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 represent the most significant growth opportunity in the video‑game market. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," Hammes explains to GamesIndustry.biz.
"Even if your studio is just three people, someone still has to handle the administrative and commercial side of things. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where developers can access everything they need – production insight, programming expertise, creative direction, design guidance – and also learn how to run a sustainable business.
No matter how advanced the technology becomes, solid business acumen stays crucial." The event, which was renamed from Devcom to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, now effectively extends the main Gamescom festival into a full‑week experience. Hammes believes that aligning the two events brings clear advantages.
"The case for bringing Dev closer to Gamescom is compelling," he says. "We now have a powerful, well‑established partner on our side, which creates many practical benefits.
For attendees who may not be familiar with the separate conferences, the new structure is much simpler: previously there were two distinct ticketing systems, two sets of tickets, and virtually no connection between the programmes. Today there is a single ticket portal that grants access to everything.
The Gamescom business week runs from Monday through Friday, and anyone who purchases a ticket can also wander over to the main Gamescom exhibition until Friday." This year’s lineup features 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Hammes cautions that success should not be measured solely by numbers.
"It shouldn't be a numbers game," he notes. "We don't need to hit arbitrary targets. It's always about supply and demand, and we’re seeing the market become more specialised." He also acknowledges that the venue – the Confex Center at Koelnmesse – imposes a ceiling on how much the event can expand. While the current space comfortably accommodates the programme, Hammes warns that continued industry growth may eventually force the conference to seek a larger footprint or move physically closer to the main Gamescom site.
"At present we have no plans to dramatically increase the size of the event, because that would require a major logistical shift, possibly relocating nearer to Gamescom, which is a scenario we are keeping under review. If the democratization of game development continues – with more small studios emerging – we will inevitably need more room to serve everyone effectively," he says. Gamescom Dev was launched in 2017 to fill the void left after the GDC Europe conference ended.
Although the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference targets a similar audience, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor. Instead, he emphasizes a collaborative spirit within the industry.
"We’re separate organisations, each trying to make a profit, but the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat. The global gaming community is like a big circus in a positive sense – people travel from one conference to another, sharing knowledge and networking. It’s not about eliminating other events; when all conferences thrive, the whole sector benefits.
Our friends at GDC are currently facing challenges due to the environment they operate in, and we sincerely hope their situation improves." A fresh feature on the Gamescom Dev agenda is the series of Leadership Summits. These one‑day gatherings give senior industry figures a private setting – no press, no microphones, no recordings – to discuss the turbulent state of the market. "It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," Hammes explains. "When we launched the summit, we asked the room how many had delivered bad news in the past year – every hand went up.
When we asked how many had received bad news about their own company, the hands stayed up. The environment is undeniably tough right now. Leaders often feel pressured to project confidence and stability, but we want to provide a safe space where they can be candid about the challenges they face." The speaker survey also revealed a split view 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.
"What does that tell us? Either we’re over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," Hammes reflects.
"My conclusion is that neither is true. When you ask what the most critical skill really is, 27 % of respondents point to leadership.
That translates to: ‘We recognise change is coming. We’re not looking for a technological silver bullet; we need people who can guide us through it.’ In other words, the industry is seeking leaders who can chart the course through uncertainty, rather than relying solely on new tools." Overall, Hammes envisions Gamescom Dev as a growing platform that supports both the creative and commercial facets of game development, especially for the burgeoning community of small studios that are reshaping the market landscape.