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 independent, smaller development houses now represent the most significant growth opportunity in the video‑game market. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," he explained to GamesIndustry.biz. "Even if your studio consists of just three people, 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 creators can access everything they need—production insights, programming expertise, development best practices, creative direction, design guidance—and also learn how to run a sustainable business. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the fundamentals of running a company stay crucial." The event, which was renamed from Devcom to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, now effectively extends the main Gamescom festival into a full‑week program. Hammes believes that aligning the two events brings clear advantages.
"The case for bringing the two conferences closer together is compelling," he said. "We now have a powerful partner in Gamescom, and that opens a lot of doors.
From a practical standpoint, it simplifies things for attendees who might not have been familiar with the separate formats. Previously we ran two distinct conferences with separate ticketing systems and little integration.
Today there is a single ticket portal, a unified schedule, and the ability to 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 mere numbers game. "It shouldn't be about hitting a target number of speakers or sessions," he noted. "It's really about matching supply with demand.
We see the market becoming more specialized, and our programming reflects that shift." However, the growth of Gamescom Dev is constrained by its current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the space comfortably accommodates the present scale, Hammes acknowledges that there is "limited room to grow" and that future expansion may require a closer physical link to the main Gamescom site. "At this stage we are not planning a massive expansion because that would entail a more complex move nearer to Gamescom, which is certainly on the table," he said.
"If the trend toward smaller studios and the democratization of game creation continues, we will eventually need more capacity to serve a broader audience." Gamescom Dev was launched in 2017 to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe. Although the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference targets a similar audience and covers comparable topics, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor. Instead, he emphasizes a collaborative spirit within the industry. "We are separate organizations, each with our own goals, but there is a strong sense of community behind the scenes," he remarked.
"Everyone wants to be profitable, but the environment isn’t as cut‑throat as some might think. The industry functions like a global circus in a positive way—people travel from one conference to another, sharing knowledge rather than trying to eliminate each other. When all conferences thrive, the whole sector benefits.
Our colleagues at GDC are currently facing challenges due to external conditions, and we sincerely hope their situation improves." A notable new feature of the Gamescom Dev agenda is the introduction of Leadership Summits. These one‑day, invitation‑only gatherings provide senior industry figures with a private space—free of press, microphones, and recordings—to discuss the turbulent state of the market.
"The purpose isn’t just to listen; it’s to speak openly and exchange ideas," Hammes explained. "When we first launched the summit, we asked participants to raise their hands if they had delivered bad news in the past year, and every hand went up. We then asked who had heard bad news about their own company, and again every hand stayed raised. It’s a clear sign of how challenging the environment is right now.
Leaders often feel pressure to project confidence and stability, so creating a safe environment where they can be candid is essential." 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 developers need to acquire. "How do we interpret that discrepancy?
One could argue we’re over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," Hammes said. "My conclusion is that neither is quite right. When you ask what skill truly matters, 27 % of respondents point to leadership as the most important. That tells us we recognize change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet.
We’re seeking leaders who can guide teams through uncertainty and help them adapt." In summary, Hammes envisions Gamescom Dev as a catalyst for smaller studios, offering them the resources, education, and networking opportunities needed to thrive in an increasingly specialized market. By integrating more closely with Gamescom, simplifying ticketing, and adding dedicated leadership forums, the event aims to support both creative and business development.
As the industry grapples with rapid technological shifts—particularly around AI—the emphasis on strong, adaptable leadership is expected to remain a cornerstone of future success.