The ongoing coronavirus outbreak continues to impact major events across the world, with SXSW and Six Nations games both being pulled because of the virus.
One of the industries affected by the ongoing spread is the gaming industry, which has also seen several key events be pulled as a precautionary measure.
So what gaming events have been impacted by the ongoing crisis?
TwitchCon Amsterdam, scheduled to take place between 2 and 3 May, was cancelled this weekend due to coronavirus concerns.
The organisers made the announcement via their official Twitter channel where they wrote: ‘We have been monitoring Coronavirus concerns and having weighed the potential health risks to our community we’ve made the incredibly difficult decision to cancel TwitchCon Amsterdam.’
‘TwitchCon is the best weekend to be a Twitch fan. To say we’re disappointed you won’t be able to enjoy the show we’ve been building for you is a massive understatement. But the health and safety of our community, employees, and everyone else who has a part in making TwitchCon happen is, as always, our top priority,’ their statement continued.
Fans are able to get a full refund for their tickets.
EA has also postponed several competitive gaming events, including the Apex Legends Global Series, scheduled to take place between March 13 to 15.
Several EA Sports Fifa 20 Global Series events are also postponed or cancelled, including the CONMEBOL Libertadores Online and Live Event, which was due to take place at the weekend.
The PlayStation Licensed Qualifying Event, due to take place on May 2 and 3 is also cancelled.
No dates have been provided for postponed events yet, with EA saying they are ‘continuing to evaluate’ the situation.
Minecraft Festival – which was scheduled to be held from the 25 to 27 September has also been cancelled by Mojang after ‘careful consideration and much hand wriggling.’
Tickets for the event were supposed to go on sale on 6 March, but were never released.
The developers announced the news via a blog on the Minecraft website which read: ‘Our partners, producers, and exhibitors are based in all corners of the world, and right now we can’t meet and collaborate in the way we need to. Without knowing exactly when we can resume planning, we have decided to postpone.’
The Overwatch League also cancelled its February and March matches in China and South Korea, while the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC) – the world’s largest professional game industry event – has been postponed.
Organisers say they ‘fully intend to host a GDC event later in the summer.’
Other tech events have been cancelled such as the UK’s biggest mobile phone show, Mobile World Congress, which was set to take place between 24 and 27 February.
The music, film and technology conference, South by Southwest, has also been axed, impacting hundreds of thousands of potential attendees.
Closer to home, the upcoming London Games Festival is still scheduled to go ahead from 26 March to 6 April, with the organisers yet to post any updates regarding Covid-19.
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