PlayStation and Facebook to Skip GDC 2022 Due to Coronavirus Outbreak

PlayStation and Facebook to Skip GDC 2020 Due to Coronavirus Outbreak

// Update one (26/02/2020 ten:42 am) PUBG Corp and EA pull out likewise
// Update 2 (28/02/2020 11:fifty am) Microsoft, Epic Games, and Unity back out as well

PlayStation, Facebook Gaming, and Oculus will not be attending the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2020 citing the outbreak of coronavirus. GDC 2020 is scheduled to have place from the 16th to the 20th of March in San Francisco, California.

"Nosotros take made the difficult conclusion to cancel our participation in Game Developers Conference due to increasing concerns related to COVID-19 (as well known every bit coronavirus). We felt this was the best option as the situation related to the virus and global travel restrictions are changing daily. We are disappointed to abolish our participation, merely the wellness and safety of our global workforce is our highest concern. Nosotros look forward to participating in GDC in the future.", Sony told GamesIndustry.biz.

Facebook has besides published an official statement regarding the thing. "Out of business organization for the health and safety of our employees, our dev partners, and the GDC customs, Facebook volition not be attending this twelvemonth'south Game Programmer Conference due to the evolving public health risks related to COVID-xix," a Facebook spokesperson said.

Oculus will nonetheless make announcements online along with Q&A sessions. "Nosotros still plan to share the exciting announcements we had planned for the show through videos, online Q&As, and more, and volition plan to host GDC partner meetings remotely in the coming weeks.", the spokesperson added.

Organizers of the GDC event have taken various measures including the use of disinfecting electrostatic sprayers in high-traffic areas, frequent wiping in all common areas, increased hand sanitizer stations, daily rug sanitization to ensure the safety of the attendees.

In case yous're unaware, GSMA – the organizers of MWC 2020 had taken similar pro-active measures to prevent whatever potential impact of coronavirus. However, they had to cancel the event as all leading brands withdrew their presence from the issue. It appears similar GDC is going downwardly the same lane and it is possible that the event could get canceled now that major players in the gaming segment like PlayStation and Oculus are out.

Update 1 (26/02/2020 10:42 am)

PUBG Corp and EA have now joined the growing listing of companies pulling out of the PAX E or GDC over coronavirus fears, with both companies citing the health of their employees as the primary reason behind their decision. In a statement to GameSpot, PUBG Corp Said it volition reschedule its planned 'Happy Hour' issue at PAX Due east "one time the coronavirus is nether control and travel returns to normal".

EA issued the following argument regarding its withdrawal from GDC 2020: "Having closely followed the global situation with coronavirus and with the recent escalation of cases in new regions, nosotros accept decided to take additional steps to protect the wellbeing of our employees including the brake of all not-essential travel. Equally a upshot, we are also cancelling our official participation at GDC and limiting attendance to other events. We are standing to monitor the situation and will adjust guidelines to our employees as we feel is appropriate".

Update 2 (28/02/2020 xi:50 am)

GDC 2020 has been dealt some other massive blow. Microsoft, Fortnite creator Epic Games, and Unity are the latest to withdraw from the Game Developer Conference over Covid-19 coronavirus concerns.

"Later on a close review of guidance by global health authorities and out of an abundance of caution, we've made the difficult decision to withdraw from participating at Game Developers Conference 2020 in San Francisco. The health and safety of players, developers, employees, and our partners effectually the world is our elevation priority," said Microsoft in an official blog mail service.

Epic announced its withdrawal from GDC 2020 on Twitter, as yous tin see below:

Here at Epic nosotros were excited almost participating in GDC 2020. Regrettably, uncertainty around wellness concerns has made it unviable to ship our employees, so nosotros accept made the hard conclusion to withdraw attendance.

Stay tuned for Epic news and more through other channels.

— Unreal Engine (@UnrealEngine) February 27, 2020

In its official blog post, Unity CEO John Riccitiello appear the company's plan to non attend GDC maxim, "Unfortunately, this year, after much thought and deliberation, we have made the difficult decision to pull out of GDC 2020. While we did not make this decision lightly, the current conditions with COVID-nineteen (also known as Novel Coronavirus) present too much risk."