The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has forced many events to cancel in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. The Game Developers Conference (GDC) was due to take place next week in San Francisco with organisers cancelling the show last month. This has lead companies to look at alternative ways of engaging with their audience, today seeing Facebook announce its online Game Developers Showcase.
Much like GDC itself, the showcase will take place over several days, beginning on 16th March at 17:00 GMT and running through to 19th March. You’ll be able to tune in see updates and trailers from anticipated titles coming to Oculus Quest and Oculus Rift as well as special announcements from developers themselves.
Plenty is expected with Facebook revealing there will be updates for current videogames like Pistol Whip from Cloudhead Games and Beat Games’ Beat Saber. As for upcoming titles soon to be released, The Room VR: A Dark Matter from Fireproof Games, Drifter Entertainment’s Lies Beneath and Phantom: Covert Ops from nDreams are all set to feature in some way.
On the very last day, 19th March, Facebook will release three video workshops covering a range of topics; from new and upcoming tools to insider techniques and tips to help developers building Oculus Quest and Rift experiences. These videos are:
- VR Business Best Practices
- The Future of Playing Together and Where Multiplayer Is Going in VR
- Best Practices For Launching Games on Oculus
The Game Developers Showcase might also be used to start preparations for the one-year anniversary of both Oculus Quest and Rift S in May. Back in 2017 for the first anniversary of of the original Oculus Rift the company held a big software sale and followed suit in 2018. A software sale is most likely for Oculus Quest and Rift S but could the standalone headset see its first official discount?
This step into digital announcements will continue as the year progresses with HTC’s Vive Ecosystem Conference (HTC 2020 VEC) being held in VR and the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) now also cancelled. As further digital conference announcements are made, VRFocus will keep you updated.
via Mint VR