What are the chances of imminent releases getting delayed due to the coronavirus?

thepenguin55 · Mar 12, 2020

While a pandemic like this may be a great time to sit at home and play games I can't imagine many publishers are super stoked about putting a game out in the current market. Certainly digital game sales probably won't be too hurt by the current situation (though if people continue to lose their jobs over the current situation then maybe digital sales will be impacted) but I could see physical game sales taking a big hit here. Between that and coronavirus just in general dominating the airwaves and minds of people so to speak I could see some publishers wanting to delay their games (even imminent releases like FF7 Part 1 & RE3). Not to mention further out releases that are still deep in development.

Alternatively, I could see publishers delaying just the physical release of their games but keeping the digital releases on track or I could even see publishers delaying their shipments to just brick & mortar retailers because who really wants to step into a Best Buy or GameStop right now? I mean, we could even start seeing general supply chain issues related to the current situation. Honestly, what are the chances that the coronavirus puts the final nail in GameStop's coffin?

These concerns are obviously incredibly minor when you consider everything that's been going on and apologies for not making the most positive minded thread but I have a feeling this thing is going to have an even bigger ripple effect on this industry than it already has had considering that it is already having a big effect on society as a whole.

STAY SAFE OUT THERE EVERYONE!!!

Deleted member 2791 · Mar 12, 2020

I don't think discs and cartridge productions are noticeably impacted by the current situation. It's hardware that's at issue.

Goldenroad · Mar 12, 2020

Nah. They'd rather sell digital copies anyway so they don't have to give up that retailer portion. But also people can have games delivered from Gamestop, Best Buy etc, without having to leave their house. Imminent games will still come out, but I don't know about games that are supposed to come out later this year.

Rotobit · Mar 12, 2020

I'd say low, at least games coming out before May are probably fine. The marketing budget has been spent, there's presumably more than enough discs and boxes, and online retailers can ship them out pretty easily, not to mention digital sales making up a large percentage nowadays.

It's the in-store purchaes that'll take the biggest hit, but I don't think the likes of Square Enix, Atlus etc. will want to repeat their marketing just for those.

Clark Zuckerberg · Mar 12, 2020

Seems like a perfect time to push digital sales though, if we're being honest.

thepenguin55 · Mar 12, 2020

Goldenroad said:
Nah. They'd rather sell digital copies anyway so they don't have to give up that retailer portion. But also people can have games delivered from Gamestop, Best Buy etc, without having to leave their house. Imminent games will still come out, but I don't know about games that are supposed to come out later this year.

Sure but if you thought receiving packages through Amazon this past holiday season was a nightmare then get ready because I have a feeling the next few months are going to be a shit show for every package delivery service.

elenarie · Mar 12, 2020

Can only speak from our side. Some of our stuff is getting delayed. We simply do not have the same velocity and capacity, especially when you factor in localisation, testing, compliance, and so on. We've a fantastic IT team, but still, it's quite the challenge to transition hundreds of people to work from home on our franchises from several different countries.

Browser · Mar 12, 2020

digital sales are already over 50% of sales of games usually, I guess?

As people try to buy games in retail stores and the shipping time goes up from days to weeks, that just encourages more people to go digital. We are being groomed for a digital future for this entire generation, I think it will be ok

Zen · Mar 12, 2020

*Shinji Hashimoto walks onto official live stream*

FlintSpace · Mar 12, 2020

Offices are not closed, and I doubt logistics of any sort will be hit by this at all. Physical will be just fine as this is not a service/sales industry.

digit_zero · Mar 12, 2020

Don't put this in the universe so close to Animal Crossing finally releasing

iksenpets · Mar 12, 2020

I don't think imminent releases will be affected — if it's got a date, it's probably safe — but you could end up with a major dry period in 2021 as currently unannounced stuff gets quietly pushed back due to office closures and inability to hire Asian contractors.

Also, the new consoles will probably end up severely supply constrained for the first several months, though I doubt they'll push them back.

Kikujiro · Mar 12, 2020

I read that in Italy that this past week gaming spending saw a surge due to the quarantine, of course software development is probably going to face some delays.

Mik2121 · Mar 12, 2020

elenarie said:
Can only speak from our side. Some of our stuff is getting delayed. We simply do not have the same velocity and capacity, especially when you factor in localisation, testing, compliance, and so on. We've a fantastic IT team, but still, it's quite the challenge to transition hundreds of people to work from home on our franchises from several different countries.

How are you guys handling security and all that? I work on the same industry but my employer hasn't said anything about this.
And I assume work from home only for people already with workstations at home? Or your employer is sending actual PCs? That'd be incredible...

xir · Mar 12, 2020

The turbo graphics 16 mini got delayed

srtrestre · Mar 12, 2020

As long as AniCross releases on time I'm fine. Dun care if anything else is delayed.

elenarie · Mar 12, 2020

Mik2121 said:
How are you guys handling security and all that? I work on the same industry but my employer hasn't said anything about this.
And I assume work from home only for people already with workstations at home? Or your employer is sending actual PCs? That'd be incredible...

We're doing everything we can, enabling people to work on the go, to remote into their work PCs, and are also sending hardware from work to people's houses and apartments where needed, for processing photogrammetry data, doing level art work, and similarly intensive tasks. Everything gets encrypted before being sent.

It is an unprecedented thing to do, but these are strange times.

ClickyCal' · Mar 12, 2020

Imminent stuff basically won't. I could see GoT maybe pushed back if the ps5 is since it was pushed up anyway to make room for the ps5 launch.

thepenguin55 · Mar 12, 2020

elenarie said:
Can only speak from our side. Some of our stuff is getting delayed. We simply do not have the same velocity and capacity, especially when you factor in localisation, testing, compliance, and so on. We've a fantastic IT team, but still, it's quite the challenge to transition hundreds of people to work from home on our franchises from several different countries.

Mik2121 said:
How are you guys handling security and all that? I work on the same industry but my employer hasn't said anything about this.
And I assume work from home only for people already with workstations at home? Or your employer is sending actual PCs? That'd be incredible...

Yeah, I guess you would think companies like game devs or that work in tech in some capacity would have an easy time transitioning everyone to being able to work from home but I'm sure that the reality is very different. Between making sure everyone has the equipment they need and the coordinating... it sounds like it would be a nightmare. lol

Serene · Mar 12, 2020

Hardware maybe. Any software coming in the next few months is basically done at this point. Don't see any delays on that front. Latter half of the year is where it could get shaky.

GamerDude · Mar 12, 2020

I don't think anything imminent will be delayed. I do wonder about games that are a bit further off and still require work from the studio though. Could Cyberpunk be pushed to 2021 or maybe just November? Even Ghost of Tushima delayed from June to September?

elenarie · Mar 12, 2020

thepenguin55 said:
Yeah, I guess you would think companies like game devs or that work in tech in some capacity would have an easy time transitioning everyone to being able to work from home but I'm sure that the reality is very different. Between making sure everyone has the equipment they need and the coordinating... it sounds like it would be a nightmare. lol

Not everyone has high end Xeon CPUs with 2080 Ti and 64GB of RAM sitting at home to be similarly productive as at the office. And doing graphics intensive work over RDP is not the best.

SpaceCrystal · Mar 12, 2020

Passing Assassin said:
I don't think discs and cartridge productions are noticeably impacted by the current situation. It's hardware that's at issue.

This. Most games aren't exactly made in China.

benzopil · Mar 12, 2020

Streamline: COVID-19 will delay games and not just consoles

The impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on the production of games hardware has been widely discussed. According…

www.gamesindustry.biz

"Equivalent to about two thirds of the external development outsourcing supply is located in China -- and they've been thrown completely out of whack"

rochellepaws · Mar 12, 2020

I think this is turning into a terrible time to release games, people are talking about nothing else at the moment and it's becoming increasingly more of a health risk to travel to stores as well as many non-food stores completely closing in certain countries.
Digital becomes more attractive in this case but there's also the reality of an impending recession and many people fearing for the future of their jobs in certain sectors like retail, live entertainment, tourism and catering as well as others having to isolate without pay so I'm not really sure spending large amounts on video games is top of the agenda at the moment.

Then there's RE3 and TLOU2 which may be especially problematic to market given the subject matter.

It's probably too late for many of those games to be delayed but I could see sales being greatly affected.

Mik2121 · Mar 12, 2020

elenarie said:
We're doing everything we can, enabling people to work on the go, to remote into their work PCs, and are also sending hardware from work to people's houses and apartments where needed, for processing photogrammetry data, doing level art work, and similarly intensive tasks. Everything gets encrypted before being sent.

It is an unprecedented thing to do, but these are strange times.

Interesting. I'm not expecting much from my side (we have ~2500 ish employees, most of us actual devs) , but I'd love for them to make it an option for the people who'd rather keep things on the safe side until things calm down. Strange times indeed. Best of luck to you guys.

LordofPwn · Mar 12, 2020

most imminent games have already gone gold so they wont be affected. games coming this summer and later will be hit much harder though.

texhnolyze · Mar 12, 2020

Embrace digital.

Deleted member 32822 · Mar 12, 2020

Digital sales will shoot up if anything.

Lkr · Mar 12, 2020

I remember a month ago, people on gaming side legit believed that this would not impact next gen production/release. Anyone who argued otherwise was out of their mind and fear mongering

thepenguin55 · Mar 12, 2020

elenarie said:
Not everyone has high end Xeon CPUs with 2080 Ti and 64GB of RAM sitting at home to be similarly productive as at the office. And doing graphics intensive work over RDP is not the best.

Haha, oh, you don't just have those lying around?

Stay safe! I wish you and the team the best!

rochellepaws said:
I think this is turning into a terrible time to release games, people are talking about nothing else at the moment and it's becoming increasingly more of a health risk to travel to stores as well as many non-food stores completely closing in certain countries.
Digital becomes more attractive in this case but there's also the reality of an impending recession and many people fearing for the future of their jobs in certain sectors like retail, live entertainment, tourism and catering as well as others having to isolate without pay so I'm not really sure spending large amounts on video games is top of the agenda at the moment.

Then there's RE3 and TLOU2 which may be especially problematic to market given the subject matter.

It's probably too late for many of those games to be delayed but I could see sales being greatly affected.

I agree. While for many right now gaming is a great distraction there will also be many who are too emotionally distracted to play games or people who are in too difficult of a financial situation to play games. Both FF7 Part 1 & RE3 launch in about a month and think about just how much worse things got in the span of just a week. By the time April 3rd or even April 10th arrive what will the situation be like? Presumably things will only get worse before they get better so I'm still curious if we'll see some delays.

Transistor · Mar 12, 2020

This can be discussed here:

Do you think Corona virus might affect gaming landscape?

For example production of PC/console parts in China or Resident Evil 3 release. Not sure if releasing game about deadly outbreak would be a good idea in current situation (at least in Asia). It seems things are heading into pretty grim direction and Corona might affect a lot of segments, so I...

www.resetera.com

What are the chances of imminent releases getting delayed due to the coronavirus?

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