The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed its leadership lineup for the 2026‑2028 term, with Hendrik Lesser once again securing the presidency. Lesser’s re‑election comes as the federation refreshes its board, welcoming a diverse group of industry veterans and shedding a few long‑standing members. Two notable departures were announced: David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, the studio director at No Brakes Games, have stepped down from their board positions.
Their exits open space for new voices that will steer the organization through a period of rapid change and growth within Europe’s gaming sector. The newly constituted EGDF board now includes: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association. Spaans brings extensive experience in both studio operations and national industry advocacy.
- **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, representing the interests of Finnish developers and fostering cross‑border collaboration. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering insights into cultural policy and regional economic development. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, providing a strong link to the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for championing indie creators and organizing large‑scale industry events.
- **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French game developers and advocating for policy reforms at the national level. Together, this board reflects a broad geographic spread—from the Netherlands and Finland to Sweden, Croatia, Poland, and France—ensuring that EGDF’s strategic decisions consider the varied needs of developers across the continent.
**Strategic Priorities for 2026‑2028** The federation has laid out a clear agenda aimed at strengthening the European game development ecosystem. Central to this plan is the promise of "a route to the top of the value chain," meaning that EGDF intends to help studios move beyond basic production and distribution to capture higher‑margin activities such as IP ownership, live‑service management, and international licensing.
Key focus areas include: 1. **Enhanced Funding Access** – EGDF will act as a conduit between developers and a range of financing sources, including EU cultural grants, private venture capital, and public‑private partnership schemes.
By simplifying application processes and providing mentorship on pitch preparation, the federation hopes to lower barriers for both emerging indie teams and mid‑size studios seeking to scale. 2. **Talent Development and Mobility** – Recognising the shortage of specialised skills in areas like AI integration, narrative design, and advanced graphics, EGDF will launch a series of training programmes, mentorship networks, and cross‑border apprenticeship schemes.
Partnerships with universities, technical schools, and existing industry mentors will create pipelines that keep talent within Europe rather than losing it to overseas markets. 3. **Skill‑Sharing Platforms** – The federation plans to host regular webinars, master‑classes, and knowledge‑exchange events where seasoned developers can share best practices on topics ranging from sustainable monetisation models to ethical AI use in games. These platforms aim to democratise expertise that has traditionally been confined to larger studios.
4. **Global Visibility and Market Promotion** – By coordinating participation in major international trade shows, running targeted media campaigns, and publishing data‑driven market insights, EGDF will work to raise the profile of European games on the world stage. This includes highlighting success stories, fostering export opportunities, and positioning Europe as a hub for innovative, culturally rich titles.
5. **AI Leadership** – The federation acknowledges that the gaming sector is at the forefront of adopting artificial‑intelligence tools for everything from procedural content generation to player‑behavior analytics. EGDF has set an ambitious goal to become the first AI‑centric European trade association, establishing standards, ethical guidelines, and collaborative research projects that ensure AI is used responsibly and creatively within the industry.
"The EGDF will continue to monitor and facilitate the development of the European game industry ecosystem, strengthen its collaboration with European game development studios, and increase the European game industry's global visibility," the organization stated in its official release. This commitment underscores a proactive stance: rather than merely reacting to market trends, EGDF aims to shape them. **Industry Context and Recent Insights** The board’s strategic direction aligns with data released earlier this week in the joint European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024, produced by EGDF and Video Games Europe (VGE). The report paints a robust picture of the sector’s economic impact: European game developers generated €24 billion in turnover during 2024, a figure that reflects both the sheer volume of titles released and the growing appetite for interactive entertainment across the continent.
In addition to revenue, the report highlights employment figures—over 6,600 studios collectively employed more than 95,000 individuals, ranging from programmers and artists to marketers and community managers. These numbers illustrate the sector’s role as a significant employer and a driver of high‑skill jobs. The insights also reveal trends such as the rise of live‑service games, increased investment in cloud‑based streaming platforms, and a noticeable shift toward sustainability in game production. Moreover, the data shows that European studios are increasingly exporting their products, with a growing share of revenue now coming from North America and Asia, signaling that the continent’s creative output is resonating globally.
**Looking Ahead** With a refreshed board that blends operational expertise, policy knowledge, and a clear vision for AI integration, EGDF is positioned to champion the interests of European developers in a rapidly evolving market. By focusing on funding pathways, talent cultivation, skill sharing, and international promotion, the federation seeks to ensure that European studios not only survive but thrive, capturing greater value from their creations and contributing to a vibrant, innovative, and globally competitive gaming ecosystem. Stakeholders—from small indie teams to large multinational publishers—are encouraged to engage with EGDF’s initiatives, participate in upcoming events, and take advantage of the resources the federation will make available over the next two years. The overarching aim is simple yet ambitious: to cement Europe’s reputation as a powerhouse of game development, where creativity, technology, and business acumen converge to produce experiences that delight players worldwide.