CD Projekt Red offered help after Gamescom booth thefts left developers without gear
Ryan Laley said his team lost all of its laptops, while Gamescom organizers confirmed that police investigations were underway.
Several developers had equipment stolen from their Gamescom 2026 booths or stations, with at least four teams reporting losses and at least one ending its event presence early after losing all of its laptops. Ryan Laley, the developer of Mimic, said on Friday, August 28, that an overnight theft had taken his team’s laptops. Police reports were filed, and Laley described the loss as a “huge blow financially and mentally.”
CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 account responded with an offer to see what hardware it could provide. “We are very sorry this happened to you,” the account wrote. “We hope you know you’re not on your own with this. And while it won’t help right this second, we’ll check the Arasaka hardware archives and see if we can send a few things your way. No choom should have to start from zero.” Laley replied, “Wow thank you so much!” The exchange did not specify which equipment might be available or confirm that replacement hardware had been sent.
We are very sorry this happened to you. We hope you know you’re not on your own with this. And while it won’t help right this second, we’ll check the Arasaka hardware archives and see if we can send a few things your way. No choom should have to start from zero. 🤝🏼
— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) August 28, 2026
Support also came from Where Winds Meet, the wuxia action RPG from Everstone Studios and Netease Games. Its official account offered to visit Laley’s booth the following day with whatever it could provide to help the team return to the event.
More Gamescom exhibitors reported stolen equipment
Tessera Studios said it arrived at its Indie Area booth on Wednesday, August 26, and found that its storage had been forced open. Controllers, a Steam Deck, and two laptops were missing. The laptops contained the studio’s Gamescom demo as well as personal, company, and other critical information. Tessera co-founder Marcos Neila said the damage was severe and that the team did not know whether Gamescom insurance would provide reimbursement.
Publisher iam8bit also said two laptops disappeared from its station in the business area on Friday, despite Koelnmesse security being present. The machines were being used to show Petal Runner and Escape Academy 2, and iam8bit warned that unfinished builds could be exposed as a result.
Ukiyo Studios said it had created a dedicated storage room for Gamescom after a PC was stolen from its booth in 2024. The studio said something had been stolen from its Gamescom presence every year for four consecutive years, a pattern it had previously dismissed as part of the cost of attending a show in Germany. During Gamescom 2026, it reported that an Xbox controller, drinks, and food had been taken from its booth. The food and drinks disappeared overnight, while the controller was stolen around 18:50, according to Ukiyo’s Sunday update.
Ukiyo Studios also described an earlier incident in a separate post about Laley’s video. The studio said a PC was stolen from its booth two years ago and that someone from Gamescom blocked its attempt to file a police report, claiming it would make Gamescom and the city of Cologne look bad. Laley said police reports had now been filed over the latest thefts.
Other attendees criticized the event’s after-hours protection. Eric Pope, senior community director for Dead by Daylight, called the security “an absolute joke” and claimed that a guard walked away when asked how booth equipment was being monitored. His comments were shared in a statement about the event’s security.
Gamescom says police investigations are underway
Gamescom addressed the incidents in an August 29 statement, saying it was aware of the stolen hardware and understood the frustration of the affected exhibitors.
We are aware of stolen hardware and take these reports very seriously and understand the frustration of affected exhibitors.
Since many requests reached us, we would like to inform about general security regulations at the event:
Uniformed guards provide general security across…— gamescom (@gamescom) August 29, 2026
The event organizers said uniformed guards provide general security across the venue, while exhibitors can book separate security for individual stands. They also advised exhibitors to insure their equipment against theft, noting that this guidance appears in Gamescom’s terms and conditions. Organizers apologized that indie developers had been affected and said security remained one of the event’s highest priorities.
That explanation drew criticism after a community note added that multiple exhibitors had reported laptops stolen overnight from restricted business and indie area booths despite purported 24/7 general security. Gamescom said all cases had been reported to the event and to police, with investigations already underway.
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