The announcement of The Game Awards 2024 nominees on November 18 has left the gaming community abuzz, but not entirely in celebration. This year’s lineup, coupled with a major rule change, has sparked heated discussions about what should truly qualify as award-worthy. For the first time, DLCs, remakes, remasters, and expansions are eligible in all categories, including Game of the Year (GOTY). The rule opens the door for titles like Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, a DLC for the 2022 GOTY winner, to contend for the top prize
While some argue that recognizing creative achievements, regardless of format, is fair, others feel this shift undermines newer, standalone games. Many fans believe that expansions and remakes already have dedicated categories and shouldn’t compete with original titles for GOTY. Critics fear this could overshadow innovative entries from the year, leaving fresh talent and ideas overlooked
Adding fuel to the controversy, several highly anticipated titles were conspicuously absent from the nominee list. Helldivers 2, despite its strong reception and praise for its unique cooperative gameplay, failed to secure a spot in any major category. Fans of the game have voiced their disappointment online, pointing to this omission as evidence of a flawed selection process
Social media and gaming forums are now battlegrounds for this debate, with the community split over whether the new inclusivity enriches or detracts from the awards. Meanwhile, excitement builds for the event on December 12, when winners will be revealed in a live broadcast. Voting remains open on the Game Awards website, allowing fans to have their say
With tensions high, this year’s Game Awards seems poised to be one of the most controversial yet.
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