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 board that will serve from 2026 through 2028. Lesser’s re‑election signals continuity in the organization’s strategic direction, while the refreshed board brings together a diverse group of industry veterans from across the continent, each bringing unique expertise to help shape the future of European game development. Two notable departures were announced alongside the new roster.
David Rabineau, the chief executive officer of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, director of the studio No Brakes Games, have both stepped down from their previous roles within the federation. Their exits make room for fresh perspectives and allow the incoming members to steer EGDF toward its upcoming objectives. The composition of the 2026‑2028 EGDF board is as follows: - **Martine Spaans** – currently serving as Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and also holding the position of General Manager at the Dutch Games Association.
Spaans brings a strong operational background and deep connections within the Dutch gaming ecosystem. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – director of the Neogames Finland Association, offering insight into the Nordic development scene and its unique market dynamics.
- **Per Strömbäck** – a board member of the Gaming Culture Foundation and a member of the Stockholm Region Business Council, providing a blend of cultural advocacy and regional economic expertise. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – head of Business Development at GamesCo., secretary‑general of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, giving him a broad view of Central and Eastern European industry growth. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, known for championing indie developers and fostering networking opportunities. - **Vanessa Kaplan** – director general of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French game developers and contributing a strong voice from one of Europe’s largest markets.
Together, this board is tasked with implementing EGDF’s agenda for the next two years, which centers on creating a clear "route to the top of the value chain" for developers. In practice, this means the federation will work to remove barriers that prevent smaller studios from accessing larger distribution channels, investment capital, and high‑level talent.
By improving these pathways, EGDF hopes to elevate European games from niche products to globally competitive titles that can stand alongside offerings from North America and Asia. A major pillar of the upcoming strategy is enhanced access to funding. The federation plans to liaise with public and private investors, EU cultural funds, and national grant programmes to streamline the application process for developers. This includes offering workshops on proposal writing, matchmaking events that connect studios with potential financiers, and the creation of a centralized information hub where developers can find up‑to‑date details on available financial instruments.
Talent acquisition and skill development also feature prominently on the agenda. EGDF intends to launch a series of training initiatives, mentorship schemes, and cross‑border exchange programmes. By partnering with universities, technical schools, and established studios, the federation aims to build a pipeline of qualified artists, programmers, designers, and producers who can meet the evolving technical demands of modern game production, such as real‑time ray tracing, cloud‑based multiplayer infrastructure, and sophisticated AI‑driven gameplay mechanics. The organization’s public statement emphasized its commitment to monitoring and facilitating the growth of the 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 federation said. This reflects a dual focus: nurturing domestic collaboration while also raising the profile of European titles on the world stage through marketing campaigns, participation in international trade shows, and strategic partnerships with global distribution platforms.
In addition to traditional industry support, EGDF is positioning itself at the forefront of technological innovation. Recognising that the gaming sector is often an early adopter of artificial intelligence tools—ranging from procedural content generation to player behaviour analytics—the federation has set an ambitious goal to become the first AI‑based European trade association. This initiative will involve integrating AI into the federation’s own operations, such as using machine‑learning models to predict market trends, automate administrative tasks, and provide personalized recommendations to member studios.
Earlier in the week, EGDF collaborated with Video Games Europe (VGE) to release the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024. The report highlighted the robust health of the market, noting that European games generated a turnover of €24 billion in 2024. The sector comprises more than 6,600 studios, collectively employing over 95,000 individuals across a wide range of roles—from creative artists and sound designers to business development and marketing professionals.
These figures underscore the economic significance of the industry and reinforce the need for continued support and strategic investment. The new board’s diverse expertise, combined with a clear strategic roadmap, positions the European Games Developer Federation to act as a catalyst for growth. By focusing on financing, talent cultivation, skill enhancement, and AI integration, EGDF aims to empower developers of all sizes to compete more effectively on the global stage, ultimately contributing to a more vibrant, innovative, and economically impactful European gaming landscape.