The mayor of Boston urged Sony to participate in PAX East 2020, after the company confirmed that Sony would not attend this year due to growing concerns about coronavirus.
Boston Mayor Martin Walsh wrote in a letter to the PlayStation CEO (published by WCVB):
The letter specifically mentioned that these concerns were anti-China and anti-Asian, and pointed out that misinformation has played an important role in increasing concern that the virus is spreading throughout the United States.
Walsh said in the letter: "These fears have heightened harmful stereotypes that have been eradicated by generations in Asia." "They have triggered our greatest impulse: to look at the entire population with skepticism and to make ourselves alive. Isolate and miss the opportunities and connections that our global city offers. Boston is united to work to eliminate these harmful and misleading fears. "
Walsh specifically urged PlayStation to play a role in countering these fears.
"As a large international company, you have the opportunity to set a good example," Walsh wrote. "As a leader in technology, you can prove that you are motivated by facts, not fear. As a leader in games and culture, you can show that you believe in connection, not isolation."
As it stands, a Boston resident has been confirmed infected with the virus after returning from a recent trip to Wu'an, the Chinese city of the epidemic. The 20-year-old man is a student at the University of Massachusetts and is at home in isolation while recovering.
Sony announced that it will not participate in last week's event.
The company wrote at the time: "Today, due to growing concerns about COVID-19 (also known as the" new coronavirus "), Sony Interactive Entertainment has decided to cancel its participation at PAX East in Boston this year." "We think this is the most The choice of safety, as circumstances change daily. We are disappointed to cancel this event, but the health and safety of our global employees is our top concern. "
Sony has not directly responded to the mayor of Boston.
Other cancellations or activity delays due to concerns about viruses, including the Tapei Game Show, the PUBG Global Series in Berlin in April, numerous developers at GDC 2020, and "Outer Worlds" were also postponed for Switch.
