Tokyo Game Show 2020 as we’ve known it for over 20 years has been cancelled.
The management company behind the show has announced that instead of a physical event, Tokyo Game Show will be a solely online affair this year. Here’s a bit from the announcement, edited slightly for clarity:
“Due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on a global scale and the unpredictable situation in Japan, the organizer and the co-organizers have reached this decision after much consideration to place the utmost priority on the health and safety of visitors, exhibitors, and stakeholders. We ask for your kind understanding and cooperation.”
Tokyo Game Show 2020 physical event has been cancelled. A digital event will be held instead https://t.co/0BRtVRUANN pic.twitter.com/316MDFes0h
— Wario64 (@Wario64) May 8, 2020
This is the first time that TGS has ever been canceled since it started in 1996, but the news won’t come as a surprise to anyone. Virtually every in-person gaming event this year has been scratched from the calendar, including E3 and Gamescom, the biggest shows in the US and Europe respectively.
TGS 2020 would likely have gained more attention than in the average year because of its status as the last major trade show before the launch of the upcoming next-gen consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Both systems are set to go on sale this holiday season, but the opportunities to see them in person ahead of their release are probably going to be more limited than usual.