Thefts at gamescom: the show's response makes more noise
Credit: gamescom / Koelnmesse

Thefts at gamescom: the show's response makes more noise

Fabian Fabian Lainé
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In brief

Equipment thefts hit several small exhibitors at gamescom 2026 during the show's night hours. The organization responded by shifting responsibility onto the victims, suggesting additional insurance and paid security guards — a stance that sparked fierce controversy.

Several indie exhibitors at gamescom 2026 say their demo equipment was stolen overnight, between two days of the show. Spanish studio Tessera Studios lost two personal laptops and a Steam Deck, while publisher iam8bit lost two demo laptops. Solo developer Ryan Layley reported the same misadventure.

The response that lit the fuse

Asked by TheGamer, the organisers replied that "uniformed agents provide security across the entire site", that "stand security can be booked separately", and that exhibitors "are encouraged to insure their equipment against theft". They added that "at an event of this size, there will always be individuals who try to take advantage of the situation".

Why it doesn't sit right

There's nothing factually wrong in that response, and that's precisely the problem: it shifts the burden onto the victims. An indie studio that's already paying for its booth, tickets, accommodation and travel to Cologne can't afford to add round-the-clock security to the bill — and that's exactly the crowd gamescom holds up front and centre in its own communications.

The show sells infrastructure. The line about "always individuals" mostly comes across as an admission of powerlessness, aimed at those who could least afford to hear it.

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How do you view gamescom's response to the thefts?

Frequently asked questions

Which exhibitors were victims of theft at gamescom 2026?
Tessera Studios (a Spanish studio that lost two laptops and a Steam Deck), iam8bit (two demo laptops), and solo developer Ryan Layley all reported equipment theft during the show's night hours.
How did the gamescom organization respond to these thefts?
The show stated that uniformed guards secure the venue, that booth security can be booked separately (and thus comes at an extra cost), and that exhibitors are encouraged to insure their equipment against theft. The organization also described this as an unavoidable situation at an event of this size.
Why is this response problematic for small studios?
Indie developers and small publishers already pay heavily to take part (booth, tickets, travel, accommodation). Adding paid nightly security and extra insurance penalizes them further, even though they are precisely the audience gamescom publicly claims to champion.
Is this a new practice for gamescom?
The article doesn't specify whether these thefts are a new occurrence, but the organization's response suggests it views this as inherent to an event of this scale — which raises questions about the overall quality of general security.

Key takeaways

  • Tessera Studios, iam8bit and Ryan Layley all reported theft of demo equipment during the show's night hours.
  • Gamescom deflects blame by pointing to optional paid security and theft insurance, shifting the cost onto exhibitors.
  • This response was widely criticized for its lack of empathy toward small studios already under financial strain.
  • An event of this scale is implicitly admitting it cannot guarantee basic security without extra cost.

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