Sony, Facebook, KojiPro cancel GDC appearances due to coronavirus (Up2: Microsoft, Amazon, and Epic are also out) [See Staff Post]

[Biosnake]

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/artic...l-gdc-appearances-citing-coronavirus-concerns



"PlayStation and Facebook Gaming/Oculus will not be attending this year's Game Developers Conference due to concerns around the novel coronavirus COVID19.

It follows a series of cancelled or postponed video game events, plus console manufacturing disruption,caused by the outbreak. The virus has infected over 75,700 people so far, killing 2,130. The majority of cases have been in mainland china, with just over 1,000 cases reported in other countries (including 15 in the US)."

 

[Deleted member 10737]

edit: threads merged.

 

[Deleted member 2954]

 

[Playboi Carti]

 

[KOHIPEET]

Expected after PAX, but still. Disappointing, and to be honest, a bit worrying.

 

[TheNotoriousAFG]

I wonder if that's actually the reason....

 

[DidactBRHU3]

Another event bites the dust...

 

[Deleted member 1003]

I get it, disappointed but I understand why.

 

[Deleted member 9746]

That's unfortunate. I wonder if they'll do more State of Plays then.

 

[gunlovefiction]

Okay now I'm getting worried about the state of PS5

 

[PJV3]

Ah well.
it is what it is, hopefully something juicy leaks about next gen or Sony let something slip.

 

[Ebtesam]

SOP will play a big role for them this year

 

[Deleted member 864]

It's unfortunate, but I understand.

 

[Cheezeman3000]

Isn't it currently restricted to travel to America from the affected areas? I doubt anyone with the virus will be able to attend even if they wanted to.

 

[STech]

Wow, this is big but absolutely unnecessary

 

[SunBroDave]

inb4 READ STAFF POST

 

[srtrestre]

Yowza. I wonder if more major companies will drop out of this and PAX.

 

[PJV3]

Okay now I'm getting worried about the state of PS5

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Nah, it seems fairly logical after cancelling Pax.

 

[Deleted member 9746]

Isn't it currently restricted to travel to America from the affected areas? I doubt anyone with the virus will be able to attend even if they wanted to.

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I believe so.

 

[Deleted member 887]

I wonder if that's actually the reason....

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Please no conspiracy stuff

 

[PlanetSmasher]

I wonder if Sony will put out some kind of Youtube coverage to replace the stuff they would be doing at all the events they're cancelling.

 

[Ivanovic]

Well this thread should be fun.

Okay now I'm getting worried about the state of PS5

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I wonder if that's actually the reason....

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[RingRang]

This is a weird time for Sony to be backing out of events left and right while the PS5 still has yet to be revealed.

 

[ClickyCal']

Okay now I'm getting worried about the state of PS5

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Why? Because they are taking precautions for the virus?

 

[Deleted member 887]

Wow, this is big but absolutely unnecessary

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because you say so?

 

[Minions]

Pretty much expected after Sony canceled at MWC and Pax

 

[Z-Beat]

inb4 "It's backwards compatible because there are no games!"

I wonder if they'll try to jump back into E3 if the epidemic is under control by then

 

[funky]

Isnt PlayStation HQ literally in the same city GDC takes place?

Seems like Sony is pulling of any public appearances for the foreseeable future

 

[Okabe]

I wonder if that's actually the reason....

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[PunishedPrince]

*Ahem* Sony doomed.

 

[El_Chino]

Well I understand international employees, why can't Sony North America employees attend?

 

[Deleted member 51691]

This is a weird time for Sony to be backing out of events left and right while the PS5 still has yet to be revealed.

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Coronavirus is weird

Well I understand international employees, why can't Sony North America employees attend?

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Probably don't want to risk any employees getting infected at a big international conference

 

[EchoChamber]

Better be safe than sorry in this case, lives are at risk.

 

[modiz]

I wonder if that's actually the reason....

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I think it was Imran that said it, but apparently Sony as the parent company are very worried of Corona and have been pushing for the high caution around it.

 

[Arion]

I see the console war baiting has started already.

 

[Kyrios]

Expected after the PAX cancellation, would be weird to skip PAX and not GDC.

 

[Z-Beat]

Isnt PlayStation HQ literally in the same city GDC takes place?

Seems like Sony is pulling of any public appearances for the foreseeable future

Click to shrink...

I guess but people don't mass commute to Sony HQ

If it's affecting their expo appearances I'm wondering how much it's affecting their manufacturing as well, like it did Nintendo's

 

[PJV3]

Pretty much expected after Sony canceled at MWC and Pax

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Yeah, i wouldn't rule out PS5 problems but it is just more of the same, and Facebook aren't making the PS5.

 

[Deleted member 1003]

Isn't the Diamond Princess docked in Yokohama? I think there is some concern in Japan and despite Playstation HQ being in NA, Sony is a Japanese company.

 

[Bashteee]

Oof. I know people make fun about Next gen being cancelled and so on, but if the current pace of the virus keeps on... production will be affected at some point and a November release could easily slip into next year. Or we get a paper launch at best.

 

[Naga]

Have the conspiracy theories already started?

 

[Dust]

I suspected as such, this is mandated for all
Sony branches for all events it seems.

 

[Ojli]

Well, that's a bummer

 

[Askherserenity]

But it's GDC...and it's right there.

Is everyone from Sony locked up in their offices right now? Like?

 

[Deleted member 887]

This is a weird time for Sony to be backing out of events left and right while the PS5 still has yet to be revealed.

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PS5 wasn't going to be revealed at PAX or GDC

 

[Temascos]

Disappointing but an understandable decision to make at the moment, hopefully when the crisis fades away things will be back on track as much as possible.

But first priority is the safety of their staff.

 

[ZeoVGM]

Okay now I'm getting worried about the state of PS5

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Didn't take long for idiotic concern trolling.

 

[Kyrios]

But it's GDC...and it's right there.

Is everyone from Sony locked up in their offices right now? Like?

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Could be just a mandatory thing for all of Sony Corp to avoid all public events for the time being.

 

[Deleted member 1003]

I suspected as such, this is mandated for all
Sony branches for all events it seems.

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That makes sense to me.

 

[SunnyDays]

This is a weird time for Sony to be backing out of events left and right while the PS5 still has yet to be revealed.

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The alternative is putting their employees at risk to infection from a very infectious, quite lethal disease with no adequate treatment or even vaccine.