Gamescom has issued an apology following criticism over its handling of a theft incident affecting several indie developers at its recent event in Cologne. The organisers acknowledged their initial response lacked empathy and failed to appropriately address the concerns of those impacted.
Thefts Impact Indie Developers
The reported thefts took place last week during Gamescom, where numerous exhibitors faced losses of valuable equipment. Among the affected was indie developer Ryan Laley, who revealed that the theft effectively cut short his participation in the event. Similarly, companies like Iam8bit and Tessera Studios reported overnight thefts of laptops from their booths in the business area.
Initial Response Draws Criticism
Amid growing frustration, Gamescom initially acknowledged the incidents but fell short in expressing adequate empathy. This prompted further backlash from attendees who found the response insufficiently considerate.
Commitment to Improved Security
On 4th September, Gamescom released a new statement via social media, confessing that their prior response was not satisfactory. The organisers assured affected exhibitors that they understand the significant impact the thefts have had, particularly on small studios for whom the loss can be devastating. Gamescom has begun discussions with those affected to address the issues and listen to their feedback.
The organisers commended the gaming community’s swift, unconditional support to those affected, highlighting the industry’s resilience and camaraderie. However, they emphasised that the responsibility to ensure secure environments rests with them. Gamescom pledged to enhance security measures, specifically targeting indie exhibitors, and announced plans for a roundtable with shared booth organisers to develop specific strategies.
Call for Incident Reporting
Gamescom urged all exhibitors who have experienced theft or any incident to report these occurrences both to the organisers and the police. They stressed the importance of documentation and investigation of incidents to enable appropriate responses and preventive measures. A contact email, [email protected], is provided for such communications.
Expressing solidarity, major players in the industry like CD Projekt Red and Indie Game Joe have stepped up to support those affected by the incidents.
Reporting based on coverage first published by eurogamer.net.