[REVISION HISTORY]

Gamescom 2026: Record attendance and security concerns

Updated 58 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-02 18:48 UTC → 2026-09-07 01:45 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, concluded with record-breaking figures, attracting 368,000 visitors from 131 countries and 1,743 exhibiting companies. This represented an 11% increase in exhibitors compared to 2025. International participation reached new heights, with 72% of exhibitors coming from abroad and notable attendance increases from Brazil, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United States. The business sector also grew, hosting over 36,000 professional visitors, approximately half of whom were from outside Germany. Digital engagement was high, with over 624 million views for programming, including 78 million for ‘Opening Night Live’. The event featured significant political presence, including German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who attended the gamescom congress for the first time, alongside EU Commissioner Henna Virkkunen and various German federal ministers. Major industry announcements included a remaster and DLC for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, as well as new titles for PlayStation 5. However, the event was marred by a series of hardware thefts targeting exhibitors, particularly indie developers and publishers. Victims reported the loss of laptops, Steam Decks, and other technical equipment from both business and indie areas, including some supposedly secure zones. Victims included solo developer Ryan Laley, publisher iam8bit, and Tessera Studios. Beyond financial losses, exhibitors expressed concern over the theft of intellectual property, as some stolen devices contained unreleased game builds and confidential company data. Ryan Laley reported that his stand was looted, leaving him with no equipment to continue his presentation. In response, CD Projekt Red offered hardware assistance to those affected. Organizers noted that while uniformed guards provide general security, exhibitors are responsible for booking individual stand security and insuring equipment. Investigations following reports from WDR and customs officials have suggested potential security lapses, with allegations that some security personnel lacked proper identification or were involved in illegal employment practices.

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