The last few days not been great for the upcoming Game Developers Conference as many expected companies have pulled out from attending the event due to coronavirus concerns. Recently, big names like Microsoft, Epic and Unity have also pulled out from the conference. GDC is scheduled to take place between March 16 and March 20 in San Francisco, CA.
The GDC website published a statement earlier today which said that the organizer is “closely monitoring the COVID19 (coronavirus) situation and want to assure everyone that your health and safety are a top priority.”
The coronavirus outbreak has impacted many industries, including gaming. Many games and gaming products have been delayed, as well as many game leagues and tournaments having to be canceled. Many developers also pulled out from popular events like PAX East, citing health concerns. GDC has already lost major companies like Sony, Electronic Arts, Kojima Productions, Facebook, and recently Microsoft. As the scheduled date for GDC is approaching, many developers are wondering if the event will continue as planned or cancel like several other events in the wake of CODVID-19 concerns.
The statement published today on the official GDC website states, “If our assessment of the situation changes, based on new and evolving developments or updated information, we will promptly update this statement regarding the status of GDC 2020 accordingly,”
Here's everyone that has pulled out from GDC 2020 so far: Sony, Facebook, Oculus Gaming, Kojima Productions, Unity Technologies, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Epic Games, Unreal Engine, Amazon, and Activision Blizzard.
With so many companies canceling their attendance, a number of big booths are going to be empty. The company that owns GDC, Informa, hasn't said anything about canceling the event. However, the company does mention it is working to provide a safe environment for all the attendees by following guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
