gamescom has issued a formal apology for its initial response to the theft of developer equipment during the event, pledging to implement improved security measures following widespread criticism. The convention acknowledged that its first statement did not strike the right tone and lacked the necessary empathy for those affected.
Several indie developers reported their equipment had been stolen from their booths during gamescom. Indie developer Ryan Laley shared a video on X/Twitter on August 28, 2026, detailing the loss of all his laptops. Other developers soon came forward with similar accounts of equipment pilfering at the event.
In its initial response on August 29, gamescom stated it was "very sad" about the situation but focused on general security regulations, advising that "individual stand security can be booked separately, and exhibitors are advised to insure equipment against theft." The statement also noted that "at an event of this size, however, there will always be individuals attempting to take advantage of the situation."
This response was met with significant backlash from exhibitors, attendees, and online observers who felt the convention was blaming the victims. The criticism highlighted the statement as "unacceptable."
In a follow-up statement released on September 4, gamescom apologized for its earlier communication. "Our first response did not strike the right tone, and it did not show the people affected the empathy they deserved. We are sorry," the statement read. It recognized that "a theft like this is far more than a material loss. It can ruin an entire gamescom for the people it happens to, and it can destroy work that took months or years to build." The organizers committed to listening to those affected and acknowledged the wider industry's supportive response.
Moving forward, gamescom announced a commitment to jointly review and improve security. This includes a dedicated review of security for indie exhibitors and plans to invite organizers of shared indie booths to a roundtable discussion in the coming weeks to develop concrete measures. The convention also urged all exhibitors who have experienced incidents to report them to both gamescom and the police, even if they occurred some time ago, to aid in documentation and investigation.
In the wake of the thefts, members of the gaming community have stepped in to assist affected developers. CD Projekt Red, the studio behind The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077, offered support to Ryan Laley, and indie developer Joe Henson also pledged assistance, demonstrating a strong show of community support.