The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic has hit the video game industry in a big way, most importantly leading to a backlash Game Developer Conference last week. As a response to the virus spreading in Washington King County, Microsoft and Bungie, both with offices in the area, have decided to issue home-use policies from an effort to keep their office staff safe.
In the message posted yesterday, Microsoft's Vice President Kurt DelBene urged employees at the company's Redmond and Bay Area offices to work from home until March 25 if possible. Roles requiring onsite work, such as in a database and retail outlets, are not included in the program, but there are exceptions for those over 60, pregnant, or otherwise at risk because of underlying health conditions.
Microsoft "will continue to implement the CDC's guidelines for cleaning and sanitizing those areas" DelBene said.
Bungie, whose capital is in Bellevue, Washington, followed that today statement its own With the threat of coronavirus growth in the region, Bungie says it has introduced "work infrastructure" to ensure employee safety and maintain development, especially Conclusion 2 and its future narrative content.
"Bungie's approach to the COVID-19 outbreak is designed to respond to immediate changes such as press releases, including how to reassemble staff and return to home offices once the virus threat has dropped," Bungie said in a statement. “While this is a big change for Bungie, we look forward to the challenge as an opportunity to broaden our creative potential and deliver the same kind of game quality we always have in a new way. Live, take care of yourself, and see you online. ”
This new homework policy extends to all of Bungie's work, but the studio doesn't see any changes to the release of Conclusion 2 expansions Qualifying Time March 10 no Trials of Osiris on March 13.
King County, located in central Washington, includes other major cities of the state, including Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, and Redmond. Since the arrival of the coronavirus & # 39; s in the area, 31 people have been infected and nine have died.
Kotaku He contacted the Seattle-Nintendo and Valve firms about how they plan to talk about the outbreak of King County locations at their Redmond and Bellevue offices.
