The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed that Hendrik Lesser will continue at the helm as its president for another term, coinciding with the unveiling of the federation’s new governing board for the 2026‑2028 period. Lesser’s re‑election comes at a pivotal moment for the European gaming sector, which is experiencing rapid growth, heightened competition, and an accelerating integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Two prominent figures stepped away from the board during this transition. David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, the studio director of No Brakes Games, both announced their departures, creating space for fresh voices and perspectives to guide the federation’s strategic direction.
The refreshed EGDF board now comprises a diverse group of industry leaders representing a broad geographic and functional spectrum: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer of 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, offering insight into the Nordic development ecosystem and its strong emphasis on innovation and education. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, providing a cultural‑policy lens and connections to municipal economic initiatives. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, a hub that nurtures regional talent and cross‑border collaboration. - **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 fostering networking opportunities across Central Europe.
- **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French developers and advocating for policy reforms that benefit the broader European market. Together, this board is tasked with implementing EGDF’s two‑year agenda, which centers on creating a clear pathway for developers to ascend the value chain of the industry. The federation has identified three primary pillars for the upcoming period: 1.
**Enhanced Funding Access** – By forging stronger ties with public and private investors, EGDF intends to streamline grant applications, introduce new financing instruments, and promote cross‑border investment opportunities that can help studios of all sizes secure the capital needed for ambitious projects. 2. **Talent Development and Mobility** – Recognising the shortage of specialised skills in areas such as advanced graphics, narrative design, and live‑ops management, the federation will expand mentorship programmes, facilitate apprenticeships, and support educational initiatives that align curricula with industry demands.
Additionally, EGDF plans to launch a European talent exchange platform to enable developers to work across borders more easily. 3. **Skill‑Building Resources** – The organization will curate a suite of workshops, webinars, and certification courses covering emerging technologies, best‑practice production pipelines, and business‑level competencies such as publishing, marketing, and legal compliance. In a statement released alongside the board announcement, EGDF highlighted its commitment to monitoring and nurturing the European game‑development ecosystem.
The federation emphasized that it will continue to act as a liaison between studios, policymakers, and international partners, thereby boosting the sector’s visibility on the global stage. "Our role is to ensure that European creators not only compete but lead in the rapidly evolving digital entertainment landscape," the statement read. A particularly forward‑looking element of EGDF’s strategy is its ambition to become the first AI‑driven European trade association for the gaming industry. As artificial intelligence reshapes everything from procedural content generation to player‑behavior analytics, the federation aims to embed AI tools into its own operations—automating data collection, enhancing member services, and providing predictive insights that help studios anticipate market trends.
This initiative positions EGDF at the forefront of technology adoption, signalling to members that the association will support them in leveraging AI responsibly and effectively. The board’s formation follows the recent publication of the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024, a collaborative effort between EGDF and Video Games Europe (VGE). The report paints a robust picture of the continent’s gaming economy: in 2024, the sector generated approximately €24 billion in turnover, a testament to its commercial vitality.
Moreover, the industry comprised more than 6,600 studios employing upwards of 95,000 professionals across development, publishing, marketing, and ancillary services. These figures underscore the sector’s significance as a major employer and a driver of cultural export. Looking ahead, EGDF intends to use the data from the insights report to fine‑tune its policy recommendations, ensuring that funding mechanisms, regulatory frameworks, and educational programmes are aligned with real‑world market dynamics. By advocating for favorable tax regimes, streamlined intellectual‑property processes, and supportive visa policies, the federation hopes to remove barriers that currently hinder cross‑border collaboration and talent attraction.
In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the introduction of a refreshed, pan‑European board mark a decisive step for the EGDF as it prepares to guide the continent’s gaming community through a period of unprecedented opportunity and transformation. With a clear focus on financing, talent cultivation, skill development, and AI integration, the federation is poised to strengthen the European game industry’s competitive edge and elevate its global profile for years to come.