'This Is Quite a Blow.' The Coronavirus Is Wreaking Havoc on the Video Game Industry

As many people around the world limit their time outdoors for fear of the coronavirus, one might think it's a boon time for the video game industry, which can provide a form of entertainment that isolated people so desperately need. But in reality, the outbreak could not have come at a worse time for the gaming business. Concerns over the virus, which can cause potentially deadly health complications, have led organizers to postpone a major industry event where designers often make big publication deals, potentially killing the next Fortnite in the cradle. Furthermore, it threatens to wreak havoc with the industry's supply chain just as Sony and Microsoft, two of the industry's biggest competitors, are gearing up to release their next big consoles later this year. News that the Game Developers Conference, or GDC, was being rescheduled came down late Friday.