This year's 25th anniversary QuakeCon is cancelled due to coronavirus

Bethesda and id Software have "made the difficult decision" to cancel this year's QuakeCon, which would have marked the 25th anniversary of the event, as a result of the ongoing upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

"In recent weeks, we have spent a lot of time discussing how we might still move forward with QuakeCon this year," the companies wrote in a joint statement, "However, with all of the logistical challenges and uncertainties we currently face due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year's QuakeCon."

"The health and safety of our employees, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, and players will always be our top priority, "the statement continued, "and in these times it felt wrong to be talking about a gathering when gathering is the last thing any of us should be doing right now".

This year's QuakeCon was originally due to be held from 6th-9th August, and while Bethesda and id acknowledged there was no way to predict "what the state of the pandemic will be" by then, "we do know it will not be possible to complete the work and planning with partners, vendors, volunteers, and others that is required to make QuakeCon a success".

"We hope to work with you to come up with other ways to celebrate the spirit of QuakeCon this August, and we look forward to the return of this amazing event next year," the companies concluded, "Until then, be safe, look after each other, and play games."

QuakeCon's cancellation follows the news that this year's Pokemon World Championship Series, set to be held in London this August, will no longer go ahead in response to the coronavirus outbreak. And with organisers of Gamescom stepping up the show's digital presence this August (a decision about the live event's fate is due in mid-May), this could be the beginning of the end for the remaining shows in this year's gaming calendar.