Gamescom, one of the biggest video game trade fairs, might not be held in-person this year. The fair was originally slated to be held in Germany in late August but the COVID-19 pandemic has made planning for large events in 2020 a tricky task.
The German national government recently decided that the country’s ban on large gatherings would be extended until the end of August at the earliest. It’s possible that Gamescom will not have a physical meeting this year at all, although the event’s Twitter page tweeted on April 15 that Gamescom 2020 “will definitely take place digitally.”
This wasn’t the first major gaming event to be affected by the pandemic. E3 2020 was cancelled in March, marking this year as the first since 1995 that E3 will not happen. The Entertainment Software Association’s decision to cancel the biggest gaming event of the year was not taken lightly, and no doubt the decision not to hold Gamescom traditionally was also a long and difficult decision.
As of March 5, Gamescom was still planning on holding the event in Germany. However, the global situation with COVID-19 has progressed since last month and many events and conventions have had to be postponed, canceled, or switched to online-only. While many people were probably disappointed to hear what Germany’s announcement would mean for such an anticipated event, there is hope of still getting some form of Gamescom’s usual content and announcements while staying at home.
Since both E3 and Microsoft’s conferences are going digital, it seemed like only a matter of time until Gamescom would follow suit. No doubt many of those who secured tickets for the event will be disappointed, but it’s probable that the company will find a way to refund or reimburse ticket purchasers should the event not physically take place. Still, this is one of the most exciting events of the year for games and there are still many questions yet to be answered about how broadcasting, tickets, and presentations will work with the potential digital format.
There are still many unconfirmed details, but this is to be expected with the current pandemic crisis. Many fans are excited about the new content that is regularly revealed at Gamescom fairs, like the Death Stranding gameplay footage revealed at last year’s event. Still, the move in favor of public health is a positive one. If Gamescom were to be broadcast in some form digitally, this could be a way for fans to have both the content and the added security.
