Gamescom hit by equipment thefts from multiple booths

Gamescom organizers are grappling with a wave of thefts that struck multiple exhibitor booths during the gaming conference in Cologne, with developers reporting stolen laptops, Steam Decks, and other equipment taken overnight from their stands.

Indie developer Ryan Laley, who was showcasing his asymmetrical survival horror game Mimic, became one of the first to publicly report the thefts. In an emotional post on social media Friday, Laley explained that his booth had been broken into overnight, along with several others in the same area. Thieves took only the laptops while leaving chargers behind. The loss has effectively ended Laley's participation in the show early, and he described the impact as both financially and emotionally devastating. He filed reports with Gamescom management, security, and local police, though he expressed little hope of recovering the stolen equipment. As a solo independent developer, Laley emphasized how expensive and difficult such losses are to absorb.

The theft prompted a sympathetic response from CD Projekt Red, the studio behind Cyberpunk 2077, who offered to send replacement hardware to help Laley continue his work. The studio's message highlighted the broader community concern about the security breach.

Laley was far from alone. Iam8bit, a games publisher and distributor, reported that two of its laptops vanished overnight from the business area hall despite security presence at the venue. The stolen machines were being used to demonstrate titles Petal Runner and Escape Academy 2 to media and content creators. Beyond disrupting the company's schedule, Iam8bit warned that unfinished game builds on those devices could potentially be leaked, creating additional concerns for the development teams at Nano Park Studios and Coin Crew Games.

Tessera Studios, developer of The Zibbo Show, discovered its booth in the Indie Area had been forced open earlier in the week, with thieves stealing two laptops and a Steam Deck containing personal, company, and critical information. The studio reported hearing of additional thefts at the Games from Spain booth and elsewhere throughout the fairgrounds. Ukiyo Studios added another troubling detail, revealing that it had experienced a PC theft at Gamescom two years prior, and claimed the event organizers had discouraged it from filing a police report, citing concerns about negative publicity for Gamescom and Cologne. Ukiyo noted that it operates at 15 or more events worldwide annually, but Gamescom is the only venue where it maintains a dedicated locked storage room for equipment at the end of each day.

Gamescom organizers acknowledged the thefts in an official statement, saying they were aware of stolen hardware and took the reports seriously. The event noted that uniformed guards provide general security across the venue, but individual booth security must be booked separately. Exhibitors are advised to obtain theft insurance for their equipment, a requirement mentioned in the event's participation terms and conditions. All reported cases have been forwarded to police, with investigations underway. Gamescom characterized the incidents as individual cases rather than a systemic problem, expressing sadness that independent developers were affected. The organizers stated that security is among their highest priorities and that their measures are designed to minimize such risks, while acknowledging that at an event of Gamescom's scale, some individuals will attempt to exploit the situation.