KEY POINTS

  • This year's Tokyo Game Show has been canceled due to COVID-19
  • The organizer said the move was to protect the health and safety of its visitors, exhibitors and stakeholders
  •  The convention will take place online instead of an in-person affair
  • Important announcements will be coursed through the TGS official website, as well as press releases from late May

The annual Tokyo Game Show became the latest video game-related gathering to cancel its in-person expo due to the pandemic brought by COVID-19.

Japan's Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) confirmed the unfortunate news via a press release, saying that the TGS2020, one of the biggest video game conventions in the world, is canceled because of the outbreak.

“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,” said CESA.

More than 260,000 game enthusiasts are expected to flock to the annual Tokyo Game Show
More than 260,000 game enthusiasts are expected to flock to the annual Tokyo Game Show AFP / CHARLY TRIBALLEAU

The TGS2020 was supposed to take place on September 24-27 at Makuhari Messe. Instead of an in-person event and the fact that it is now canceled, the organizers suggested that the convention will take place online. The organizers however did not divulge more on the information, although important announcements will be coursed through the TGS official website, as well as press releases from late May.

The cancellation, notwithstanding the global pandemic, may also have something to do with the venue. Engadget and Kotaku noted that traveling to Makuhari Messe will mean packed trains, with people going “shoulder-to-shoulder” with each other. This too will resonate when visitors will cram the venue, making them susceptible to catch the virus.

Established in 1996, the Tokyo Game Show was once a twice-a-year video game extravaganza presented by CESA and Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. By 2002, the organizers decided to hold the event once a year. Despite this, the number of visitors grew every year. Its 2011 show gathered over 200,000 participants, while the TGS2012 drew more than 223,000 visitors.

In 2016, TGS saw 271, 224 attendees and 614 companies exhibiting their products. Their biggest event came in 2018 where nearly 300,000 visitors attended the event.

TGS is known for mixing their layout every year, but it is mostly made up of various video game and entertainment-related companies occupying the General Exhibition Area. Merchandise, house-use gaming consoles, smart devices, personal computing, cosplay and even child-friendly games are also showcased in the event.

RELATED STORIES
Coronavirus Japan