Due to the Coronavirus, a number of events across the globe have been closed, dialled back, or postponed to prevent further spread. As a result, there have been a few changes to Remedy's schedule for the year. Of course, any changes particularly postponed events, are also subject to change at a later date depending on Covid-19's progression and nationwide policies of individual countries.
For Remedy, removing the emotions behind the virus and focusing on the company as a business, the cancellation or digitisation of the events is going to be impacting them in two different ways over the next year. The first is that in their February financial report covering 2018, they were hoping that coverage of Control at award ceremonies would help increase awareness of the game and increase sales; the digitisation of the events may work in their favour but also may work against them in that regard. The second is that CrossFire X, a project in collaboration with Smilegate, is set to be launching in early 2020, and two expansion packs for Control are also scheduled this year. Not being able to connect to the audience directly at conventions or speak at events is going to be change how the studio communicates with its fans and how they can grab the interest of gamers who don't yet know what's in store.
That being said, I'm glad that precautions have been taken to ensure that people remain safe, there's nothing more important. Of course, it's almost impossible to talk about Covid-19 without the emotion, it was definitely unpredicted situation and a legitimate concern for a lot of families, and we hope that everyone stays safe and healthy. Every country has their own advice, but for us in the UK, the best places online are the World Health Organization and the NHS.)
Below is a list of some of the events which were on the horizon for the studio but have since changed:
| GDC 2020 California, USA |
Remedy was set to hold a number of lectures at the event, including one on the creation of Ashtray Maze. The event has been cancelled but instead, the event organisers will be live streaming some of the lectures. A list has recently been made available, but the lineup, at present, is not set to feature the studio.
Original Date: 16-20th March. Moved to 3-7th August 2020
Game Developers Choice Awards 2020
California, USA
The studio was nominated for five awards at this year's Game Developers Choice Awards ceremony including "Game of the Year", "Best Audio", "Best Narrative", "Best Technology", and "Best Visual Art". The ceremony is going ahead with a digital event.
Original Date: 18th March. Going ahead, but as a digital event.
SXSW
Texas, USA
A week before doors were due to open, SXSW announced that they will be cancelling their convention in Texas. There were a few Remedy developers set to attend this year including the studio's Head of Communications who was due to speak.
Original Date: 13-22nd March. Cancelled but looking to postpone instead.
| Bafta Games Awards 2020 London, UK Remedy's CEO, Tero Virtala was due to speak later this month Reboot Develop Blue. As the schedule was not released before the cancellation of the April event, the topic was never released, but you reckon it to be about the studio's transformation or the impact of Control. The event has been postponed until the autumn. At present, we don't know yet if Virtala will be attending the October event. Originally 23-25th April. Moved to October 15th |
ECGC 2020
Raleigh, USA
ECGC always brings in veteran game writers, particularly those who have worked on Remedy titles in the past to take to the stage. With travel blocked from European countries and pressure to hold off on events with several hundred in attendance, the organizers cancelled their 2020 event.
Original Date: 7-9th April. Cancelled.
Reboot Develop Blue 2020
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Remedy's CEO, Tero Virtala was due to speak later this month Reboot Develop Blue. As the schedule was not released before the cancellation of the April event, the topic was never released, but you reckon it to be about the studio's transformation or the impact of Control. The event has been postponed until the autumn. At present, we don't know yet if Virtala will be attending the October event.
Originally 23-25th April. Moved to October 15th
Digital Dragons
Kraków, Poland
Remedy's Senior Narrative Designer, Brooke Maggs, was due to talk about Control's Motel sequences at this year's Digital Dragons event in Poland. The event has recently been postponed until this September.
18-19th May. Moved to 14-15th September
E3 2020
Los Angeles, US
With CrossFire X due to launch this year on XBOX One, and Control's two DLC packs scheduled to be released, this E3 was shaping up to be an important date on the books. Unfortunately in early March, it was cancelled following attendee concerns about the virus, but ESA are looking into a digital presence for the show with many media briefings still going ahead.
Original Date: 9-11th June. Cancelled, but looking to set up an online presence.
