Bad news for gamers heading up to Boston next week: the PlayStation PAX East events have been universally canceled amidst concerns over the coronavirus.
@AutomaticZen noticed an update to the PlayStation Blog on Twitter. The blog post which was previously hyping up a playable version of The Last of Us Part II now has a rather disappointing message for fans who were looking forward to playing this upcoming game.
UPDATE: Today, Sony Interactive Entertainment made the decision to cancel its participation at PAX East in Boston this year due to increasing concerns related to COVID-19 (also known as “novel coronavirus”). We felt this was the safest option as the situation is changing daily. We are disappointed to cancel our participation in this event, but the health and safety of our global workforce is our highest concern
The news of the PlayStation PAX East events being canceled is surely a disappointment to gamers who were looking forward to The Last of Us Part II and other presentations from Sony, but it's certainly understandable considering the growing risk of the coronavirus (especially in Asia). While they haven't explicitly stated that the game won't be playable at the show, it's unlikely that it will make a showing without Sony reps present.
What Are PAX's Plans With PlayStation PAX East Canceled?
Concerns over the coronavirus haven't only affected Sony's plans for heading to PAX East. The convention itself has just announced measures that are being taken to ensure that attendees will be kept as safe as possible. Furthermore, the organization expressed its disappointment and understanding of Sony's decision to not attend.
PAX East 2020 will take place as scheduled with enhanced cleaning and sanitization across the show, including adhering to the recommendations set forth in the U.S. EPA’s Emerging Pathogen Policy regarding cleaning disinfectants effective against the COVID-19 virus. We are working closely with the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and following local, state and federal public health guidelines, including those issued by the CDC. For more information on those measures and the virus, please visit the PAX East travel page and the MCCA website.
While we are saddened that Sony will no longer have a presence at PAX East 2020, we look forward to welcoming our friends at Sony to future PAX events and are focused on making PAX East 2020 a successful and enjoyable event for all attendees and exhibitors.
No other major cancellations have been announced as of yet. With the convention just a week away, it's doubtful that anyone developers will pull the eject handle and decide not to go, but anything is possible.
What do you think of the PlayStation PAX East events being canceled? Are you disappointed that you won't be able to play The Last of Us Part II at the show? Let us know in the comments below!
