More and more events are being delayed or cancelled as concerns over the spread of COVID-19, known also as the coronavirus, continue to grow. This time it is NetherRealm Studios who have revealed that the Last Chance Qualifier for its upcoming Final Kombat 2020 tournament for Mortal Kombat 11 has been cancelled along with the live audience at the final event, but the timing has rubbed some people the wrong way.
While several other events and tournaments around the globe are being cancelled or pushed back to a later date, most are doing so with as much warning as possible to deal with the implications and costs of travelling. NetherRealm Studios on the other hand has made the decision to cancel its event with one a day’s notice, leaving hopeful competitors and fans who traveled to the event with almost no time to react. The Final Kombat 2020 event will still take place on Sunday, but only the top 16 competitors will be in attendance, and the rounds will be livestreamed rather than with a live audience.
It is unclear exactly why NetherRealm Studios took so long to make the formal decision to cancel the event. For weeks now other live tournaments have seen delays and cancellations. EA announced yesterday that several events have been shifted or outright cancelled for both Apex Legends and FIFA, most of which were scheduled for later in the month or early April.
While the timing is rather poor as players and hopeful attendees have already traveled to the venue in Chicago, NetherRealm Studios looks to be doing the right thing in compensating everyone for their airfare and accommodation. They have released a statement that says, “For those fans who Purchased General Admission and Last Chance Qualifier tickets and also incurred noncancelable/non-refundable hotel and airfare costs to attend, please reach out to mk@intersportnet.com”
Hopefully this will be the last large event that is cancelled with such short notice. While the financial compensation is a reasonable gesture, the time and effort needed to coordinate such a trip is now wasted, and this is one sure way to alienate fans.
Fans who want to catch the action of Final Kombat 2020 can now do so through the global livestream beginning at 11AM CST across all Mortal Kombat 11 channels, including Twitch (NetherRealm), Mixer (NetherRealm), YouTube (Mortal Kombat), Facebook (@MortalKombat) and Steam (Mortal Kombat 11). Be sure to check it out, as the first glimpse into Spawn, the last character of the DLC Kombat Pack I will be revealed.
Source: NetherRealm Studios