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 clear evidence that independent, smaller‑scale studios now constitute the most significant growth opportunity within the gaming market. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet the business side remains essential," Hammes explained to GamesIndustry.biz. "Even if you’re a three‑person outfit, someone still has to handle contracts, finances, and the myriad administrative tasks that keep a studio afloat.
I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where developers can tap into production expertise, coding know‑how, creative direction, design insights, and also learn the fundamentals of running a business. No matter how advanced the technology gets, solid business acumen is still crucial." The event, originally known as Devcom, was rebranded to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, a change that effectively extends the broader Gamescom experience into a full week of focused development content.
Hammes believes that aligning the two events creates a stronger, more cohesive offering. "There are compelling reasons to bring Gamescom Dev closer to the main Gamescom programme," he said. "We now have a powerful partner on our side, which brings a host of practical advantages.
For attendees, the ticketing process is far simpler – instead of juggling two separate conferences, two ticket types, and two purchase portals, everything is consolidated into a single shop. Visitors can buy one ticket and then move freely between Gamescom Dev sessions and the main Gamescom exhibition from Monday through Friday." This year’s schedule features an impressive 390 speakers delivering 220 sessions across 17 distinct stages. Yet Hammes cautions that success shouldn’t be measured purely by numbers. "It shouldn't be a numbers game.
We don't need to hit arbitrary attendance targets. It's really about matching supply with demand and recognizing that the industry is becoming increasingly specialised," he noted.
One logistical challenge Hammes acknowledges is the capacity of the current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the space comfortably accommodates the present program, there is limited room for further expansion. "At the moment we’re fitting within the venue, but there isn’t a lot of wiggle‑room for growth," he said.
"If the industry continues on its current trajectory, we may eventually need to consider moving closer to the main Gamescom site or finding a larger facility. The democratization of game development – more small studios entering the market – could eventually demand more physical space to serve everyone effectively." Gamescom Dev traces its origins back to 2017, when it was launched to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe.
While the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference (GDC) targets a similar audience and covers comparable topics, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor. Instead, he emphasizes a spirit of collaboration and community among the various industry gatherings. "We’re still separate organisations," he explained.
"Everyone wants to make a profit, but the atmosphere isn’t as cut‑throat as one might assume. The industry is like a global circus – in a positive sense – with professionals traveling from one conference to the next.
It’s not about wiping out other events; it’s about all of them thriving together. When one conference faces challenges, such as the current environmental constraints affecting GDC, we hope they can overcome them because a healthy ecosystem benefits everyone." A notable new feature on the Gamescom Dev agenda is the series of Leadership Summits. These one‑day gatherings provide senior executives with a private environment—no press, no microphones, no recordings—where they can speak candidly about the sector’s turbulent climate.
"It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," Hammes said. "During the inaugural summit, we raised hands to see how many attendees had delivered bad news in the past year—every hand went up.
When asked how many had heard bad news about their own companies, the hands stayed raised. The current market is undeniably tricky.
Leaders often feel pressure to project confidence, but we want to give them a safe space to be honest about the challenges they face." The speaker survey also revealed a split opinion on artificial intelligence. While 47 % of speakers believe AI will be the most transformative development for the industry over the next three years, only 11 % consider AI literacy the top skill developers need to acquire. "How do we reconcile that?
It could mean we’re over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," Hammes reflected. "My conclusion is that it’s actually neither. When you ask what the most critical skill really is, 27 % say it’s leadership. That tells us we recognise change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet.
We’re looking for people—leaders—who can guide us through the transition." In summary, Hammes envisions Gamescom Dev as a pivotal platform that supports the rise of small studios, provides comprehensive educational resources, and fosters a collaborative community. By integrating more closely with the main Gamescom event, simplifying ticketing, and introducing dedicated leadership spaces, the conference aims to stay responsive to an industry that is both expanding and diversifying, while keeping an eye on the practical constraints of venue capacity and the evolving role of technology such as AI.