The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed that Hendrik Lesser will continue at the helm as its president, having been re‑elected for another term. The federation also unveiled its new governing board for the 2026‑2028 period, marking a fresh chapter for the organization as it seeks to strengthen the European game development ecosystem. Two prominent figures stepped away from their board positions: David Rabineau, chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, studio director at No Brakes Games.
Their departures open space for a refreshed lineup of industry leaders who bring a diverse set of experiences from across the continent. 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 a blend of operational expertise and advocacy for Dutch developers. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, representing the interests of Finnish studios and fostering cross‑border collaboration. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering insight 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 network within 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 industry events. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director general of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French game developers and influencing national policy. Together, these six individuals form a board that reflects a broad geographic spread—from the Benelux region to the Nordic countries, the Balkans, and the French market—ensuring that EGDF’s strategic decisions will consider the varied needs of developers across Europe.
In its strategic outlook for the 2026‑2028 term, EGDF has articulated a clear agenda centered on three core pillars: enhancing developers’ access to funding, expanding the talent pipeline, and upgrading skill development programs. The federation describes its mission as creating "a route to the top of the value chain" for European studios, meaning that creators should be able to move beyond early‑stage production and capture more of the revenue generated by their intellectual property. To achieve this, EGDF plans to: 1.
**Facilitate Funding Opportunities** – By forging stronger ties with public and private investors, EU cultural funds, and national grant schemes, the federation will act as an intermediary that matches studios with appropriate financing options. This includes workshops on grant writing, pitch preparation, and navigating the complex landscape of EU Horizon and Creative Europe programmes. 2.
**Strengthen Talent Access** – EGDF will launch a pan‑European talent hub that aggregates job listings, apprenticeship programmes, and mentorship schemes. The goal is to reduce the friction that developers face when trying to recruit specialised skills such as AI programming, narrative design, and live‑ops management. 3.
**Promote Skills Development** – In partnership with universities, vocational schools, and online learning platforms, EGDF intends to roll out a curriculum of accredited courses covering emerging technologies, business modelling, and international market entry strategies. The federation also aims to host regular masterclasses featuring leading developers and industry veterans.
"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 press release. This commitment underscores the federation’s role as both a watchdog and an advocate, ensuring that policy decisions at the EU level reflect the realities faced by game creators.
A notable ambition highlighted by EGDF is its intention to become the first AI‑focused European trade association within the gaming sector. Recognising that the industry is at the forefront of adopting artificial‑intelligence tools—from procedural content generation to player‑behaviour analytics—the federation plans to develop guidelines, best‑practice frameworks, and ethical standards for AI use in games. By doing so, EGDF hopes to position Europe as a leader in responsible AI integration, while also protecting smaller studios from potential misuse of the technology. Earlier in the week, EGDF collaborated with Video Games Europe (VGE) to release the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024.
The report provides a snapshot of the sector’s economic impact, revealing that the European games market generated €24 billion in turnover during 2024. Moreover, the industry comprises more than 6,600 studios employing upwards of 95,000 individuals across the continent. These figures illustrate the sector’s robust growth and its significance as a driver of employment, innovation, and cultural export. The insights report also highlighted trends such as the rise of live‑service games, increasing investment in cross‑platform titles, and the growing importance of sustainability and diversity initiatives within development teams.
EGDF intends to use this data to inform its policy recommendations, ensuring that future legislation supports continued expansion while addressing challenges like talent shortages and market fragmentation. In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the appointment of a new, geographically diverse board signal a period of strategic continuity and renewal for the European Games Developer Federation. By concentrating on funding pathways, talent accessibility, skill enhancement, and AI leadership, EGDF aims to empower European developers to compete more effectively on the global stage and to capture a larger share of the value their creations generate. The federation’s ongoing collaboration with bodies such as Video Games Europe and its commitment to data‑driven advocacy suggest that the next two years will be pivotal for shaping a more resilient, innovative, and internationally visible European game industry.