Gamescom May Be Digital Only
This article was originally written for TheNintendoVillage.com, a website I founded and ran from 2018 to 2021.
Whilst many events have already been cancelled due to coronavirus, the UK’s EGX Rezzed, the Pokémon European Championships and E3 amongst others, Gamescom has until now been holding out. With the event not due to take place until August, organisers were hoping the worst of the pandemic would have passed by then.
That’s still the hope, but they’ve taken to Twitter today to announce that they’ll be deciding whether or not to proceed with the usual soiree in Cologne or to shift to a digital-only event in May.
They’re keen to stress that plans are still proceeding as normal, though the digital elements - such as Opening Night Live - are already being expanded. The decision as to whether or not to take the entire thing online will be made in mid-May:
“An evaluation will be made in mid-May as to how gamescom can also take place on-site in Cologne based on the latest developments of the corona pandemic at that time together with the responsible state authorities. If an on-site event is possible, there will also be more information at that stage with regard to which changes need to be made in order to fully ensure the health of all visitors. This has been arranged with the largest exhibitors, therefore all gamescom plans are continuing at full speed.”
Fingers crossed some sense of normalcy resumes soon, though it’s good to see the industry’s biggest event will be proceeding in one form or another regardless.
Are you planning on attending gamescom this year? Let us know down in the comments.
Source: Gamescom.global