Overview
- Several indie teams reported laptops and other hardware stolen from their Gamescom booths during overnight visits, a loss that developers say erased months or years of unpaid work and disrupted demos.
- Gamescom first issued a statement that emphasized exhibitors must secure and insure their own equipment, which many developers and studios called tone-deaf and effectively blamed victims.
- On Friday, organizers published a new statement that said the criticism was justified, apologized for the earlier tone, and said they had begun talks with affected exhibitors.
- Gamescom committed to a dedicated security review for indie exhibitors and to convene a roundtable with shared indie booth organizers to develop concrete measures going forward.
- Police in Cologne are investigating the thefts, industry groups have offered material support to victims, and Gamescom has not provided figures for incidents or announced any compensation plans.