This month in March marks the approaching arrival of the Game Developers Conference (GDC) and South By Southwest Event (SXSW) which are scheduled to initiate in the latter of the month. However, we are already aware that one of the two events will not be present following the declared State of Emergency by the Mayor of San Francisco last month. Following the announcement, the GDC organizers disclosed that the event will be postponed for a rescheduling sometime later this summer.
Now in the midst of the continually increasing outbreak of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States as more cases progress to surface, the city of Austin, Texas has decided to cancel next week’s SXSW. Austin Public Health shared that despite no evidential notion of the coronavirus spreading during the event, the city will take the precaution to ensure no further escalation of the ailment.
Unfortunate for the organizers of the SXSW who wish to proceed with the initial scheduling announce that the group will abide by the city’s demands and will abandon the annual event for the first time in 34 years.
Austin Public Health stated that “there’s no evidence that closing SXSW or any other gatherings will make the community safer.” However, this situation evolved rapidly, and we honor and respect the City of Austin’s decision. We are committed to do our part to help protect our staff, attendees, and fellow Austinites.
The orchestrators for the event then goes on to propose rescheduling 2020’s SXSW to a later date. Even more, the post also suggests ‘virtual SXSW online experience’ to substitute the initially planned event for next week. Currently it is uncertain what will come from the decision, but time will help develop the news as the near future will harbor more answers.
It was also reported this week that despite the State of Emergency that went into effect for the city of Los Angeles, the Electronic Software Association (ESA), the group organizing this June’s E3 announces to continue proceeding with this year’s plans. You can read the full report by heading here.
Were you initially planning on attending this year’s SXSW?
Source: SXSW
