It was inevitable at this point, really. After multiple companies dropped out of the event over coronavirus concerns, GDC has been officially postponed until “later in the summer.” The Games Developer Conference was scheduled to begin in two short weeks at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA. For eager developers looking to get their foot in the door, however, the news could become even worse.
GDC 2020 will face even more challenges with its postponement. During the summer, it will now vie for the attention of industry professionals during a time that also plays host to E3 and Gamescom. It begs the question of whether GDC should outright cancel this year or not.
A second attempt?
GDC, however, is playing damage control. In a message on its website (which the internet collectively broke in seconds), they wrote that the decision came following “close consultation with our partners in the game development industry and community around the world.” Thanks were offered to partners and customers. Despite the predictable outcome, GDC is standing by its intention of trying again later.
“As everyone has been reminding us, great things happen when the community comes together and connects at GDC,” reads their message. “For this reason, we fully intend to host a GDC event later in the summer. We will be working with our partners to finalize the details and will share more information about our plans in the coming weeks.”
GDC now faces a steep hill to climb. With E3 and Gamescom right around the corner, and the COVID-19 coronavirus not loosening its grip, chances are high that the event may not come to pass this year. It’s a shame, really, as the show has presented an opportunity for many promising game developers and designers to chat with company representatives and exchange contact information. However, it’s far better for everyone to stay healthy.
