Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), securing a second term as its president as the association reveals the composition of its 2026‑2028 board. The announcement also noted the departure of two prominent figures in the European gaming community: David Rabineau, chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, studio director at No Brakes Games. The refreshed EGDF board now includes a diverse group of industry veterans and representatives from key organisations across the continent: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer of Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association.
- **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, bringing extensive experience in Finnish game development policy. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering a strong cultural and economic perspective.
- **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, providing a strategic outlook on Central‑Eastern European markets. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for championing indie creators. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing the French video‑game sector.
The EGDF has set out an ambitious agenda for the 2026‑2028 period, centred on three core pillars: creating a clear pathway for developers to ascend the value chain, enhancing access to financial resources, and bolstering the availability of talent and specialised skills. In a statement, the federation emphasised its commitment to "monitor and facilitate the development of the European game industry ecosystem, strengthen collaboration with European development studios, and raise the global profile of Europe's gaming sector." A notable element of the federation's forward‑looking strategy is its intention to position itself at the forefront of artificial‑intelligence integration within the industry. Recognising that the gaming sector often leads the adoption of AI‑driven tools and technologies, EGDF has pledged to become the first AI‑focused European trade association for games.
This ambition includes fostering research collaborations, supporting AI‑enhanced development pipelines, and advocating for responsible AI use in game design and production. The timing of the board announcement coincides with the release of the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024, a joint effort by EGDF and Video Games Europe (VGE). The report provides a comprehensive snapshot of the continent's gaming landscape, revealing that the European games market generated an impressive €24 billion in turnover during 2024.
The sector is supported by more than 6,600 studios, which together employ over 95,000 professionals across a wide range of disciplines, from programming and art to marketing and community management. These figures underscore the economic weight of the industry and highlight the importance of coordinated advocacy and support structures such as EGDF. By offering developers a "route to the top of the value chain," the federation aims to help studios move beyond pure development into areas like publishing, IP ownership, and international distribution, thereby capturing a larger share of the revenue generated by their creations. Improved access to funding is another critical focus.
EGDF plans to work closely with European Union bodies, national governments, and private investors to streamline grant applications, create new financing instruments, and raise awareness of existing funding programmes. The goal is to reduce administrative burdens for developers and ensure that innovative projects, especially those from smaller or emerging studios, can secure the capital they need to scale.
Talent development will be addressed through a suite of initiatives designed to close skills gaps and promote continuous learning. This includes partnerships with educational institutions, the creation of mentorship schemes linking established studios with up‑and‑coming talent, and the organisation of workshops and webinars on emerging technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and AI‑driven content creation. By fostering a robust pipeline of skilled professionals, EGDF hopes to sustain the industry's growth and maintain Europe's competitive edge on the global stage. The board's composition reflects a deliberate balance of geographic representation and expertise, ensuring that the federation can address the varied needs of its members—from the bustling hubs of France and the Netherlands to the rapidly expanding scenes in Finland, Croatia, and Poland.
Each board member brings a unique perspective that will inform policy recommendations, advocacy efforts, and collaborative projects. In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the appointment of a new, diverse board signal a period of strategic renewal for the European Games Developer Federation. With a clear focus on financing, talent cultivation, and AI integration, the organisation is poised to strengthen the European gaming ecosystem, enhance its global visibility, and support developers in achieving greater commercial and creative success over the next two years.