GDC 2020 Shifts To All-Digital Event

The Game Developers Conference is shifting plans once again in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Though it had been postponed to the summer, organizers now say it will shift to an all-digital event in order to keep participants safe and best serve the community.

"As so many game developers embrace remote working arrangements and online collaboration, we're inspired to adapt and deliver GDC in a digital format that will be available to everyone with an internet connection, and will work hard to deliver the high-quality content and networking opportunities GDC attendees have come to expect," organizers said in a statement on the official site.

GDC usually takes place in San Francisco in March. As the global health situation became more pressing, organizers at first announced it would move ahead with extra precautions to stem the spread of the virus. Shortly after, it postponed to an indefinite time in the summer, and then in March it announced new dates: August 4-6. This new announcement references the event still taking place in August.

As opposed to consumer-facing shows like E3 and Gamescom, GDC is built for those who work in the industry to network and share insights. Details on how it will facilitate its usual slate of panels and other events digitally are still forthcoming.

Meanwhile, E3 2020 has been canceled and the ESA will not be hosting a replacement digital event, instead leaving it up to individual publishers to set their own events. Gamescom, which takes place in late August in Cologne, Germany, has announced plans to shift to an all-digital event.