{"id":64875,"date":"2020-03-13T06:05:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-13T10:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shacknews.com\/article\/116902\/coronavirus-which-gaming-events-are-canceled-and-whats-still-on"},"modified":"2020-03-13T06:05:00","modified_gmt":"2020-03-13T10:05:00","slug":"coronavirus-which-gaming-events-are-canceled-and-whats-still-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/coronavirus-which-gaming-events-are-canceled-and-whats-still-on\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus: Which gaming events are canceled and what’s still on?","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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COVID-19 coronavirus has led to the cancellation or postponement of numerous video game and esports events. Some are still going on as scheduled. Shacknews offers a growing list of what’s been canceled and what’s still on.<\/p>\n

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The world is in the midst of a pandemic, one of the biggest to plague the planet in the last century. Like every other industry, the video game world is feeling its effects. COVID-19 coronavirus has led to the closure of dozens of events, with many more potentially still to come.<\/p>\n

With events being affected on a daily basis, Shacknews is taking some time to highlight which events have been affected. Which events have been cancelled across the gaming and esports realms? And which events are still tentatively set to go on?<\/p>\n

(Last updated 3\/12\/2020)<\/i><\/p>\n

Game Developers Conference (March 16-20)<\/h2>\n
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The Game Developers Conference has been postponed<\/a>. It has not been officially canceled, with event organizers still hoping to salvage something in the summer.<\/p>\n

However, while a cancellation is not yet imminent, GDC has taken steps to have scheduled talks hosted on Twitch<\/a> starting on March 16, which would have been the official start of the convention. The Independent Games Festival and Game Developers Choice Awards will likewise be streamed live on Twitch, both set to air on Wednesday, March 18 at 5PM PT.<\/p>\n

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E3 2020 (June 9-11)<\/h2>\n
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Rumblings started around March 10 that the continuing spread of the coronavirus would claim E3 2020, one of the biggest weeks of the year for video games. Sources started telling members of the press that the show’s cancellation was imminent. And sure enough, on the morning of March 11, the ESA officially canceled E3 2020<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here was the statement issued:<\/p>\n

After careful consultation with our member companies regarding the health and safety of everyone in our industry–our fans, our employees, our exhibitors and our longtime E3 partners–we have made the difficult decision to cancel E3 2020, scheduled for June 9-11 in Los Angeles.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Following increased and overwhelming concerns about the COVID-19 virus, we felt this was the best way to proceed during such an unprecedented global situation. We are very disappointed that we are unable to hold this event for our fans and supporters. But we know it\u2019s the right decision based on the information we have today.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Major game publishers like Nintendo<\/a> and Square Enix<\/a> have come out in support of the ESA’s decision and will look to line up major announcements at some other point during the year.<\/p>\n

However, it should be noted that renegade publisher Devolver Digital, which usually hosts a pre-taped “press conference” announcing its lineup, is still going full speed ahead<\/a> with its plans for a livestream.<\/p>\n

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Gamescom 2020<\/h2>\n
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There has been no indication that Gamescom will be postponed or canceled at this time. Gamescom is regularly updating its social media with all indications that the August convention will go on. But with German Chancellor Angela Merkel warning that up to 70 percent of Germany could become infected<\/a>, this is obviously subject to change at a moment’s notice.<\/p>\n

We will update this space if anything changes.<\/p>\n

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PAX West 2020<\/h2>\n
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As COVID-19 cases started to escalate, PAX East continued uninterrupted. The summer months might lead to an assumption that PAX West should similarly go on without a hitch. However, Washington state has been among the hardest states hit<\/a> by coronavirus. It was the site of the first U.S. case and the first U.S. death. There are currently over 370 cases, with a good number of those cases coming from Seattle.<\/p>\n

If Washington’s situation continues to worsen, it could ultimately affect PAX West. Governor Jay Inslee has already banned gatherings of over 250 people<\/a>. While that declaration is indefinite, there’s also no sign of the COVID-19 spread slowing down anytime soon.<\/p>\n

But as of now, PAX West is on. We will offer updates as they come in.<\/p>\n

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SXSW 2020 (March 13-22)<\/h2>\n
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One of the first signs that something truly serious was at hand, the annual music, gaming, and entertainment festival known as South by Southwest was officially shut down<\/a> by the city of Austin, Texas. This is the first time in the event’s 34-year history that it will not be held.<\/p>\n

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An Update on SXSW 2020. Please read our full statement here: https:\/\/t.co\/P56nF8KFmE<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ouJPKM9GNy<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SXSW (@sxsw) March 6, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Several gaming events and announcements were lined up for South by Southwest, including a special reveal related to Sonic the Hedgehog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More personally for Shacknews, it also marked the postponement of our Shack Smash Invitational, which was set to kick off a full series of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments.<\/p>\n

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Our first-ever Shack Smash Ultimate invitational tournament set to kick off in Austin, Texas next week has been postponed. The health & safety of our competitors, casters, and livestream production team is our top priority during this ongoing coronavirus outbreak. #ShackSmash<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/yxz7lpMdfX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Shacknews (@shacknews) March 12, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Stay tuned for further updates regarding the Shack Smash tournament. We’ll also have more on Smash Bros. esports as a whole in a moment.<\/p>\n

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San Diego Comic-Con (July 23-26)<\/h2>\n
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There is no word from San Diego Comic-Con regarding whether it will be canceled. As of now, there are still plans to move forward.<\/p>\n

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STATEMENT FROM COMIC-CON REGARDING COVID-19 March 12, 2020 pic.twitter.com\/6NGoOHox2r<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Comic-Con Museum (@ComicConMuseum) March 12, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

However, sister convention Wondercon, set to take place in April in Anaheim, California, was postponed on March 12. A make-up date has not been given.<\/p>\n

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Comic-Con (organizer of WonderCon) will abide by this recommendation. Therefore WonderCon Anaheim, scheduled for April 10-12, 2020 in Anaheim, California, will be postponed until a later date. (2\/4)<\/p>\n

\u2014 San Diego Comic-Con (@Comic_Con) March 12, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This year’s San Diego Comic-Con will be largely dependent on the coronavirus spread slowing with the summer heat. However, if cases escalate, there is a chance that the whole show could be pushed back, if not canceled outright.<\/p>\n

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Summer Games Done Quick 2020 (June 21-28)<\/h2>\n
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Games Done Quick has become a biannual phenomenon with speedrunners from around the world coming together to play games for a good cause. This year’s Summer Games Done Quick is scheduled for June 21-28 in Bloomington, Minnesota. However, COVID-19 may throw a wrench into those plans.<\/p>\n

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As the event is still months away, We are proceeding with #SGDQ2020<\/a> as planned on June 21-28. The team is actively monitoring the situation regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and will provide an update if anything changes.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Games Done Quick (@GamesDoneQuick) March 6, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In addition to the above tweet from March 6, the GDQ team issued the following statement on March 11:<\/p>\n

“We are actively monitoring the situation regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and take the matter extremely seriously,” reads the post on the Games Done Quick<\/a> home page. “Games Done Quick will continue to evaluate over the coming weeks and hold any decision until closer to the event. In the meantime, preparations for #SGDQ2020 will proceed as planned. We appreciate your patience. We’ll provide updates via Twitter and on our website if anything changes.”<\/p>\n

As of now, SGDQ 2020 is on. That could change, so stay tuned.<\/p>\n

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The Overwatch League: Season 3<\/h2>\n
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When it rains, it pours for the Overwatch League. This was supposed to be the year that Activision Blizzard hosted homestands across the globe, with regional division play officially becoming a major part of the league. That has proven disastrous since COVID-19’s initial spread<\/a> across the Chinese mainland. Matches would then be canceled in Korea<\/a> before everything spiraled out of control in the ensuing weeks.<\/p>\n

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pic.twitter.com\/in09FplLNn<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) March 11, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The latest with the Overwatch League is that all March and April events have been canceled<\/a>. Play will continue, but all live events and homestands are no longer happening.<\/p>\n

The situation with the Overwatch League continues to develop by the day. We will keep a close eye on what happens in the weeks and months ahead.<\/p>\n

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The Call of Duty League: Season 1<\/h2>\n
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Another Activision Blizzard esports endeavor, the opening season of the Call of Duty League was also heavily affected by COVID-19. League organizers did their best to carry on, even holding the anticipated LA Home Series<\/a> as normal.<\/p>\n

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pic.twitter.com\/l2O2XQQaBv<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Call of Duty League (@CODLeague) March 12, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

However, the following week was where the situation escalated beyond anybody’s control. While the league will continue play in an online-only environment, in a move similar to the one made by the Overwatch League, all live Call of Duty League events have been canceled<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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League of Legends Esports (LCS, LEC, LCK, LPL)<\/h2>\n
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Riot Games has done its absolute best to carry on, which has proven to be a Herculean task given the different regional branches of League of Legends esports to manage. Here’s what we know about each sector of LOL Esports so far:<\/p>\n