PlayStation is Also Skipping GDC This Year Because of Coronavirus
PlayStation will no longer be attending the Game Developers Conference, or GDC, this year due to concerns of the coronavirus. The cancellation comes just days after PlayStation announced that it won't be attending PAX East due to similar concerns, leading to some disgruntled fans.
"We are disappointed to cancel our participation," a statement by the company read, "but the health and safety of our global workforce is our highest concern. We look forward to participating in GDC in the future." Coronavirus hasn't impacted the west nearly as heavily as it has Asian regions, leaving some wondering why Sony decided to cancel its appearance. However, Sony is a Japanese company, and it may want to avoid risking its employees' health while traveling to and from the event.
Coronavirus has had a large impact on the games industry since it began to spread. The Nintendo Switch may face shortages due to lower manufacturing rates caused by the disease, with many other companies suffering similar setbacks to their own product lines. The disease has been running rampant throughout Asia, where it is believed to have originated.
Even Facebook, which has also canceled its GDC appearance due to coronavirus-fueled concerns, is suffering lowered availability for the Oculus Quest, which had already had high demand before the disease's outbreak. Currently, Virtual Reality enthusiasts are only able to purchase the headset through resellers.
Concerns of the coronavirus have continued to mount globally, as stricter travel restrictions continue to be imposed to help stop the spread of the disease. The increased difficulty of moving between countries – especially in Asia – makes the most sense as to why Sony would drop out of GDC, including the concerns for its employees' well-being. That being said, the company has become less enthusiastic about shows it doesn't control, dropping out of E3 for the second year in a row.
Video games have become more popular in China due to coronavirus, emphasizing just how strange the effects of such a major problem can be. For now, those wishing for Sony to have a presence at industry shows can really only dream for more information from the company soon. Coronavirus is a major issue, with effects far greater and far more morbid than inconveniences to the games industry. Hopefully, it's dealt with soon.
Source: Gamesindustry.biz
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