Strategic Vision for Growth: EGDF Re-elects Hendrik Lesser and Sets Ambitious Agenda for 2026-2028

The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has officially entered a new chapter of strategic leadership. Following its recent board elections, the organization has confirmed the reappointment of Hendrik Lesser as President. This move signals a commitment to continuity as the federation prepares to navigate a complex, rapidly evolving landscape defined by AI integration, shifting global economic pressures, and the need for a unified European digital strategy.

As the industry faces the dual pressures of market saturation and technological disruption, the EGDF’s mandate for the 2026–2028 term is clear: to transition from a supporting body to a proactive architect of the European gaming ecosystem. By focusing on capital access, talent retention, and technological leadership, the federation aims to solidify Europe’s position as a premier global hub for interactive entertainment.

A New Board for a New Era

The internal restructuring of the EGDF board marks a significant transition period for the organization. While the re-election of Hendrik Lesser provides a stable anchor for the federation’s policy advocacy, the departure of key figures like David Rabineau (CEO of Homo Ludens) and Gediminas Tarasevicius (Studio Director of No Brakes Games) highlights a broader turnover within the industry’s representative leadership.

The new board is tasked with balancing the diverse needs of Europe’s fragmented development scene—ranging from indie darlings in the Baltics to massive AAA studios in France, Germany, and the UK. Their immediate priority is to integrate the new leadership team into the ongoing policy dialogues with the European Commission and other regulatory bodies, ensuring that the needs of small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain at the forefront of the legislative agenda.

Chronology of Influence: Tracking the EGDF’s Growth

To understand the significance of the 2026–2028 agenda, one must look at the recent trajectory of the European game development sector. Over the past decade, the EGDF has evolved from a nascent collective of national trade associations into a sophisticated lobbying and development powerhouse.

• 2018–2020: The EGDF focused heavily on formalizing relationships with European policymakers, pushing for the inclusion of video games in the "Creative Europe" funding programs.
• 2021–2023: The federation pivoted to address the post-pandemic talent crisis, advocating for better cross-border labor mobility and tax incentives for studios facing the dual challenges of remote work and inflation.
• 2024: The publication of the European Video Game Industry Insights Report served as a watershed moment. By quantifying the industry’s massive economic footprint, the EGDF successfully forced the sector into the broader conversation about Europe’s digital economy.
• 2025 (The Lead-up): As AI began to dominate the technological discourse, the EGDF initiated internal workshops on the ethical and practical applications of generative AI in game production, setting the stage for its current "AI-first" mandate.

The State of the Industry: Supporting Data

The economic data released in the 2024 European Video Game Industry Insights Report—a collaborative effort between the EGDF and Video Games Europe (VGE)—paints a portrait of a robust, albeit maturing, industry.

According to the report, the European games sector generated a staggering €24 billion in turnover during the 2024 fiscal year. This financial success is underpinned by a vast network of 6,600 studios, which collectively support a workforce exceeding 95,000 professionals.

However, the report also highlights a "fragmentation gap." While total revenue is high, the vast majority of these 6,600 studios are small-to-medium enterprises struggling with the "middle-market squeeze." The difficulty of accessing venture capital, combined with the rising cost of user acquisition and the volatility of the global market, has made the EGDF’s mission of "providing a route to the top of the value chain" more critical than ever.

The Pillars of the 2026–2028 Agenda

The EGDF’s roadmap for the next two years is built upon four strategic pillars designed to insulate European developers from global economic volatility while capitalizing on the region’s unique cultural assets.

1. Capital Access and Financial Sustainability

For many European studios, the "valley of death" between prototype and release is wider than it is for their North American or Asian counterparts. The EGDF intends to lobby for standardized European tax credit schemes and to facilitate better access to public and private venture capital. By creating a more predictable funding environment, the federation hopes to prevent the "brain drain" of talent to markets with more aggressive tax incentives, such as Canada or the United States.

2. Talent Development and Skills Retention

The industry is suffering from a mismatch between the skills taught in academia and the skills required by modern studios. The EGDF is prioritizing the establishment of stronger links between game studios and technical universities. By fostering apprenticeship models and advocating for industry-led vocational training, the board aims to ensure that the European talent pool remains the most highly skilled in the world, particularly in the realms of engine architecture, narrative design, and data analytics.

3. The "AI-First" Trade Association

Perhaps the most ambitious component of the 2026–2028 agenda is the EGDF’s stated goal of becoming the "first AI-based European trade association." This is not merely about using chatbots for administrative tasks; it is about setting a standard for the ethical, transparent, and efficient use of AI in game development. The federation plans to provide its members with toolkits, legal guidance regarding copyright, and ethical frameworks that allow studios to embrace AI for productivity without compromising their intellectual property or artistic integrity.

4. Global Visibility and Market Expansion

The EGDF recognizes that while Europe is a powerhouse of production, it often lacks the marketing and distribution "muscle" of other regions. The federation plans to leverage its collective power to increase the visibility of European titles in key growth markets, including Southeast Asia and Latin America, through coordinated trade missions and regional partnerships.

Official Responses and Implications

Industry analysts have viewed the re-election of Hendrik Lesser as a sign of institutional confidence. By keeping the leadership consistent, the EGDF avoids the potential for policy drift during a time when the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) are entering critical enforcement phases.

"The industry stands at a crossroads," says one industry consultant close to the federation. "The data shows we are profitable, but the infrastructure to support that profitability is still catching up. By focusing on AI and capital access, the EGDF is addressing the two biggest existential threats to the mid-sized European studio."

The implications of this new agenda are significant. If the EGDF succeeds in its AI-first initiative, it could position European developers as the global leaders in ethical AI production, potentially setting the standard for how the rest of the world approaches the technology. Conversely, failing to secure adequate funding or failing to navigate the complexities of AI regulation could leave European studios marginalized in a market increasingly dominated by massive, vertically integrated conglomerates.

Conclusion: A Vision for the Future

The 2026–2028 term will undoubtedly be defined by how the EGDF manages the tension between innovation and regulation. With a strong data foundation provided by the latest industry report and a clear, focused mandate, the federation is well-positioned to steer the European games industry through its next phase of maturity.

As the federation works to implement these goals, the focus will remain on the individual developer. Whether it is a small indie team in Poland or a mid-sized studio in France, the EGDF’s success will be measured by its ability to turn these lofty policy goals into tangible, daily improvements for the thousands of creators who call Europe home. By providing the tools, the funding, and the political cover necessary to compete on the global stage, the EGDF is not just protecting the industry—it is ensuring that the European voice in global gaming remains as loud and influential as ever.