The tip of 2024 is upon us and the Recreation Awards is quick approaching. Many video games have obtained pretty early nominations whereas some others have missed the window of alternative to make it to the highest ranks. This yr’s nomination line-up has already obtained players making a stir, with FromSoftware’s newest DLC taking the highlight. Right here’s my tackle the present GotY state of affairs.
FromSoftware Favoritism
Whereas it may well’t be denied that FromSoftware persistently places out the very best high quality video games within the business, Shadow of the Erdtree getting nominated for Recreation of the 12 months appears too unfair to different video games which have managed to carve out their very own area of interest. As Twitter consumer @RinoTheBouncer identified “The Recreation Awards seems to have bent the principles this yr to incorporate Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree within the Recreation of the 12 months class nominees, when final yr, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty was snubbed, regardless of being superior in each approach, and transformative to the primary recreation.”
https://x.com/RinoTheBouncer/standing/1858567258445848682
Even with DLCs like Phantom Liberty getting snubbed for GotY, there’s additionally the truth that some high quality video games have managed to be launched like Metaphor: ReFantazio and Black Fantasy: Wukong. Each of those have gained widespread enchantment on their very own advantage while not having to make use of an already critically acclaimed recreation to prop it up. Even an indie title like Balatro deserves a chance to be given the GotY title for its distinctive and transformative tackle poker.
Many players have referred to as out the Recreation Awards for being a bit too biased in the direction of FromSoftware, although to be honest, lots of their video games haven’t received GotY regardless of being thought-about cultural touchstones by the point they have been launched.
Lack of Equity
Elden Ring has already received Recreation of the 12 months in 2022 and having Shadow of the Erdtree win it once more as its personal recreation leaves a foul style in everybody’s mouth. This isn’t to say that the DLC is dangerous, removed from it. As a FromSoftware fan (particularly relating to Armored Core), SoTE has been a transformative expertise for me and plenty of Elden Ring gamers little question, however the DLC is already a part of the primary expertise.
It will have been higher for the Recreation Awards to create a separate class for recreation expansions and DLCs, as this could keep the occasion’s objectivity whereas giving different video games a well-deserved spot as GotY. FromSoftware has lengthy cemented itself as one of many cornerstones of high quality video games, so it’s solely honest to provide different studios an opportunity to tell apart themselves for making video games with a ardour.
