Gamescom Team Addresses Theft Reports From Show Floor
Multiple reports of equipment theft have emerged from Gamescom 2026, held at Koelnmesse in Cologne, with at least three indie studios and solo developers reporting stolen equipment from event booths. The thefts have sparked criticism of event security personnel, with attendees describing systemic complacency and incompetence in monitoring and protecting the expo areas.
The most prominent report came from Ryan Laley, solo developer of Mimic, who reported that a laptop and other equipment were stolen overnight from the expo area. According to Laley’s account, the hardware was taken from a restricted-access zone that was supposed to be monitored by security staff at all times. Tessera Studios was also among the affected exhibitors reporting overnight thefts.
The thefts occurring in supposedly secure, monitored areas have raised serious questions about the effectiveness of Gamescom’s security infrastructure and protocols. Event organizers face accusations of failing to adequately protect exhibitors’ valuable equipment and investments.
Gamescom’s response has been widely criticized as insufficient. The event team issued a brief statement on X acknowledging the incidents, but the response lacked concrete details about how the security failures occurred or what corrective measures would be implemented. Notably, the statement made no mention of compensation or support for affected exhibitors, leaving indie developers frustrated after losing expensive equipment during the event.