European Games Developer Federation Re‑elects Hendrik Lesser as President and Unveils 2026‑28 Board

Hendrik Lesser has once again been chosen to lead the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), securing a second term as president as the association revealed its new board lineup for the 2026‑2028 period. The announcement also noted the departure of two prominent figures: David Rabineau, chief executive of the Homo Ludens network, and Gediminas Tarasevicius, studio director at No Brakes Games, both of whom have stepped down from their board positions. The refreshed EGDF board now brings together a diverse set of industry veterans and representatives from key European gaming organisations: - **Martine Spaans** – Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Moon Games and General Manager of the Dutch Games Association. - **KooPee Hiltunen** – Director of the Neogames Finland Association, a body that supports Finnish developers and promotes local talent.

- **Per Strömbäck** – Member of the board of the Gaming Culture Foundation and participant in the Stockholm Region Business Council, offering a bridge between cultural policy and commercial interests. - **Hrvoje Mitic** – Head of Business Development at GamesCo., Secretary‑General of the Croatian Game Development Alliance, and founder of Splitscreen Croatia, providing insight into Central and Eastern European markets. - **Jakub Marszalkowski** – Head of the Games Industry Conference, co‑founder and board member of the Indie Games Poland Foundation, championing indie creators across the region.

- **Vanessa Kaplan** – Director General of the Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo, representing French developers and advocating for stronger national support mechanisms. These six individuals replace the outgoing members and collectively cover a broad geographic and functional spectrum, from studio management and conference organisation to policy advocacy and talent development. Their combined expertise is expected to guide the federation through a period of rapid change in the European gaming landscape.

**Strategic Priorities for 2026‑2028** The EGDF has laid out a clear agenda that centres on three main pillars: creating a more direct route for developers to climb the value chain, expanding access to financial resources, and strengthening the talent pipeline. In practice, this means the federation will work on initiatives such as: 1. **Funding Access** – Establishing partnerships with EU cultural funds, national grant programmes and private investors to simplify the application process for studios of all sizes. The goal is to reduce administrative barriers and provide clearer guidance on eligibility, thereby enabling more developers to secure the capital they need for production, marketing and international expansion.

2. **Talent Development** – Launching mentorship schemes, apprenticeship programmes and cross‑border training workshops that connect seasoned professionals with emerging creators.

By leveraging the networks of board members—many of whom are already involved in education and industry events—the EGDF aims to build a sustainable pipeline of skilled workers, from programmers and artists to producers and business development specialists. 3.

**Value‑Chain Integration** – Supporting studios in moving beyond pure development into publishing, distribution and service‑based models. This includes offering advisory services on intellectual property management, licensing, and the use of emerging technologies such as cloud‑based game streaming and live‑ops platforms.

The federation also reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring the health of the European game ecosystem, fostering collaboration among studios, and raising the global profile of European games. In a statement, the EGDF highlighted its role as a watchdog and facilitator, noting that a coordinated European voice is essential for influencing policy decisions at both the EU and national levels.

**AI as a Strategic Frontier** One of the more forward‑looking objectives outlined by the EGDF is its ambition to become the first AI‑focused trade association in Europe’s gaming sector. Recognising that artificial intelligence is already reshaping game design, testing, localisation and player analytics, the federation plans to develop a framework that helps members adopt AI responsibly and competitively. This could involve creating best‑practice guidelines, hosting AI‑centric hackathons, and lobbying for regulatory clarity around data usage and algorithmic transparency.

**Industry Context and Recent Insights** The board’s formation comes shortly after the EGDF and Video Games Europe (VGE) released the *European Video Game Industry Insights Report 2024*. The report painted a picture of a robust and growing market: European developers generated approximately €24 billion in revenue during 2024, and the sector employed more than 95 000 individuals across more than 6 600 studios. These figures underscore the economic significance of the industry and the importance of coordinated support mechanisms. The insights also revealed trends such as the increasing share of mobile and live‑service titles, the rise of cross‑platform play, and the growing contribution of indie developers to overall market diversity.

By aligning its strategic focus with these trends, the EGDF hopes to ensure that European studios can capture a larger slice of the global market share while maintaining high standards of creativity and innovation. **Looking Ahead** With Hendrik Lesser at the helm for another term and a board that reflects the continent’s linguistic, cultural and professional variety, the European Games Developer Federation is positioned to act as a catalyst for growth. Its upcoming programmes are expected to address longstanding challenges—such as fragmented funding streams and talent shortages—while also preparing the industry for the next wave of technological disruption, particularly in AI and immersive media.

Stakeholders, from small indie teams in Warsaw to large publishers in Paris, have expressed optimism that the federation’s renewed focus will translate into tangible benefits on the ground. As the EGDF moves forward, its success will likely be measured by the extent to which European games can compete on the world stage, attract investment, and continue to push the boundaries of interactive entertainment. In summary, the EGDF’s 2026‑2028 board brings together seasoned leaders from across the European gaming ecosystem, and its agenda is built around enhancing funding access, nurturing talent, and leveraging AI to keep European developers at the forefront of innovation. The federation’s ongoing collaboration with partners like Video Games Europe and its data‑driven approach, as demonstrated in the 2024 industry report, provide a solid foundation for achieving these ambitious goals.