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Gamescom cancelled, will be an online-only event as Germany blocks public gatheringsNot quite GamesGone
Not quite GamesGone
Chalk another one on the board, team. Gamescom 2020 has been added to the illustrious list of eventscalled off due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, nestled alongside the likes of E3 and GDC. But look on the bright side - while the Koelnmesse might be silent this August, Gamescom organisers this week announced plans to replace the on-site show with an entirely-online digital event.
To combat Covid-19, the German government has extended its ban on public gathering until August 31st (via German-language outletKölner Stadt-Anzeiger). That spells trouble for Cologne convention Gamescom which, unfortunately, was scheduled from August 25-29. Even without the ban, it may have been irresponsible to host a convention that last year saw over 370,000 people attend, considering a vaccine for the virus may be at least a year out.
Official statement regarding#gamescom2020⬇️pic.twitter.com/fHaN4GOULM— gamescom (@gamescom)April 16, 2020
Official statement regarding#gamescom2020⬇️pic.twitter.com/fHaN4GOULM
— gamescom (@gamescom)April 16, 2020
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Will we miss not covering Gamescom from a crowded show floor? Probably? I don’t know, I’ve actually never been. Last year’s show gave us some absolute corkers on everything fromCyberpunk 2077andVampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2to bizarre gems likeThe Eternal Cylinder.
Given CDPR intend to launch Cyberpunk as-planned in September, we’ll likely get one last drop before release. It’d be neat to see a few more vampires ahead of Halloween. But hopefully, Gamescom’s online replacement finds ways to platform the less headline-grabbing games you’d usually catch from the corner of a packed Koelnmesse hall.
Gamescom’s showrunners hope to detail more on Gamescom’s replacement in the coming weeks. As always, we’ll keep you posted.
