Combo Breaker 2020 Canceled Due To Coronavirus Concerns

Similar to other scheduled events like E3 and WonderCon, the organizers behind Combo Breaker confirmed that this year's tournament has been canceled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The organization announced in a detailed blog post that the fighting tournament will return in 2021 with help from its sponsor Astro Gaming, and refunds for competitor and community passes will begin on April 20. Instead of the scheduled tournament from May 22-24, "a three-day retrospective broadcast featuring marquee matches, special moments, and stories from past attendees covering Combo Breaker's five-year history" will air in its place. The organization didn't specify where the Combo Break Retrospective will livestream.

For those who managed to grab a hotel room at the Schaumburg Renaissance Marriott in Illinois, the tournament's organizers said these rooms have been transferred to Combo Breaker 2021 to avoid any hassle. However, they can also be canceled by calling the hotel directly starting April 3, and deposits will be returned in full should rooms be canceled.

The same can't be said for plane fare, though, and Combo Breaker encourages people to contact airlines to see what their specific refund guidelines and policies are.

Finally, every Combo Breaker 2020 registrant will receive an assortment of gifts--a badge, lanyard, 50-page commemorative magazine, and pin--after refunds have been processed. This gift basket should arrive by Memorial Day weekend, though they may be delayed based on other shipping and coronavirus-related factors.

Combo Breaker is an annual fighting game tournament that takes place in May just before the Evolution Championship Series, which is held the following June. Despite growing concerns over the coronavirus, Evo 2020 is still planning to move forward with its scheduled event.