Gamescom takes the present on-line as Germany clamps down on public gatherings

Chalk one other one on the board, staff. Gamescom 2020 has been added to the illustrious checklist of occasions called off due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, nestled alongside the likes of E3 and GDC. But look on the intense facet – whereas the Koelnmesse is likely to be silent this August, Gamescom organisers this week introduced plans to exchange the on-site present with an entirely-online digital occasion.

To fight Covid-19, the German authorities has prolonged its ban on public gathering till August 31st (by way of German-language outlet Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger). That spells bother for Cologne conference Gamescom which, sadly, was scheduled from August 25-29. Even with out the ban, it could have been irresponsible to host a conference that final yr noticed over 370,000 folks attend, contemplating a vaccine for the virus could also be at the least a yr out.

While Gamescom organisers gestured at cancellation, in the present day’s assertion sealed it. The present as-planned will not happen – changed, as an alternative, by an entirely-online “digital Gamescom”.

Official assertion concerning #gamescom2020 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/fHaN4GOULM

— gamescom (@gamescom) April 16, 2020

As famous, we don’t fairly know what type this digital Gamescom will take. Fortunately, we’ve bought examples to leap from. This yr’s EGX Rezzed (run by RPS’ company overlords), for example, went on-line after postponing its three-day London show ’til July – with the RPS crew pitching in for panels, indie streams and all their regular Rezzed nonsense by way of Rezzed Digital.

Will we miss not masking Gamescom from a crowded present ground? Probably? I don’t know, I’ve truly by no means been. Last yr’s present gave us some absolute corkers on the whole lot from Cyberpunk 2077 and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 to weird gems like The Eternal Cylinder.

Given CDPR intend to launch Cyberpunk as-planned in September, we’ll doubtless get one final drop earlier than launch. It’d be neat to see a number of extra vampires forward of Halloween. But hopefully, Gamescom’s on-line substitute finds methods to platform the much less headline-grabbing games you’d normally catch from the nook of a packed Koelnmesse corridor.

Gamescom’s showrunners hope to element extra on Gamescom’s substitute within the coming weeks. As at all times, we’ll preserve you posted.