The corona virus keeps a firm grip on the video game industry. Now this year's E3 has been canceled. But what about this year's gamescom 2020? Is the German video game fair taking place or do visitors and fans also have to expect a cancellation?
The gamescom 2020 should from August 25th to 29th in Cologne take place – so only in less than five months. Since the situation around the corona virus changes daily, it is currently not possible to make a clear prognosis about a possible cancellation. Here you can read everything about the current state of affairs.
On the official website, the organizers announce that the preparations for gamescom 2020 "are continuing as planned". After all, it is currently not clear to what extent the coronavirus pandemic can be contained and regulations of the Ministry of Health will apply in August 2020 – which one would definitely like to take into account.
At the current state of affairs, for example, many schools remain closed at the direction of the Ministry of Health, employees are asked to work from their home office, and North Rhine-Westphalia is valid until at least mid-April Ban on events for more than 1,000 participants – while up to 100,000 people are out and about at gamescom every day.
Gaming industry plagued by cancellations
Also internationally, the E3 2020 is not the first video game event that is affected by cancellations due to the corona virus: Among other things, the PAX East, GDC and major e-sports tournaments have been canceled or at least are not taking place in the form originally intended.
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However, it will still be five months until the gamescom takes place in August 2020, in which the current situation can change – which is why no final and reliable forecast can currently be made. And so those responsible at gamescom are sticking to the fact that the largest video game fair in the world 2020 could take place as planned until further notice.
Advance ticket sales despite E3 cancellation
The official pre-sale of tickets for gamescom 2020 started on March 11, 2020: At www.gamescom.de, interested video game fans can already buy tickets for the trade fair taking place in August.
We asked the organizers of gamescom 2020 how big the risk was that the video game fair would have to be canceled or postponed and what the alternative plans might look like.
We also want to find out from the organizers whether ticket buyers in the event of cancellation or postponement their cards refunded to get. We will update this article accordingly as soon as we have received a response from those responsible at gamescom.
Protective measures already planned
Measures to ensure the safety of trade fair visitors are also under discussion – a statement has already been made on the gamescom official website. For example, disinfectants are to be offered on site and terrain areas with a high number of visitors are to be cleaned at a higher frequency.
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Gamescom would also like to have qualified doctors and paramedics in the existing medical stations prepare for possible suspected cases and provide for queries. As a result, according to the official statement, all "spatial and organizational precautions have already been taken" to "take immediate remedial action" in the event of suspected cases.
Coronavirus information and protections
The Federal Health Administration offers a comprehensive FAQ on the subject of coronavirus, as well as daily news and instructions on protection against infection. In addition, you can reach the independent patient advice on the following telephone number: 0800 011 77 22
