The Game Awards generate their share of controversies every year, and the 2024 edition will be no exception. With just days to go before this year's nominees are announced, event manager Geoff Keighley has announced a significant move. Starting this year, DLCs, expansions, remakes and remasters will be eligible in all categories, including Game of the Year.
This initiative was first mooted in 2023, largely due to the quality of the DLC Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Libertywhich coincided with the base game's last major update. The reception that this additional content received has largely overshadowed the problems encountered at launch, and many players now consider Cyberpunk 2077 as a title rated between 9/10 and 10/10.
On the Game Awards website, an FAQ specifies that expansion packs, new game seasons, DLC, remakes and remasters are eligible for all categories, provided that the jury considers that the new creative and technical content deserves a nomination . It is also mentioned that things like the timeliness of the content and its value/price should be considered.
Implications for the Future of Appointments
The move raises a lot of speculation among gamers and industry experts. For example, it is likely that Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree be a candidate for the title of Game of the Year at this year's ceremony. The base game had already won the prestigious GOTY award in 2022, paving the way for great recognition for its expansion.
To read: WiFi 8: Same as WiFi 7, but with improvements for better efficiency
The inclusion of DLC and remakes in the nominations could be a game-changer for games that, due to their age or controversial initial launch, did not receive the recognition they deserved. Studios could thus be more motivated to develop substantial additional content to improve the player experience.
Community Feedback and Analysis
Initial reactions from the community are varied. Some welcome this initiative as a way of recognizing the extra efforts made by developers. Others, however, worry that this will dilute the value of original games by favoring titles that have received notable updates over completely new creations.
It is beneficial for the industry to see an expansion of evaluation criteria. This reform could encourage fairer competition and highlight innovations. Ultimately, the change could provide broader recognition for games that continue to evolve and improve long after their initial release.
As the ceremony approaches, it will be interesting to observe which titles will be nominated and the discussions that this new measure generates within the video game community.
