Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) as its president, coinciding with the federation’s announcement of the new 2026‑2028 board of directors. The latest reshuffle also sees the departure of two notable figures: David Rabineau, chief executive of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, studio director at No Brakes Games, both of whom have stepped down from their board positions. The freshly constituted EGDF board now comprises a diverse group of industry veterans and representatives from a range of European gaming organisations: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association, bringing extensive experience in both studio operations and national game policy.
- **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, a key advocate for Finnish developers and the broader Nordic gaming ecosystem. - **Per Strömbäck** – Board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and member of the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering insight into cultural initiatives 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 between business growth and community building in 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 fostering networking events across the continent. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French developers and contributing a deep understanding of regulatory and labour issues in the gaming sector. With this lineup, the EGDF signals its intention to blend strategic oversight with grassroots representation, ensuring that the federation’s policies reflect the needs of both large studios and independent creators.
### Strategic Priorities for 2026‑2028 The federation has laid out an ambitious agenda for the next two years, centred around three core pillars: enhancing developers’ access to financial resources, improving the talent pipeline, and expanding skill‑building opportunities. In its own words, EGDF aims to provide "a route to the top of the value chain" for European game makers, meaning that studios of all sizes should be able to move beyond basic production and enter higher‑margin areas such as publishing, live‑service management, and international distribution. **Funding Access** – EGDF plans to act as an intermediary between developers and a variety of funding bodies, including EU cultural programmes, national grant schemes, and private investment networks. By streamlining application processes and offering advisory services, the federation hopes to reduce the administrative burden that often deters smaller studios from seeking capital.
**Talent Development** – Recognising the acute shortage of specialised skills in areas like AI integration, real‑time rendering, and cross‑platform optimisation, EGDF will partner with educational institutions, vocational schools, and online learning platforms to create targeted curricula. Scholarships, mentorship schemes, and apprenticeship programmes are also on the roadmap, intended to nurture the next generation of designers, programmers, and artists.
**Skill Enhancement** – Beyond formal education, the federation intends to host workshops, master‑classes, and industry‑wide hackathons that focus on emerging technologies. These events will be designed to up‑skill existing professionals, helping them stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.
### Strengthening the European Game Ecosystem In a statement released alongside the board announcement, EGDF underscored its commitment to monitoring and facilitating the growth of Europe’s game industry ecosystem. The federation will continue to deepen collaboration with European development studios, fostering cross‑border partnerships that can accelerate innovation and market entry.
Additionally, EGDF aims to boost the global visibility of European games, positioning the continent as a hub of creative excellence and technological leadership. A notable aspect of the federation’s forward‑looking vision is its focus on artificial intelligence.
As the gaming sector increasingly adopts AI‑driven tools—ranging from procedural content generation to advanced player analytics—EGDF has set an ambitious target to become the first AI‑centric European trade association. This will involve establishing best‑practice guidelines, supporting research initiatives, and advocating for policies that encourage responsible AI use while safeguarding creators’ rights. ### Industry Context and Recent Insights Earlier in the week, EGDF collaborated with Video Games Europe (VGE) to publish the *European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024*.
The report paints a robust picture of the continent’s gaming landscape, revealing that the European games industry generated approximately €24 billion in turnover during 2024. This economic output is supported by more than 6,600 studios, which together employ over 95,000 individuals across a wide spectrum of roles—from programming and art to marketing and localisation. These figures underscore the sector’s significance as a driver of employment and technological advancement within the EU. They also highlight the importance of the EGDF’s upcoming initiatives, as continued growth will depend on sustained investment, talent cultivation, and the ability to adapt to emerging trends such as AI, cloud gaming, and immersive media.
### Looking Ahead With Hendrik Lesser at the helm for another term, the European Games Developer Federation is poised to steer the continent’s game development community through a period of rapid change. The newly appointed board members bring a blend of strategic expertise, regional insight, and advocacy experience that should enable EGDF to deliver on its promises of better funding routes, richer talent pipelines, and enhanced skill development. Stakeholders across the industry—whether they are indie developers seeking their first publishing deal, mid‑size studios aiming to expand internationally, or large publishers looking to tap into new technologies—will be watching closely as EGDF rolls out its programs.
By fostering a more connected, well‑funded, and skilled European game development ecosystem, the federation hopes to cement the region’s status as a global leader in interactive entertainment. In summary, the EGDF’s 2026‑2028 board composition and strategic agenda reflect a concerted effort to address the core challenges facing European developers today. Through improved access to capital, a stronger talent pipeline, and a focus on AI‑enabled innovation, the federation aims to empower creators to climb higher up the value chain and achieve greater success on the world stage.