The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has confirmed that Hendrik Lesser will continue at the helm as its president, following his successful re‑election. Alongside this leadership continuity, the federation has unveiled the composition of its new board for the 2026‑2028 term, marking a significant reshuffle of senior industry figures.
Two notable departures were announced: David Rabineau, chief executive officer of the game‑development studio Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, studio director at No Brakes Games, have stepped down from their board positions. Their exits make way for a fresh slate of representatives drawn from a broad cross‑section of the European gaming ecosystem. The newly constituted EGDF board now includes: - **Martine Spaans** – currently serving as Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and also holding the role of General Manager for the Dutch Games Association. Spaans brings extensive experience in both studio operations and national industry advocacy.
- **KooPee Hiltunen** – director of the Neogames Finland Association, a body that supports Finnish developers and promotes Finland’s vibrant indie scene. - **Per Strömbäck** – a 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 connection to the emerging markets of 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 large‑scale industry events.
- **Vanessa Kaplan** – director general of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, the French national video‑game union, bringing a perspective rooted in labour representation and policy lobbying. These six individuals replace the outgoing members and collectively represent a blend of operational expertise, regional representation, and strategic vision.
Their combined backgrounds span studio management, national association leadership, cultural foundations, and conference organization, ensuring that the board can address both the creative and commercial challenges facing European developers. In conjunction with the board announcement, EGDF has laid out a clear agenda for the 2026‑2028 period. Central to this plan is the ambition to provide developers with "a route to the top of the value chain," a phrase that encapsulates the federation’s desire to help studios move beyond basic production into higher‑margin activities such as publishing, IP ownership, and international distribution.
To achieve this, EGDF will focus on three core pillars: 1. **Enhanced Access to Funding** – The federation intends to act as a bridge between developers and a variety of financing sources, including EU cultural grants, national subsidies, private venture capital, and emerging funding models such as revenue‑share platforms.
By streamlining application processes and offering advisory services, EGDF hopes to lower the barriers that many small and medium‑sized studios encounter when seeking capital. 2. **Talent Development and Workforce Mobility** – Recognising that a skilled workforce is essential for competitive game creation, EGDF will expand programmes that upskill developers, artists, designers, and programmers.
Initiatives may include cross‑border apprenticeship schemes, mentorship networks, and partnerships with universities and technical schools across Europe. The federation also plans to facilitate talent mobility, making it easier for professionals to work in different EU member states without bureaucratic hindrance.
3. **Skill‑Sharing and Knowledge Transfer** – By organising workshops, webinars, and industry conferences, EGDF aims to disseminate best practices in areas such as production pipelines, monetisation strategies, and emerging technologies. The goal is to create a knowledge hub where both established studios and newcomers can learn from each other’s successes and failures. The federation’s public statement emphasised its commitment to monitoring and nurturing the broader European game‑industry ecosystem.
"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 organisation said. This pledge underscores a dual focus: supporting internal growth while also projecting a stronger, unified European presence on the world stage.
A particularly forward‑looking component of EGDF’s strategy involves artificial intelligence. The federation noted that the gaming sector is often at the forefront of adopting AI‑driven tools, from procedural content generation to advanced analytics. Consequently, EGDF has set an ambitious target to become the first AI‑centric European trade association for games.
This could involve creating standards for ethical AI use, facilitating research collaborations, and offering members access to cutting‑edge AI platforms that can accelerate development cycles. The timing of these announcements 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 snapshot of the continent’s economic health, revealing that the European games sector generated approximately €24 billion in turnover during 2024.
Moreover, the industry now comprises over 6,600 studios employing more than 95,000 individuals, highlighting both its scale and its importance as a source of high‑skill employment. These figures illustrate the sector’s rapid expansion and the growing need for coordinated support structures like EGDF.
By positioning itself as a conduit for funding, talent, and technological advancement, the federation aims to ensure that European developers can compete with larger global players while preserving the unique cultural and creative identities that define the region’s games. In summary, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the introduction of a diversified board signal continuity and renewal for EGDF. The federation’s outlined priorities—enhanced financing pathways, talent cultivation, skill sharing, and AI integration—are designed to empower developers across Europe, foster sustainable growth, and elevate the continent’s reputation in the worldwide gaming arena.