Indie developer Ryan Laley, the sole creator behind the upcoming asymmetrical horror game Mimic, has reported that his presence at gamescom was significantly impacted after his and other developers' laptops were stolen overnight. Laley shared a video on X detailing the incident, which he described as a "huge blow financially and mentally."

Laley explained that the theft occurred at their booths, and while police reports have been filed, he expressed little expectation of recovering the stolen equipment. The loss of his laptops meant he could no longer demonstrate Mimic to potential partners or players, effectively ending his participation in the event with several days still remaining.

"As an indie, solo dev, this s**t's expensive and hard to do all by yourself," Laley stated in his video. "And to have this happen is beyond frustrating – it's heartbreaking."

The situation gained significant attention, prompting support from within the gaming industry. CD Projekt Red, the studio behind The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, reached out to Laley, apologizing for his predicament and promising to send some items to help him recover. "No choom should have to start from zero," the studio posted.

Industry expert Joe Henson, known as Indie Game Joe and developer of Don't Scream, also offered assistance. Laley later confirmed on X that Henson had provided the financial support needed to replace the stolen hardware. "He truly is a champion for the little guys, and [I'm] so thankful for his support towards all of us indies!" Laley wrote.

Laley expressed profound gratitude for the outpouring of support, emphasizing that such acts validate his belief in the friendly and supportive nature of the game development community. Despite losing his booth, he remained at gamescom to connect with others.

Unfortunately, Laley's experience was not isolated. Publisher iam8bit also reported that two of their laptops were stolen overnight, disrupting their schedule and potentially risking the leak of unfinished game builds. Tessera Studios similarly announced they had been "robbed at gamescom," with two laptops and a Steam Deck stolen from their booth, containing critical company information and demo materials.

Gamescom organizers have not yet issued a public statement regarding the reported thefts. IGN has reached out for comment.