devcom developer conference 2025 closes with
attendee record and new name
- 5,400 attendees participated in Europe's biggest developer conference -
- devcom developer conference to be renamed gamescom dev -
Cologne, Germany, August 21, 2025 – The devcom developer conference has come to an end with another successful edition at Koelnmesse's Confex Center. From October 2025, the conference will officially be renamed gamescom dev, firmly positioning it as the central developer platform at the heart of gamescom.
This year, 5,400 registered attendees (+6% YoY) attended the conference, representing over 2,500 companies from 89 countries. On the expo floor, 53 exhibitors showcased their projects and services, including the popular devcom indie expo - further reinforcing the event's position as Europe's largest industry conference and a leading platform worldwide.
"When we started devcom back in 2017, our goal was to create a home for all developers. Since then, this conference has grown into a truly global hub for knowledge sharing, inspiration, and connection in our industry," said Stephan Reichart, Managing Director of game events GmbH. "Closing this chapter with a record attendance and opening a new one as gamescom dev marks another step in that journey. It's proof how much the event and its community have evolved and how strong the foundation is for what's to come."
Inspiring program across 17 stages
The 2025 edition featured 390 speakers (+30 YoY) across 220 sessions on 17 stages, including the Keynote Stage.
Highlights included:
- Stephen Flowers (Arrowhead Game Studios) discussing the narrative design of Helldivers 2
- Minh Le (Ultimo Ratio Games) reflecting on 25 years in the industry
- Michel Nohra (Sandfall Interactive) reflecting on the combat design of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Ievgen Grygorovych & Mariia Grygorovych (GSC Game World) with a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 post-mortem
- Zeke Virant (MachineGames) on first-person interactivity in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Viva La Dirt League discussing the crossover from YouTube comedy to indie game development
Side Events, Community & Exclusive Programs
Alongside the main program, #ddc2025 opened on Sunday with a dedicated agenda for speakers and VIPs, including a welcome gathering, exclusive Cologne experience tours, and the speaker & VIP reception. Business and VIP attendees also joined private mixers on both conference days, an intimate VIP Dinner on Monday, and a leadership summit for selected executives on Tuesday. Another highlight was the devcom award, celebrating outstanding achievements, with winners announced across six categories.
Other community-driven events and collaborations included:
- Meta partnered with devcom to power the Sunset Mixer and Developer Night, also contributing to the session program.
- Community Clubhouse curated and hosted two dedicated stages on Tuesday, providing additional sessions for devcom audiences.
- Scholarship program with 25 partners, giving 220 participants free access on-site and online for devcom & gamescom.
The devcom speaker survey 2025 captured current sentiment and trends from 100 speakers and was published ahead of the conference.
From devcom to gamescom dev: Next Steps
As gamescom dev, the conference will strengthen its role within the gamescom brand family, serving as the go-to platform for developers, publishers, and industry professionals.
Upcoming events in the series are the devcom Leadership Summit 2026 (Lisbon, February 25–27), followed by gamescom dev in Cologne, August 2026.
devcom direct links:
- devcom leadership summit 2026
https://dls2026.eventbrite.de - devcom developer conference 2025
https://www.devcom.global/ddc-2025/
- Program
https://www.devcom.global/ddc-2025/program/ - Side Events
https://www.devcom.global/ddc-2025/side-events-ddc2025/
