Indie developer Ryan Laley and other exhibitors reported multiple laptops stolen from the secure business area at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, on the morning of August 28, 2026.

Key Points

• Multiple developers, including Ryan Laley and publisher iam8bit, reported equipment theft from the Gamescom business hall.
• Stolen items included laptops containing unfinished game builds for Petal Runner and Escape Academy 2.
• Laley estimates that at least seven or eight laptops were taken from the supposedly secure, 24/7 monitored facility.
• The incident has been reported to local police and Gamescom management, though no equipment has been recovered.
• Major industry players, including CD Projekt, have reached out to offer support to the affected developers.

Why it Matters

The theft highlights significant security vulnerabilities at major industry trade shows where developers rely on promised protection for expensive, mission-critical hardware. This incident serves as a cautionary tale for indie studios regarding the risks of leaving proprietary assets at convention booths overnight.