑focused platform that supports both the creative and commercial aspects of game development. By consolidating tickets, expanding the schedule, and adding leadership‑focused events, the conference aims to serve the burgeoning community of small studios while acknowledging the logistical limits of its current venue.
The overarching message is clear: as the industry evolves, the need for strong, adaptable leadership will outweigh pure technical prowess, and events like Gamescom Dev are designed to nurture that very capability.