It’s that time of the year when every tech company prepares for products to exhibit during the annual tech show in Las Vegas or Consumers Electronic Show (CES).

However, the current state of the pandemic has led to the event being held online rather than the usual in-person situation.

Despite the event organizers insisting on hosting an in-person CES by 2022, a number of concerned tech companies are already pulling out of the exhibition which doesn’t actually speak well of the event as a matter of fact.

Microsoft is one of the big tech giants that has dropped out of the physical presence at CES 2022 due to the prevalence of COVID-19 that will probably go on for its third year.

“After reviewing the latest data on the rapidly evolving COVID environment, Microsoft has decided not to participate in-person at CES 2022,” a company spokesperson said in an e-mailed statement. (The spokesperson declined to give their name because that’s how Microsoft prefers to announce event status changes.)

However, Microsoft will still be present at the event digitally for the Microsoft Partner Innovation Experience and Automotive Press Kit.

Other big tech companies that are refusing a physical presence at the biggest tech event include the likes of Lenovo, T-Mobile, Amazon, Meta, or Facebook – depending on whatever you chose to call it, GM, Intel, Twitter, and even the big Google.

On Wednesday, the Consumer Technology Association, which organizes the event, said 42 exhibitors have canceled.

However, organizers of CES 2022 insisted that the event will go on regardless even though the criteria for the event include proof of vaccination, masks, and free rapid tests.