Facebook cancels F8 Developer Conference due to Coronavirus. Microsoft and Unity miss GDC

After the cancellation of the Mobile World Congress, which was due to take place this week in Barcelona, ​​due to the Coronavirus outbreak, there are already other technological highlight events to be victims of cancellation. This time it was Facebook that canceled its own technological event, the F8 Developer Conference due to the same reasons, as the company explained in its blog.

Mark Zuckerberg's company says it was a difficult decision to make, as the F8 is a very important event on its calendar, as well as one of the favorites to celebrate technological news with the world. However, the priority is on the health and safety of the employees and partners who make the event happen. The technology still considered alternatives, holding a limited and inclusive event, but concluded that it would not make sense without the international community to participate. The company will make streams and other means to reveal the news in the coming weeks.

Another important message in the cancellation is Facebook's commitment to the city of So Jos, where the event takes place. Every year the company donates part of the F8 tickets to local organizations that push for the technological industry. And to compensate, this year the company will make a double donation of 500 thousand dollars.

In addition to MWC and F8, another technological event that is also suffering from the effects of the Coronavirus is the Game Developers Conference. Facebook and PlayStation had already revealed their presence at the event that brings together producers in So Francisco, during March 16-20. Now it was Microsoft's turn to announce its absence from the event. After reviewing the plans of the global health authorities, we made the difficult decision to cancel participation in the GDC, the company said in a statement.

Microsoft will, however, complete its physical presence with a digital event between March 16-18 with the content it had planned for the GDC, under the name Gamestack. The program includes technologies for the production of video games and cloud, with support for technological demos. There will be panel discussions with some video game industry leaders on different topics. The company will also show updates from its gaming stadiums, including Double Fine, inXile, Compulsion, Rare, Obsidian and Undead Labs, as well as news about Minecraft and Gears of War.

It should also be noted that GDC also stopped counting on the presence of Kojima Productions, the producer of Hideo Kojima of Death Stranding, as well as Unity Technologies, responsible for the Unity engine, one of the most used in the production of video games. As he explains in his blog, the company will show online the news that he had prepared for the event.

This month we are celebrating 20 years of SAPO TeK. Learn more at https://tek.sapo.pt/tag/SAPOTEK20anos