Germany’s annual video game trade fair Gamescom has officially been canceled in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originally set to take place at the Koelnmesse GmbH exhibition center in Cologne, Gamescom 2020 will no longer be staged on-site. The event organizers made the decision in compliance with the German government’s directive to ban large-scale events that “play a major role in the dynamics of infection” according to The Local.

Gamescom’s four-day event schedule runs August 25-29. However, the nationwide event ban will last until August 31.



To make up for the canceled event, the Gamescom team promises to deliver an awesome digital experience for everyone.

“We are already working at full speed on a digital Gamescom,” according to an official statement by the staff. “It is, after all, the world’s biggest event for games, and that’s what it should be again this year.”

More information will be revealed about plans for the digital Gamescom event in the coming weeks. Koelnmesse is also making the necessary arrangements for ticket refunds.

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