Several Gamescom exhibitors say laptops were stolen from their booths
At least three exhibitors reported the theft of laptops and handhelds from locked cabinets during Gamescom 2026. Stolen equipment included unfinished game builds, including a demo booth for the game Mimic that was stripped overnight. CD Projekt Red and other industry members have offered support to the victims. While police reports have been filed, Gamescom organizers responded by advising attendees to insure their equipment against theft and suggesting that robbed indie developers secure better security for future events.
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- ✓ Laptops and handhelds containing unfinished game builds were stolen from locked cabinets.
- ✓ At least three exhibitors were robbed at Gamescom 2026.
- ✓ CD Projekt Red offered to help a theft victim.
- ✓ Gamescom organizers advised attendees to insure equipment against theft.
What changed
CD Projekt Red offered hardware assistance and Gamescom organizers issued insurance advice following reports of at least four thefts.
Live updates
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Thefts target indie developers and publishers at Gamescom 2026
At least three exhibitors reported the theft of laptops and handhelds from locked cabinets during Gamescom 2026. Stolen equipment included unfinished game builds, including a demo booth for the game Mimic that was stripped overnight. CD Projekt Red and other industry members have offered support to the victims. While police reports have been filed, Gamescom organizers responded by advising attendees to insure their equipment against theft and suggesting that robbed indie developers secure better security for future events.
Why it matters
The loss of unfinished game builds can jeopardize development timelines and intellectual property for small studios. These thefts occurred during one of the industry's largest annual trade shows.
What is confirmed
- Laptops and handhelds containing unfinished game builds were stolen from locked cabinets.
- At least three exhibitors were robbed at Gamescom 2026.
- CD Projekt Red offered to help a theft victim.
- Gamescom organizers advised attendees to insure equipment against theft.
Still unconfirmed
- Gamescom told robbed indie developers to get better security next time.
What to watch next
- Police updates on recovered hardware or identified suspects
- Official statements from other affected publishers regarding lost builds
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (11)
- GameSpot — CD Projekt Red Offers To Help Gamescom Theft Victim As Industry Shows Its Support
- TheGamer — Gamescom Tells Indie Devs Who Were Robbed To Get Better Security Next Time
- Notebookcheck — Gamescom 2026: indie dev's Mimic demo booth stripped overnight
- Rock Paper Shotgun — The Sunday Papers
- Eurogamer.net — Several Gamescom exhibitors say laptops were stolen from their booths
- Tom's Hardware — At least three exhibitors got robbed at Gamescom 2026 — laptops and handhelds with unfinished game builds stolen from locked cabinets
- Yahoo — Indie Dev Posts Video Reporting Stolen Laptops at gamescom as CD Projekt Red and More Step in to Help
- Insider Gaming — Gamescom Team Addresses Theft Reports From Show Floor
- www.gamedeveloper.com — Indie devs and publishers hit in Gamescom equipment thefts
- www.yahoo.com — CD Projekt Red offers to help after police reports are filed at Gamescom over stolen dev equipment: "We'll check the Arasaka hardware archives"
- www.yahoo.com — CD Projekt Red opens its 'Arasaka hardware archives' to help an indie dev whose gear was stolen during 1 of at least 4 Gamescom thefts
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