The 2020 Taipei Game Show that was set to take place from February 6 to 9 has been postponed to this summer due to the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. The organizers of the Taipei Game Show released an emergency announcement stating "Taipei Game Show is one of the iconic annual networking events. With that in mind, W.H.O. has declared a global emergency as Wuhan coronavirus spreads. Considering mass gatherings like Taipei Game Show increase the chance of cluster infections, the organizing committee has decided to steer away from such unthinkable risks. We sincerely ask for exhibitors’ understanding of such a major decision."
Recently, the organizers also announced the implementation of "a series of epidemic preventions according to the guidelines provided by Taiwan Centers for Disease Control," for the event, but later decided to postpone it after a WHO declaration of the Wuhan coronavirus as a Public Emergency of International Concern. WHO's chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also stated that the declaration is not a result of "what is happening in China, but what is happening in other countries."
Unlike most countries, Taiwan is not a member of the WHO and China has blocked its participation in related activities.
Even though the Taipei Game Show is not as recognized as other popular events like the Tokyo Game Show or Gamescom, the event managed to attract 320,000 attendees in 2019 in comparison to 373,000 for Gamescom and 262,000 for Tokyo Game Show. This year, FromSoftware had plans to showcase its upcoming game Elden Ring at the game show. There were rumors that the game was set to release on June 30, but now there are other sayings that it will arrive on December 30, 2020. This second date is likely a placeholder, and the first date hasn't been confirmed, so we'll just have to wait for FromSoftware to make a formal announcement.
