Gamescom addresses rising theft concerns during the event.

Theft has emerged as a significant issue at Gamescom 2026, with multiple indie studios reporting stolen equipment from their booths. The event organizers have acknowledged the situation in a lackluster social media post, failing to offer any compensation to the affected indie exhibitors.

The first reports of theft came from Ryan Laley, the developer behind Mimicsolo, who revealed that their laptop and other gear were taken from the expo area. In a video detailing the incident, Laley explained that the hardware was stolen overnight from a section that was supposed to be restricted and monitored by security at all times.

In a similar incident, Tessera Studios, which was showcasing The Zibbo Show, lost several personal computers, two laptops, and a Steam Deck, all containing game demos and sensitive company data. Additionally, two computers were stolen from the booth of indie publisher iam8bit Presents, putting their games, Petal Runner and Escape Academy 2, at risk of leaks.

Ukiyo Studios also shared their experience, recalling that one of their laptops was stolen from a Gamescom booth two years ago. They claimed that when they attempted to report the theft, event staff tried to dissuade them from doing so to protect the reputation of Gamescom and Cologne. Ukiyo noted that despite attending numerous events each year, Gamescom is the only one where they feel compelled to secure their equipment overnight due to inadequate security measures.

The gaming community has shown solidarity, with IndieGameJoe stepping up to donate funds to help Mimic’s developer replace their stolen gear. Unfortunately, the official Gamescom account merely expressed happiness that the developers were receiving support and mentioned that the issue had been reported to the authorities.

Gamescom’s response to these ongoing theft claims has been underwhelming. Suggesting that exhibitors can book individual booth security in advance and should insure their equipment seems like an attempt to deflect responsibility for the event’s poor security.

While some equipment has been replaced, many developers who invested in showcasing their work at Gamescom now face the daunting task of tracking down or replacing stolen items, with concerns that pre-release builds on the stolen hardware may leak. There is hope that Gamescom will bolster its security measures in the future, but the current statement did little to instill confidence.