I find that it is important to start off by saying that we sure hope not! With coronavirus (COVID-19) fears completely shutting down Mobile World Congress (MWB) 2020 due to the sheer amount of companies pulling out and the pressure placed upon the show for the same fears that are keeping these companies away, it’s natural to start biting your nails when it comes to the next big show that is right around the corner.
The Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2020 is set to take place next month (March 16th-22nd) in San Francisco, where all of the major video game developers are expected to attend. It’s the perfect event for developers and partners to show off the latest development tools and for job seekers to shake hands and try their best at making new contacts that may one day lead to a new career.
However, just like with MWC, major companies are already starting to pull out due to ongoing fears surrounding the coronavirus that is still putting a lot of stress on travel. These companies are reluctant to send any important employee of theirs on a plane, where they might share the same space and air with someone who could potentially be infectious.
The U.S., of course, is taking incredible measures to help reduce these risks. At least, when we are purposely putting infected citizens on planes. However, no action is more perfect than avoiding the situation completely–which we understand. We have been restricted on where our staff can travel too as well.
That being said, Sony (PlayStation), Oculus, and Facebook are some of the first companies to announce they will not be attending GDC 2020. This is big since these companies hold a lot of weight for the show. Thankfully though, there are many others that haven’t said anything just yet.
Just like the other shows coming up, GDC is pushing hard to prepare for the concerns surrounding the virus. For example, Chinese companies are being forced to send American representatives vs flying anyone out to the show (else they had to cancel if they could not do so). It’s a bit harsh for them but completely understandable. GDC is working closely with the government and city officials to help host a safe show.
Although the above companies have pulled out of attending, some still plan on making certain announces over video. This allows them to still have some form of impact this year, regardless of physically being there or not.
Hopefully, this doesn’t start a similar chain of events like what happened with MWC. It would be nice to see the industry remaining strong and present, while also maintaining a safe experience for attendees.
