Gamescom Expresses Disappointment Over Stolen Laptops, Urges Exhibitors to Enhance Security Measures as Outlined in Terms and Conditions

Gamescom has responded to reports of stolen equipment from several developers at this month’s event, but the reaction hasn’t been well-received. While the organizers expressed their sadness over the incidents, they also seemed to deflect responsibility by highlighting that attendees are advised to arrange for “individual stand security” and insure their gear against theft, as stated in the event’s terms and conditions.

Ryan Laley, the indie developer behind the upcoming game Mimic, shared an emotional video on social media detailing the theft of his equipment overnight at Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany. “My gamescom cut short,” he wrote. “Our equipment was stolen last night from the booth[…] I’m at a loss for words to describe the feeling. Just defeated. Gonna do my best with what’s left of the week.”

Later that day, iam8bit, a publisher and merchandise company, reported a similar incident: “Today at gamescom we arrived at our station in the business area hall to discover that our two laptops had been stolen overnight, despite the presence of security.”

Tessera Studios also reported that their equipment went missing during the event. “On Wednesday, we arrived at our booth in the Indie Area to find our cabinet forced open,” they stated. “Two laptops and a Steam Deck were gone. The devices contained not only our Gamescom demo but also personal, company, and critical information.”

The situation has escalated into a public relations nightmare for Gamescom, with other studios, including Ukiyo Studios, sharing that they too have experienced theft at past events. In response, the official Gamescom account released a statement acknowledging the thefts.

“We are aware of stolen hardware and take these reports very seriously. We understand the frustration of affected exhibitors,” the statement read. “Since many requests reached us, we would like to inform about general security regulations at the event…”

“Uniformed guards provide general security across the venue,” the statement continued. “Individual stand security can be booked separately, and exhibitors are advised to insure equipment against theft. This is noted in the terms and conditions of participation and the technical guidelines[…] Security is a top priority for us as an event, and it saddens us to see indie developers affected. However, at an event of this size, there will always be individuals attempting to take advantage of the situation.”

It’s worth noting that even without the added security costs, booking a booth at Gamescom is a significant investment. For example, a 12 square meter “stand space” booth, the most affordable option, starts at around €2,100, which is approximately $2,350. This amount doesn’t include additional fees for extra security, flights, or accommodations.

It must be incredibly disheartening for indie developers to gather thousands of dollars to showcase their games at Gamescom, only to face theft and receive a reminder about the “terms and conditions of participation” from the event organizers.