698 - 02/23/20 Bobby Blackwolf Show - Amid COVID-19 Fears, Companies Abandon Gaming Expos
- NOTE: This episode was taped before more information was released about the nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, and there will probably be a little bit of crow eating on the next episode.
- We start off by reading viewer comments about Sony waiting for Microsoft to announce the Xbox Series X price before announcing the PS5 price.
- Bethesda is the latest company to pull all of their titles from the recently launched NVIDIA GeForce NOW.
- Sony has pulled out of PAX East due to fears of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), which prompted the Mayor to ask them to reconsider.
- Square Enix pulled out of their PAX East panels, not sending their Japanese development team for Final Fantasy XIV, but was still manning a booth.
- Sony and Facebook Gaming/Oculus pulled out of GDC, leaving some of the people showcasing in their booth out in the cold. (Spoiler alert - they weren't the last to do so.)
- Then we talk about Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE: Encore, and tips for going on a cruise ship.
Download the MP3! - 29MB, 1 hour 1 minute 51 seconds
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e3vL
2/29/2020 10:30 AM
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Sony probably wanted the PS5 console reveal to be done by Sony's President instead of a local representive. He probably didn't feel comfortable about the corona virus. Major console reveal is made every few years and is more impactful when made by the president or CEO than a repesentive the public is not familar with.
They could focus just on games, but after the logo reveal at CES, major media outlets probably expect a console reveal at next major event/trade show.
Cancelling isn't cheap. Probably cost them 1000s of dollars: space at convention, cancel flights, hotels, promotional materials, etc
Devs who were scheduled to be in Sony's and Oculus booth probably got reenburist by respective companies for travel and hotel. Don't want any bad future relationships espeically at the start of a new console life cycle
Working in a hospital setting; there are more patients with viruses than what's reported in public media due to patient confidetiality especially among the upper class.
If anything, Sony is playing on the safe side. If an outbreak were to occur imagine the bad PR for the new console. News outlets may post fake news/click bait news articles with headlines like "Conora Virus infects PS5" or "PlayStation 5 revealed during Corona virus event"
Aside from fear of mongering from the corona viris; Sony probably didn't want to show up b/c they're not 100% sure they can release the 2nd week of November due to hardware production issues in China. Also MS haven't annoucned the price yet for Xbox Series X.
Like a delayed game annoucement, majority of gamers (except maybe those who bought tickets) will not remember this
cancellation in a few years time.
In other news GDC is delayed due to conrona virus