devcom Leadership Summit: Prioritizing Quality Over Quantity

Before heading to GDC, GamesMarkt spoke with Stephan Reichart, Managing Director of game events and organiser of devcom. The discussion covered the premiere of the devcom Leadership Summit, the unique insights and networking opportunities it provided, areas for improvement in 2026, and how the devcom Leadership Dinners are extending the experience at GDC and beyond.

How did the devcom Leadership Summit go, and are you satisfied with the outcome?
Stephan Reichart: The devcom Leadership Summit 2025 was a great success for us. We brought together over 100 industry leaders for three days of intensive discussions, meaningful connections, and strategic exchanges. The format allowed for deep-dive conversations that are rarely possible at larger industry events. Our goal was to create a setting where decision-makers could speak openly, challenge each other, and gain fresh perspectives. From what I experienced and got as personal feedback, we achieved exactly that.

What feedback did you receive from participants?
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Many attendees told us that the summit provided them with valuable insights and connections they hadn’t found elsewhere. What stood out most was how much time we were able to spend on individual conversations, allowing discussions to go far beyond surface-level exchanges. Several participants described it as one of the most valuable gatherings they’ve attended recently, and many have already committed to returning in 2026.

Why do you think it is important for C-level representatives to exchange ideas outside of trade fairs and conferences, away from the public eye?
C-level leaders often face similar challenges, but in their day-to-day work, they rarely get the chance to discuss them openly with peers. Traditional trade fairs and conferences are excellent for visibility and business development, but they don’t always provide the right environment for honest, strategic discussions. The Leadership Summit creates a personal space where executives can share experiences and learn from each other. That level of openness is incredibly valuable for personal and professional growth and is only rarely achieved at bigger events.

Even a great event can always be improved—what are your plans to make it even better in 2026?
We’re always looking to refine and enhance the experience. For 2026, we want to further optimize the balance between structured sessions and informal networking. We saw how valuable the roundtable discussions were, so we’re considering expanding that format. Additionally, we plan to fine-tune the selection of topics based on the most pressing issues our industry leaders face. And of course, we’ll keep the intimate setting that makes this event so special, with a focus on quality and not in maximizing attendee numbers, while making sure we continue to evolve in response to needs of our attendees.

"C-level leaders often face similar challenges, but in their day-to-day work, they rarely get the chance to discuss them openly with peers."
Stephan Reichart

The Leadership Dinners are coming up ahead of the DDC. How does this format complement the Leadership Summit, and what do you hope to achieve through these meetings?
The Leadership Dinners (at GDC, gamescom latam and gamescom asia) are an extension of what we aim to do with the Summit, foster direct and meaningful exchanges between industry leaders. While the Summit offers a multi-day deep dive into leadership and industry challenges, the dinners provide a more flexible and informal opportunity to stay connected throughout the year. They ensure that the discussions and relationships formed in Lisbon continue beyond the event and they are an exclusive vehicle for our team to stay in contact with our partners, speakers and friends.

Stephan Reichart...

has been shaping the German games industry for over 20 years. As a co-founder of Aruba Studios, he started out as a developer before shifting his focus to the conception and organization of industry events, including conferences, festivals, and awards. He founded the German developer conference Quo Vadis in Berlin, launched the German Developer Award, and later introduced Respawn, which took place ahead of gamescom. He then developed the concept of devcom and, when the game association took over the conference’s organization, became Managing Director of its subsidiary, devcom GmbH – later renamed game events GmbH.

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