Microsoft joins a rising checklist of game corporations who’ve pulled out of subsequent month’s Game Developers Conference in San Francisco over considerations related to coronavirus.
In a new blog post, Microsoft introduced it could now not be attending this 12 months’s convention as a result of public well being considerations.
“After a close review of guidance by global health authorities and out of an abundance of caution, we’ve made the difficult decision to withdraw from participating at Game Developers Conference 2020 in San Francisco,” the assertion reads. “The health and safety of players, developers, employees, and our partners around the world is our top priority. Especially as the world is experiencing growing public health risks associated with coronavirus (COVID-19).”
Instead, the corporate will stream a digital-only occasion throughout GDC – from March 16-18 – which is able to function the vast majority of is deliberate game developer periods. This consists of panel discussions the evolution of game improvement, deliberately inclusive game design, the rising position of on-line companies, subsequent gen {hardware}, and the way forward for game streaming.
The streamed occasion may even function behind-the-scenes seems into improvement decisions from the makers of Minecradft and Gears of War, in addition to appearances from Double Fine, inXile, Compulsion, Rare, Obsidian, and Undead Labs.
Microsoft is now the newest game firm to cancel its GDC plans. Earlier at the moment Unity announced it could now not be making an look this 12 months over well being considerations. Sony, Oculus and Kojima Productions have additionally not too long ago pulled out of the annual convention. GDC 2020 continues on as deliberate nevertheless, happening subsequent month from March 16-20.
