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 growth avenue lies with smaller development studios. In his conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, Hammes explains that while a compact team can punch above its weight in terms of creative output, the need for solid business management never disappears. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," he says.
"Even if you’re a three‑person studio, someone still has to handle contracts, finances, marketing, and all the other non‑technical aspects that keep the company afloat. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where you can soak up production techniques, programming tricks, design theory, and creative inspiration, while also learning how to run a sustainable business.
No matter how advanced the technology gets, the fundamentals of running a company stay crucial." The event itself underwent a significant rebranding in August 2025, when Devcom was renamed Gamescom Dev, effectively extending the larger Gamescom festival into a full‑week affair. Hammes believes this integration offers clear advantages for attendees and partners alike.
"There are strong arguments for bringing the two events closer together," he notes. "We now have a powerful partner in Gamescom, and that brings a host of practical benefits. Previously, we ran two separate conferences with distinct ticketing systems, which could be confusing for newcomers. Today, there is a single ticket portal that gives you access to everything—from the Dev sessions during the week to the main Gamescom exhibition that runs through Friday.
It simplifies the experience and reinforces the idea of a unified Gamescom business week." This year’s programme is ambitious, featuring 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Yet Hammes cautions that success isn’t measured purely by numbers.
"It shouldn’t be a numbers game," he emphasizes. "We’re not chasing arbitrary attendance targets. The market is becoming more specialised, and we aim to match supply with demand. Quality and relevance matter far more than sheer volume." A practical limitation for the event is the size of its current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse.
While the space comfortably accommodates the present schedule, Hammes admits there is "limited room to grow" and that future expansion may require a closer physical relationship with the main Gamescom site. "We’re not planning a massive scale‑up right now because that would entail a major logistical shift, potentially moving nearer to Gamescom’s core grounds," he explains. "If the trend toward smaller, more democratized studios continues, we’ll eventually need more room to serve that community." Gamescom Dev traces its origins 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 prefers to view the two gatherings as complementary rather than competitive. "Both are separate organisations with their own identities," he says.
"Everyone wants to make a profit, but the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat. The industry feels like a global circus—in a good way—where professionals travel from one conference to another, sharing knowledge and building networks.
If one event thrives, it lifts the whole ecosystem. Right now GDC is facing some challenges due to external circumstances, and we sincerely hope they recover quickly. Success across the board benefits everyone." A notable new feature on the Gamescom Dev agenda is the series of Leadership Summits. These one‑day, invitation‑only gatherings give senior executives a private space—free from press, microphones, and recordings—to discuss the turbulent state of the market.
"It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," Hammes remarks. "During the inaugural summit, we asked participants to raise their hands if they had delivered bad news that year. Every hand went up. When we asked who had heard bad news about their own company, the hands stayed raised.
The environment is undeniably tough right now. Leaders often feel pressured to project confidence and stability, but we wanted to create a safe room where they could be candid about the challenges they face." The speaker survey also revealed a split opinion on the role of artificial intelligence in the industry’s future. 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. "How do we interpret that?
It’s not that we’re over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," Hammes clarifies. "The data suggests that the most critical competency is leadership. About 27 % of respondents identified leadership as the key skill. In other words, we recognise that change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet.
We need people—leaders—who can guide teams through uncertainty, make strategic decisions, and inspire confidence." In summary, Hammes envisions a gaming landscape where small studios drive innovation, but they must be supported by robust business acumen and strong leadership. Gamescom Dev aims to be the nexus for that support, offering education, networking, and a platform for honest conversation.
As the industry evolves, the event may need to expand physically, but its core mission—to empower developers of all sizes and to foster a collaborative, forward‑looking community—remains steadfast.