Gamescom 2026 in Cologne concludes today – leaving a bitter taste. At least three indie studios report that equipment was stolen from their seemingly locked cabinets during the event, despite over 1,600 exhibitors and hundreds of thousands of visitors supposedly ensuring one of the most strictly organized gaming events of the year.
What Exactly Happened at gamescom?
Reports indicate that those affected include developer Ryan Laley from Mimic, as well as studios iam8bit and Tessera Studios. Laptops and handhelds containing some unreleased build data were stolen from them – a significant loss for small studios without extensive backup infrastructure, extending far beyond the mere material value. The police are now investigating, while gamescom itself refers to the security regulations and mandatory insurance that exhibitors must adhere to for their own equipment anyway.
How is the Gaming Community Reacting to the Thefts?
Instead of merely generating frustration, the incident primarily triggered one thing: palpable solidarity. Other studios and fans rushed to assist those affected even while the event was ongoing. This was particularly evident with CD Projekt Red: The studio, which had recently received multiple awards at the gamescom awards 2026, directly offered replacement hardware to the robbed indie teams so they could continue their presentations on the remaining days of the fair.
For the industry, this incident has two sides: On one hand, it demonstrates how vulnerable small studios, in particular, are at an event of this magnitude when it comes to the security of their often self-financed equipment. On the other hand, the swift helpfulness from within the industry clearly shows that the much-lauded gaming community genuinely sticks together beyond mere marketing platitudes when it truly matters. As this year's gamescom closes its doors today, the topic of exhibitor security will likely be higher on the organizers' agenda for the coming years.
Were you at gamescom yourself? Feel free to share your impressions with us in the comments!
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