Frederik Hammes, who stepped into the role of managing director of Gamescom Dev after Stephan Reichart earlier this year, points to the findings of the Gamescom Dev speaker survey as evidence that the most promising segment of today’s gaming market lies with smaller development studios. In his conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, Hammes emphasizes that even a tiny team can produce impressive results, but the need for solid business management never disappears.
"You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," he explains. "Even if you’re only three people, someone still has to handle contracts, finances, and the day‑to‑day operations. I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can access production know‑how, programming expertise, artistic direction, design insights, and also learn the ropes of running a sustainable business. No matter how advanced the technology gets, the commercial side stays crucial." The event, originally known as Devcom, was rebranded to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, a change that Hammes says effectively extends the larger Gamescom festival into a full week of industry‑focused programming.
"There are strong arguments for aligning more closely with Gamescom," he notes. "We now have a powerful partner on our side, which brings many practical benefits. For attendees who might be unfamiliar with the separate conferences, the new structure simplifies everything: instead of two distinct ticketing systems and two unrelated schedules, we now offer a single ticket portal that grants access to everything from Monday through Friday. In other words, you buy one pass and you can move freely between Gamescom Dev sessions and the main Gamescom exhibition throughout the week." This year’s agenda features an impressive 390 speakers delivering 220 sessions across 17 stages.
Yet Hammes cautions against treating the event as a numbers‑driven competition. "It shouldn’t be a race to hit a particular quota of speakers or rooms," he says.
"The market is becoming more specialized, and the right balance between supply and demand is what truly matters." One logistical challenge Hammes acknowledges is the capacity of the current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the space comfortably accommodates the present program, there is "limited room to grow" within its walls. He suggests that if the gaming sector continues its rapid expansion, the conference may need to consider relocating closer to the main Gamescom grounds or finding a larger facility.
"Our current plan isn’t to balloon the event dramatically," he explains. "A bigger footprint would mean a more complex undertaking, possibly moving physically nearer to Gamescom, which is certainly on the table.
If the democratization of game development continues—more indie teams, more micro‑studios—we’ll eventually need more room to serve everyone." Gamescom Dev traces its origins back to 2017, when it was launched 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 rival. Instead, he highlights a sense of camaraderie behind the scenes.
"We’re separate organisations, each with our own business goals, but the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat," he says. "The industry functions like a global circus in a positive sense—people travel from one conference to the next, sharing ideas and fostering growth. When one event faces challenges, like the current environmental constraints affecting GDC, we hope they recover quickly because the health of every conference reflects the health of the entire industry." A fresh addition to this year’s schedule is the series of Leadership Summits. These one‑day, invitation‑only gatherings give senior executives a private environment—no press, no microphones, no recordings—to discuss the turbulent market conditions openly.
Hammes stresses the importance of such a "safe space" for leaders to voice concerns and exchange perspectives. "It’s not about passive listening; it’s about speaking up and sharing experiences," he remarks. "During the inaugural summit, we asked participants to raise their hands if they had delivered bad news in the past year—every hand went up.
When we asked who had received bad news, the same result. The current climate is undeniably tricky, and leaders often feel pressure to project confidence.
Providing a confidential forum helps them break that façade and discuss real challenges." 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.
Hammes interprets this gap as a sign that technical expertise alone won’t steer the sector through upcoming changes. "You could argue we’re over‑hyping AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," he says.
"In reality, the survey shows that 27 % of respondents see leadership as the most critical skill. That tells us: we recognize change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet. We need leaders who can guide teams through uncertainty, make strategic decisions, and foster adaptability." In summary, Hammes paints a picture of an industry at a crossroads: smaller studios are emerging as the engine of innovation, the conference ecosystem is consolidating for greater accessibility, and the need for strong, empathetic leadership is becoming more evident than ever. As Gamescom Dev continues to evolve—potentially expanding its physical footprint and deepening its partnership with the flagship Gamescom event—it aims to provide both the practical tools and the strategic insights necessary for developers of all sizes to thrive in a rapidly shifting landscape.