The annual Gamescom event, intended as a showcase for upcoming video games, has been marred by at least two reported thefts. Indie developer Ryan Laley reported that his booth's equipment was stolen, a loss he described as "a huge blow financially and mentally."
In response to Laley's situation, CD Projekt Red, the studio behind The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, publicly offered assistance. On X (formerly Twitter), the developer stated, "see if we can send a few things your way," adding, "No choom should have to start from zero."
Laley has since expressed gratitude for the support from CD Projekt Red and other industry figures. Marketing consultant Indie Game Joe also contributed funds to help replace the stolen equipment, prompting Laley to encourage players to wishlist his upcoming game, Mimic.
This incident is not the only theft reported at Gamescom this year. The company iam8bit also stated that two laptops were stolen from their booth overnight, despite security measures. These stolen laptops reportedly contained early demos for the games Petal Runner and Escape Academy 2. Gamespot has reached out to Gamescom for comment on the reported thefts and will provide updates if a response is received.