Earlier this year, Japanese gaming console maker Sony confirmed that it wouldn't be at the E3 2020. The company also announced earlier today that it would not attend this year's Pax East. While Sony did not mention the reason for its non-participation at this year's E3, it explains its rationale for its absence in this year's Pax East.
Pax East 2020
On its official blog, Sony announced that it is no longer attending this year's Pax East. The Japanese gaming console maker that it is pulling out from the event because of the growing concerns over the threat of COVID-19, which has killed over 2,000 people in China. This year's Pax East is scheduled to take place in Boston, Massachusettes, between Feb. 27 and Mar. 1, 2020.
Sony reportedly has a booth for the said event, which could feature its major games. This includes "Final Fantasy VII Remake," "The Last of Us 2," and "Doom Eternal." More than 70,000 attendees usually grace pax East in the previous years.
In its official statement, Sony says that it felt that it is the safest option to cancel its participation in this year's Pax East. It notes that it is disappointed that it withdraws its participation, but since the situation is changing daily, it is more concerned about the safety of its workforce. Sony made a statement a couple of weeks after news surfaced that a man in Boston was found to be infected with the virus following his return from Wuhan, China.
Pax East Show Event Coordinator Kyle Marsden-Kish said in a statement that Sony's decision saddens the team. However, it is still optimistic that the Japanese gaming giant would be at the future Pax East events. The vent coordinator also assured attendees that the event would take place as scheduled but would come with enhanced sanitation and cleaning.
Marsden-Kish also noted that Pax East would strictly adhere to the recommendations set by the US EPA's Emerging Pathogen Policy on cleaning disinfectants that could effectively counter the COVID-19 virus. Pax East is not the first event that Sony will not attend this year, as it already confirmed that it would not also attend the E3 2020.
PS5 Unveiling
Until now, Sony has not yet officially revealed the PS5. The company earlier admitted that it is not yet prepared to unveil its next-generation gaming console fully. Rumors have it that the Japanese gaming giant might hold its own event and officially launch the PlayStation 5 this month. The PS5 is confirmed to arrive in the holiday of 2020.
