'We Are Sorry,' Gamescom Apologizes For Lackluster Response To Indie Booth Thefts

Sep 05, 2026 - 22:16

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'We Are Sorry,' Gamescom Apologizes For Lackluster Response To Indie Booth Thefts

Published Sep 5, 2026, 12:27 PM EDT

Gamescom tries to put out the fire it started

After severe backlash to its initial response to reports of theft at Gamescom 2026, Gamescom has now issued an apology with several promises that it will hopefully keep.

Gamescom's first response to overnight thefts at numerous indie booths was nothing short of disappointing. Instead of providing compensation and support, it focused on victim-blaming and imposing additional security services. Its latest statement is a lot more apologetic in tone and promises a "dedicated review of security for indie exhibitors" and to hold a developer roundtable for feedback.

"Our first response did not strike the right tone, and it did not show the people affected the empathy they deserved. We are sorry," Gamescom wrote. "A theft like this is more than a material loss...To everyone affected: we understand what this has cost you, and we should have said so from the very first moment. We have already begun talking with those affected — about theft, about its consequences, and above all to listen."

Regardless of Gamescom's apology, many in the comments section still expressed their discontent with the organization. It's clear that the thefts and the lack of effort to solve them initially may have greatly damaged some fans' opinions of Gamescom.

That's understandable, as even though Gamescom has recognized that it did not react as it should have when it issued the first statement on the thefts, this still doesn't feel like enough. As Gamescom's own statement points out, the indie developers affected by this incident didn't just lose their hardware and money; they also lost leak-worthy game builds and the ability to showcase their work to thousands of people. A lot of good future-facing promises were made, but it doesn't fully make up for what happened at Gamescom 2026

For example, it still does not appear that Gamescom will provide the impacted developers with any compensation. Hopefully, more can be done to get to the bottom of this situation and identify who was responsible for the thefts at the latest Gamescom, and to ensure the organization's renewed security efforts prevent the same issues from popping up next year.