When the end of the year approaches, everything is about the Game Awards. This award ceremony, which is also a major showcase for announcements, is the brainchild of Geoff Keighley. While it’s true that the choice of game of the year is symbolic, it still carries weight. When games receive this distinction, they are recognized for their work. And that’s why a change in how it’s chosen and what can be awarded as game of the year is very important.
A rule change tailored for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Keighley has already said that he will announce very soon which games are nominated in each of the award categories. But in addition, he has added a detail that we can see on the awards website that has not gone unnoticed. And that is, starting this year, it is possible to award DLCs, expansions, new seasons, remasters, and remakes in all categories, as if they were new games. Something that opens up a whole new range of possibilities. In addition to not a few controversies and a very clear favorite.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is the game that has led to this change. But Silent Hill 2 Remake and its success probably also pushed this change. Because, whether we like it or not, some of the biggest games this year fall into this category: remasters, remakes, expansions, and DLCs.
The reaction on social media has not been long in coming. And the general sentiment is divided. While it is true that it is reasonable for remasters and remakes to be awarded when they change enough, those that are more of the same can hardly be considered new games. Similarly, Shadow of the Erdtree is an extraordinary DLC that expands and takes everything Elden Ring did much further. But it remains an expansion of the original game and, as such, in the eyes of many, it makes no sense to award it in this way.
Due to this, it seems we are going to have some controversial Game Awards. Once again. But we always have an open question in all of this: can we vote based on what we think. If people believe there are no reasons to award remakes, remasters, DLCs, or expansions, they won’t win even if they can be voted for. Therefore, although it is an important change, it remains to be seen if it will have any effect on the final result. Especially seeing that the debate is already on the streets.
