While the effects of the coronavirus are still being measured, and will probably be felt for quite some time, one of its first victims within the gaming world was the postponement of the Game Developers Conference. Having grown from its humble beginnings into a solid foundation, the initial announcement was shocking, but ultimately understandable. Rather than committing to a full cancellation, the organizers stated that a similar event would take place in Summer instead. Yesterday, plans for GDC Summer 2020 were detailed.

GDC Summer is a three-day event taking place from August 4-6 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The event will showcase video games and their development, much like the normal GDC. They’re planning for the same level of content and expert-led talks and an open show floor, albeit in a more condensed format. Some new aspects will be micro-talks and fireside chats aimed at previously untargeted areas as well as a dedicated space for career development. This area will help with game pitches, business organization and communication, and other development strategies.

Additionally, they’ll be trying out a new program that will allow organizations more freedom to host specialized meetings, record podcasts, portfolio reviews, and other opportunities within the venue. Limited floor space has prevented this from happening in the past. This could be a great opportunity for one-on-one time with developers and/or publishers to connect with the gaming community and maybe even discover the next big thing! Tickets will be available soon, starting at $99 for an Expo pass and $299 for a Conference pass. These prices will go up after July 10th. To sign up for updates on GDC Summer 2020, you can check it out here.

What do you think of this alternative option to the standard GDC format? Will you be going, or do you think you’ll pass and check out the standard GDC next year? Let us know in the comments below, we greatly appreciate it.