Several exhibitors at Gamescom in Cologne have reported the theft of laptops and other equipment from their trade show booths overnight, leading to significant disruption, particularly for independent developers.
Indie developer Ryan Laley, who was showcasing his survival horror game Mimic, shared an emotional video on X (formerly Twitter) detailing how his booth was broken into. Laley described the incident as "heartbreaking," noting that as a solo developer, the financial and logistical burden of such an event is immense. "Just defeated. Gonna do my best with what's left of the week. But a huge blow financially and mentally," he stated, confirming that police reports had been filed.
Laley's equipment loss appears to be part of a wider pattern of theft at the event. Publisher iam8bit also reported that two of their laptops were stolen overnight from the business area. These machines were being used to demonstrate titles such as Petal Runner and Escape Academy 2 to media and content creators, and iam8bit expressed concern that the theft could put unfinished builds of these games at risk of being leaked.
Tessera Studios, the developer behind The Zibbo Show, reported a similar incident earlier in the week where their booth in the Indie Area was broken into. Two laptops and a Steam Deck containing sensitive personal and company data were stolen. The studio indicated that other exhibitors, including the Games from Spain booth, had also experienced thefts.
One exhibitor, Ukiyo Studios, noted that this was not the first time they had experienced theft at Gamescom, recalling a similar incident two years prior. They stated that Gamescom was the only event globally where they felt the need to use a dedicated storage room to secure their equipment overnight, underscoring their concerns about security at the venue.
In response to the reports, Gamescom acknowledged the incidents, stating that they are "aware of stolen hardware" and "understand the frustration of affected exhibitors." The event organizers confirmed that all reported cases have been submitted to the police and that investigations are underway. They also highlighted that while uniformed guards provide general security, individual stand security can be booked separately, and exhibitors are advised to insure their equipment. "At an event of this size, however, there will always be individuals attempting to take advantage of the situation," Gamescom stated, adding that their security measures are designed to minimize such risks.