Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), securing a second term as president while the organization unveiled its new board for the 2026‑2028 period. The announcement also noted the departure of two prominent members: David Rabineau, the chief executive of Homo Ludens, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, the studio director at No Brakes Games, both of whom have stepped down from their board positions. The refreshed EGDF board now comprises a diverse group of industry veterans and representatives from a range of European gaming associations and companies.
The members are: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of 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 key figure in supporting Finnish developers and fostering cross‑border collaborations within the Nordic region. - **Per Strömbäck** – 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 network across 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, representing the French video‑game sector and contributing a deep understanding of regulatory and labor matters. Together, this six‑person board is set to steer the federation through a period of rapid change and growth.
The EGDF has already outlined a clear agenda for the 2026‑2028 term, emphasizing three core pillars: creating a "route to the top of the value chain" for developers, expanding access to financial resources, and strengthening the talent pipeline and skill development across Europe. The federation’s strategic plan highlights the need to bridge the gap between small‑scale studios and larger market opportunities. By offering clearer pathways for indie developers to scale up, EGDF hopes to increase the share of European‑originated titles in the global market. This includes mentorship programmes, matchmaking events with publishers, and dedicated grant schemes aimed at high‑potential projects that might otherwise struggle to secure private investment.
Funding accessibility is another priority. The EGDF intends to work closely with European Union bodies, national cultural ministries, and private investors to streamline application processes and reduce bureaucratic hurdles. The goal is to make it easier for studios—whether based in Warsaw, Barcelona, or Helsinki—to obtain the capital they need for prototyping, production, and international distribution.
In practice, this could involve a centralized portal where developers can submit proposals, receive feedback, and track funding status across multiple sources. Talent and skills development will be addressed through a combination of educational initiatives, apprenticeship programmes, and industry‑wide training workshops. The federation plans to partner with universities, technical schools, and online learning platforms to create curricula that reflect the latest trends in game design, programming, art, and emerging technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality.
By aligning education with industry needs, EGDF aims to reduce skill shortages and ensure a steady flow of qualified professionals into the European gaming 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 stated in its official release.
This commitment underscores the organization’s role as both a watchdog and an advocate, tasked with tracking market trends, lobbying for favorable regulations, and promoting European games on the world stage. A particularly forward‑looking element of the federation’s roadmap is its ambition to become the first AI‑driven European trade association. Recognizing that the gaming sector is often at the forefront of adopting artificial‑intelligence tools—whether for procedural content generation, player behaviour analysis, or automated testing—the EGDF plans to integrate AI into its own operations.
This could involve using AI to analyze market data, predict funding outcomes, or even personalize networking recommendations for members. By doing so, the federation hopes to set a benchmark for how trade bodies can leverage technology to better serve their constituencies. In related news, the EGDF recently collaborated with Video Games Europe (VGE) to release the European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024. The report provides a snapshot of the continent’s economic health, revealing that the European games sector generated a turnover of €24 billion in 2024.
The industry now comprises more than 6,600 studios, employing upwards of 95 000 individuals across a wide range of roles—from programming and art to marketing and community management. These figures illustrate the sector’s continued expansion and its importance as a driver of employment and innovation within the European economy.
The insights report also highlighted several trends shaping the future of European gaming. Notably, there is a growing emphasis on cross‑border collaborations, with studios increasingly forming consortia to share resources and expertise.
Additionally, the rise of live‑service games and games‑as‑a‑service models is prompting developers to invest more heavily in post‑launch support and community engagement. Finally, sustainability and ethical considerations are becoming more prominent, as both consumers and regulators push for greener production practices and responsible monetisation strategies. Overall, the re‑election of Hendrik Lesser and the appointment of a new, geographically diverse board signal a period of continuity and renewal for the EGDF. With a clear focus on funding, talent development, and technological leadership, the federation is poised to help European developers navigate the challenges of a rapidly evolving market while capitalising on the region’s creative strengths.
As the industry continues to generate significant revenue and employment, the EGDF’s initiatives will likely play a crucial role in maintaining Europe’s competitive edge on the global gaming stage.