Gamescom organizers have released an official statement regarding equipment theft incidents that occurred at Gamescom 2026, currently taking place in Cologne, Germany.

In an official statement shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, Gamescom expressed regret over the incidents, emphasizing that security personnel were deployed throughout the venue and that exhibitors had been informed about options for individual booth security and theft insurance.

Gamescom organizers stated, "We are aware of the situation regarding stolen equipment and are taking these reports very seriously," adding, "We fully understand the inconvenience and frustration felt by the affected exhibitors."

According to Gamescom, uniformed security guards are deployed across the venue to handle overall security. Individual booths can request separate security services, and exhibitors are advised to purchase insurance against equipment theft. Gamescom noted, "These details are also specified in the conditions of participation and technical guidelines."

Gamescom continued, "We consider security to be one of the most critical aspects of running the event, and we are particularly saddened that indie developers have been impacted." However, organizers explained that at an event of this scale, such incidents can occur due to individuals acting with malicious intent, asserting that Gamescom's security measures are designed to minimize these risks as effectively as possible.

The thefts came to light through a post on X by Ryan Laley, a solo developer working on the indie horror game Mimic. In a video showing him near tears, he explained that laptops and equipment at his booth had been stolen. Shortly after, iam8bit and Tessera Studios also revealed on X that they had suffered multiple equipment thefts.

Following Ryan Laley's post, support and assistance poured in from across the industry. CDPR expressed its intention to help through the official Cyberpunk 2077 account, while Indie Game Joe provided funds to replace the stolen equipment. The thefts reported by the developers have all been submitted to both Gamescom organizers and the police, and investigations are currently underway.