Sony Pulls Out of PAX East Gaming Show, Citing Coronavirus

The coronavirus outbreak is threatening to ruin another trade show.

On Wednesday, Sony said it's withdrawing from the PAX East video gaming event, which is set to take place in Boston from Feb.

27 to March 1.

“We felt this was the safest option as the situation is changing daily,” Sony Interactive Entertainment said in a blog post.

“We are disappointed to cancel our participation in this event, but the health and safety of our global workforce is our highest concern.”

The company made the abrupt announcement as the number of coronavirus infections in Japan have more than doubled in the past week, from 26 to 65 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization.

Another 621 people have been quarantined in a cruise ship at a Japanese port, according to The New York Times.

However, hundreds of other passengers have already left the vessel, sparking worries that some of those same passengers may have been infected, but have yet to show symptoms.

Sony was slated to demo more than a dozen upcoming games at PAX East, so it's a big loss for fans. But despite the company's cancellation, PAX East said the show will still go on.

“While we are saddened that Sony will no longer have a presence at PAX East 2020, we look forward to welcoming our friends at Sony to future PAX events,” event organizers said in a statement.

To prevent the spread of illness, PAX East is implementing an “enhanced cleaning and sanitzation” program to keep the show’s venue free of germs.

“We are working closely with the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and following local, state and federal public health guidelines, including those issued by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control),” the show added.

So far, the coronavirus outbreak has caused the cancellation of Mobile World Congress, a Japanese camera trade show called CP+, and a 5,000-person marketing summit Facebook was planning to hold later this month.

Last Friday, IBM also decided to cancel its appearance from the upcoming RSA cybersecurity show in San Francisco.

The coronavirus outbreak is threatening to ruin another trade show.

On Wednesday, Sony said it's withdrawing from the PAX East video gaming event, which is set to take place in Boston from Feb.

27 to March 1.

“We felt this was the safest option as the situation is changing daily,” Sony Interactive Entertainment said in a blog post.

“We are disappointed to cancel our participation in this event, but the health and safety of our global workforce is our highest concern.”

The company made the abrupt announcement as the number of coronavirus infections in Japan have more than doubled in the past week, from 26 to 65 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization.

Another 621 people have been quarantined in a cruise ship at a Japanese port, according to The New York Times.

However, hundreds of other passengers have already left the vessel, sparking worries that some of those same passengers may have been infected, but have yet to show symptoms.

Sony was slated to demo more than a dozen upcoming games at PAX East, so it's a big loss for fans. But despite the company's cancellation, PAX East said the show will still go on.

“While we are saddened that Sony will no longer have a presence at PAX East 2020, we look forward to welcoming our friends at Sony to future PAX events,” event organizers said in a statement.

To prevent the spread of illness, PAX East is implementing an “enhanced cleaning and sanitzation” program to keep the show’s venue free of germs.

“We are working closely with the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and following local, state and federal public health guidelines, including those issued by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control),” the show added.

So far, the coronavirus outbreak has caused the cancellation of Mobile World Congress, a Japanese camera trade show called CP+, and a 5,000-person marketing summit Facebook was planning to hold later this month.

Last Friday, IBM also decided to cancel its appearance from the upcoming RSA cybersecurity show in San Francisco.