Update: Electronic Arts has issued a statement regarding its participation in GDC 2020. The statement reads, "Due to the closely monitored global situation with the coronavirus and the recent increase in cases in new areas, we have decided to take additional steps to protect the health of our employees, including restricting all non-essential travel. [As a result, we have also cancelled our official participation in the GDC and restricted our attendance at other events. We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust our guidelines for employees as we deem appropriate."

Original

The 2020 Game Developers Conference is scheduled to take place in less than a month, but several big names have announced they will not be attending due to ongoing concerns about the new coronavirus.

The biggest cancellations are Sony and Facebook. In consideration of the health and safety of their employees, development partners, and the GDC community, Facebook will not be attending this year's Game Developer Conference.

Sony's statement to GamesIndustry.biz was similar, stating, "We regret to cancel our participation, but the health and safety of our employees worldwide is our primary concern."

According to Alex Scherer, Advertising Product Development Specialist at Electronic Arts, Electronic Arts will "limit its presence" at GDC, although undoubtedly on a smaller scale.

"I just got word from the company that EA will be limiting its presence at GDC and canceling its participation in official GDC events.

Director Hideo Kojima, who was scheduled to speak on Death Stranding, also cancelled Kojima Productions' commitment at the convention. Kojima Productions has made the difficult decision to cancel its participation in the 2020 Game Developers Conference due to growing concerns about the new coronavirus." Although much anticipated, unfortunately this cancellation also includes Hideo Kojima's session on the 19th and Eric Johnson's session on the 16th."

The GDC addressed concerns about the coronavirus in a statement posted on February 20. It said, "We believe we can conduct a safe and successful event for our community based on the strict U.S. quarantine and many enhanced on-site measures surrounding the coronavirus. Locally, the California Department of Health and the San Francisco Health Department have endorsed the public event.

"We also continue to follow the latest CDC and WHO guidance, following in the footsteps of other large international events that have been successfully held at the Moscone Center.

As of February 21, 15 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in California, out of a total of 53 cases across the U.S. GDC has been hit by a rash of cancellations, but PAX East is also taking its toll: Sony has cancelled its March exhibit at the convention, while Square Enix has cancelled its March exhibit at the convention, Square Enix has scaled back.

GDC 2020 will take place March 16-20.