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 promising segment of the games market. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," he explained to GamesIndustry.biz. "Even if your studio is just three people, someone still has to handle contracts, finances, and the day‑to‑day administration.
I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can access production expertise, programming know‑how, design insight, and creative feedback, while also learning the fundamentals of running a sustainable business. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, those business fundamentals stay 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 the integration offers tangible benefits. "The case for aligning more closely with Gamescom is compelling," he said.
"We now have a powerful partner behind us, which brings several practical advantages. Previously attendees had to navigate two separate conferences, purchase two different tickets, and manage two distinct schedules with little connection between them.
Today there is a single ticketing platform that grants access to everything—from the dedicated Gamescom Dev programme to the broader Gamescom exhibition—so participants can move seamlessly between the two from Monday through Friday." This year’s programme is ambitious, featuring 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Hammes cautions, however, that success should not be measured solely by numbers.
"It isn’t a numbers game. We don’t aim to hit arbitrary attendance targets; it’s about matching supply with demand. The market is becoming more specialised, and we want to reflect that in the content we offer," 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 scale of Gamescom Dev, it leaves little room for significant expansion. "If the industry continues on its current trajectory, we may eventually need a larger footprint or a closer physical link to Gamescom itself," he said.
"At this stage we’re not planning a massive enlargement because that would require a more substantial move, possibly nearer to the main Gamescom site. Should the democratization of game development continue—more small studios entering the field—we’ll need additional space to serve that growing community." Gamescom Dev was originally launched in 2017 to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe.
Although 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. "There’s a strong sense of community behind the scenes," he remarked.
"We’re separate organisations, each focused on profitability, but the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat. The industry is like a global circus—people travel from one conference to another, sharing knowledge rather than trying to eliminate each other.
When one event thrives, it lifts the whole ecosystem. Our colleagues at GDC are currently facing challenges due to external conditions, and we hope those issues improve soon. Ultimately, a healthy conference landscape benefits everyone." A notable new feature on the Gamescom Dev agenda is the series of Leadership Summits. These one‑day gatherings are designed for senior executives to converse in a private setting without media presence, microphones, or recordings.
Hammes stresses the importance of such a "safe space" given the turbulence currently affecting the games market. "It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," he explained. "When we first launched the summits, we asked the room how many had delivered bad news that year—every hand went up. We then asked how many had heard bad news about their own company—again, every hand stayed raised.
The environment is undeniably tricky right now. Leaders often feel pressured to project confidence and stability, but we want to provide a venue where they can be candid about the difficulties 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. Hammes interprets this disparity as a sign that technical expertise alone will not drive future success.
"You might think we’re either over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," he said. "In reality, the most critical skill, according to 27 % of respondents, is leadership.
This tells us that the industry recognizes change is coming, but it isn’t looking for a technological silver bullet. We need leaders who can guide teams through uncertainty, set clear visions, and help everyone adapt to new realities." In summary, Hammes envisions Gamescom Dev as a catalyst for the next wave of indie and small‑studio innovation, while also serving as an educational hub for business acumen and leadership development. By consolidating tickets, expanding the schedule, and introducing private leadership forums, the event aims to support creators of all sizes as they navigate both creative and commercial challenges in an increasingly complex market.
The future, according to Hammes, will be defined not just by cutting‑edge tech, but by the ability of industry leaders to steer their teams through change with insight, empathy, and strategic foresight.