Indie dev Laley's Gamescom laptops stolen

Solo developer Ryan Laley had his time at Gamescom 2026 cut short after thieves stole multiple laptops from his booth. Laley discovered the theft on August 28 in Cologne, Germany, where he was presenting his upcoming asymmetrical multiplayer horror game Mimic.

He posted an emotional video on X. "My Gamescom is over early as all our laptops have been stolen," Laley said. The theft affected other exhibitors. Laley stated six laptops were taken from the same booth after hours, including his new Alienware laptop, though chargers were left behind.

YouTuber Indie Game Joe offered to cover the cost of new equipment. "I'd love to fund you a new laptop, no strings attached or anything like that," Joe wrote. Laley later confirmed the donation was enough to replace the stolen hardware, calling Joe a champion for small developers.

CD Projekt Red also offered support via the official Cyberpunk 2077 account. "We'll check the Arasaka hardware archives and see if we can send a few things your way," the statement said. Other players responded by wishlisting Mimic on Steam; its launch is scheduled for October 26, 2026.

Other exhibitors targeted

Publisher iam8bit reported two laptops stolen from their booth overnight. The machines were used to demo Petal Runner and Escape Academy 2, risking leaks of unfinished builds. Indie studio Tessera Studios also lost two laptops and a Steam Deck after a cabinet was forced open. PR company Ukiyo Studios noted equipment theft had occurred at prior Gamescom events too.

Gamescom issues statement

Gamescom addressed the thefts on X. "We are aware of stolen hardware and take these reports very seriously and understand the frustration of affected exhibitors," the statement read. It noted uniformed guards provide general venue security, but individual stand security can be booked separately. Exhibitors are advised to insure equipment. The statement described the incidents as individual cases, adding that security is a high priority and seeing indie developers affected is saddening.

The event's standings for community support, however, shifted positively after the outreach from figures like Indie Game Joe. This incident highlights the vulnerabilities smaller teams face at major events, where securing a squad of equipment is a significant investment.