E3 2020 planning is “moving ahead at full speed” despite Coronavirus concerns

GDC has been postponed until later in 2020, removing a potential venue for Microsoft and Sony to discuss their next-generation consoles, the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. Now, all eyes are on E3, and whether or not Coronavirus will cause another event cancellation. 

While Sony doesn’t plan to attend E3 this year, the event acts as a great venue for Microsoft to discuss its Xbox Series X console, and as a great opportunity for companies like AMD to showcase the capabilities of their next-generation gaming hardware. Thankfully, the ESA, the organisers of E3, are “moving ahead at full speed” with their E3 2020 planning, despite Coronavirus concerns.   

At this time, nobody knows what things will look like in a few months with regards to Coronavirus, which means that decisions to cancel events like E3 would be premature. Assessments of the event’s safety will need to be made closer to the time, when more information is available to both attendees and exhibitors. 

To Vice, an ESA representative stated that “everyone is watching the situation very closely. We will continue to be vigilant, as our first priority is the health, wellness and safety of all of our exhibitors and attendees. Given what we know at this time, we are moving ahead full speed with E3 2020 planning. Exhibit and registration sales are on track for an exciting show in June.” 

Ultimately, the decision to host E3 may come down to exhibitors, not the ESA, as GDC’s cancellation came after companies like Microsoft, EA, Epic Games, Facebook and Kojima Productions pulled out of the event. More information about E3 will become available closer to the time, with the event taking place between June 9th and June 11th at the Los Angeles Convention Center.