The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is officially going all-digital as announced by organizers on the GDC website. The event has faced countless hiccups due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was postponed to the summer after multiple companies began pulling out due to health concerns. The transition to an all-digital platform is sure to guarantee the event can go on as scheduled on its new dates, August 4th to August 6th.

The original plan was for GDC to go forward with the original March date while taking extra precautions to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. The situation became more dire, and the likelihood of a physical event started to dwindle. The event was never flat out canceled, and eventually, the new August dates were announced under the name GDC Summer. Organizers were exploring the possibility of still holding a physical event but ultimately decided that making the event digital was the best option. In their statement, organizers discuss the decision, saying “As so many game developers embrace remote working arrangements and online collaboration, we’re inspired to adapt and deliver GDC in a digital format that will be available to everyone with an internet connection…”

The purpose of GDC is to connect game industry professionals, provide networking opportunities, and showcase tons of content coming out of the gaming world. As noted by their statement, so many industry professionals are working remotely, so the change may feel less drastic for them.  The situation is different for consumer-driven events like Gamescom and E3. Gamescom will also be happening in a digital setting, and a physical event has been ruled out completely. E3 attempted to go all-digital, but plans were scrapped and the event is now officially canceled.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic runs deep in the gaming industry, as events, game launches, and other ventures are forced to work around the situation. Organizers will share more information on the GDC Summer all-digital event as soon as possible. For details on how to attend, click here.