In a not-too-surprising development, an in-person Tokyo Game Show has been canceled for 2020. The organizers cite the COVID-19 pandemic.
The show – which is the largest video game convention in the world – typically draws nearly 300,000 visitors each year. In a statement the Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association – which organizes TGS – lays out their rationale:
Due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on a global scale and the situation remains unpredictable in Japan as well, the organizer and the co-organizers have reached this decision after a long consideration to place the utmost priority on the health and safety of visitors, exhibitors, and stakeholders. We ask for your kind understanding and cooperation.
Of course, E3 is not happening this year either. Although I am sure that there were some who were holding out hope that TGS could still be held in September. With so many people gathering shoulder-to-shoulder, these large events are just not practical for the foreseeable future.
However, the organizer says that there will be an online event. What exactly that looks like, we do not yet know. Most likely we’re talking about game reveals on YouTube and the like. But just as the 2020 summer Olympics are put on hold, a jam-packed Tokyo Game Show is not in the cards this year.
