Gamescom apologises after indie developers reported that laptops and other hardware were stolen during the event and said the organisers’ initial communications did not respond in a sensitive way. The organisers now acknowledge that their first response did not “strike the right tone” and did not show the empathy “the people affected… deserved.”
The reports describe how several developers had devices taken, including laptops, and that some of the early messaging appeared to shift attention toward the victims’ actions rather than the theft itself. In response to public feedback, Gamescom states it understands what the affected developers lose as a result of the theft and says it should have made that clear from the start.
Across the coverage, there is agreement on the core points: thefts occur at Gamescom, the initial statement drew criticism for its framing, and Gamescom issues a public apology and clarifies its approach to communication going forward. Details of the specific theft circumstances and security measures are not fully aligned in the available reports.
