The Computer Entertainment Suppliers Association (CESA) of Japan confirmed that the 2020 Tokyo Game Show will not be happening this year. Citing concerns about the spread of coronavirus pandemic restriction on large gatherings, they will instead choose to hold the annual event through an online party.

According to IGN, the expo was supposed to be held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on Sept. 24 to 27. More information about the online event will be released later this month. CESA, in a press release, stated that the decision came because of the unpredictable nature of COVID-19. The online gathering was deemed the safest for those who still don't want to miss the annual electronics expo.

The Tokyo Game Show joined a long list of other annual expos which have since been cancelled due to the global pandemic. The list includes Gamescom, Bitsummit, GDC, the San Diego Comic-Con and the E3 summit. The Gamescom team is currently discussing plans of holding a digital event in place of the live expo, similar to what CESA has come up.

There are other events, however, that have been rescheduled instead of being cancelled completely. The EA Play 2020 by Electronic Arts, for instance, has become an all-digital event that will feature new “Madden NFL” and “FIFA” games.

EA announced in a tweet that the digital event will happen on June 11 at 4 pm PST, Yahoo! News reported. Nintendo, on the other hand, may cancel its annual Direct presentation, Express UK reported.

CESA asked for the consideration of their fans and expo participants, as they try to navigate the ins and outs of the lockdowns, which had become a global situation.

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
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