QuakeCon 25 canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic

QuakeCon, the annual celebration of id Software and Bethesda Softworks’ many video game franchises, has been canceled due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19. The fan convention has taken place since 1996, and this would have been its 25th year. The announcement was made Tuesday on Twitter.

“In recent weeks we have spent a lot of time discussion how we might still move forward with QuakeCon this year,” QuakeCon said in a tweet Tuesday morning. “However, with all of the logistical challenges and uncertainties we currently face due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s QuakeCon.”

The event was scheduled to take place in Aug. 6-9 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. Unlike other states such as New York, California, and Illinois, the governor of Texas has yet to order a state-wide lockdown. Various municipalities are mobilizing as cases of the novel coronavirus begin to mount. id and Bethesda Softworks have opted to not run the risk of bringing in attendees from around the world, even though the event was scheduled to take place in the summer.

“While we don’t know what the state of the pandemic will be this August,” QuakeCon continued, “we do know it will not be possible to complete the work and planning with partners, vendors, volunteers, and others that is required to make QuakeCon a success.”

The fan convention is just the latest in a long string of cancellations and postponements due to the pandemic, including the Game Developers Conference, Emerald City Comic Con, and even the marquee E3 convention in Los Angeles.

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Charlie Hall
Polygon