The Game Awards Are Almost Here!
 

We are officially one week away from The Game Awards this year and if you haven’t voted or seen it yet, the folks running the show have taken a bold step for the show this year by revising its eligibility criteria to include downloadable content (DLC), expansions, remakes, and remasters in all award categories, including the big one: Game of the Year (GOTY). This decision has exploded with widespread debate in the gaming community, with opinions obviously split on its fairness and impact on the awards’ credibility. It seems our guy, Geoff Keighley, can’t dodge the flames year-to-year from post-show criticisms last year to now pre-show decisions that are disrupting the very essence of these awards!
 

Though, never mind Geoff, let’s take a look at what gamers and industry vets are saying!  

Under this new voting framework, expansions like Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree could potentially secure the title of GOTY as it’s a legit nominee! The Game Awards’ organizers defend the change, stating that it allows the event to reflect the evolving nature of games, where expansions often rival full releases in creativity and scope. They argue that quality should take precedence over format when recognizing achievements. While that’s not the worst take in the world, and I am a massive fan of Elden Ring and its DLC, I still find myself not agreeing with it, and the question still ultimately stands: Why not just have DLC/Remastered/Expansion categories, respectively, instead? We may never know.

On the other side of the fence from the Game Award organizers, however, critics of the decision believe it undermines the essence of the GOTY category altogether. Traditionally, this award has celebrated games that define a year through originality and innovation. Those against the change feel that including expansions and remasters in the GOTY category dilutes this principle, giving an edge to well-established franchises that already have dedicated fan bases. Smaller studios and indie developers, whose games often rely on unique storytelling and innovation to stand out, could find themselves overshadowed by these larger titles. Not to mention previous controversies such as Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, which was widely praised but excluded from a similar recognition in past years.
 

Community sentiment reflects these concerns. Gamers on social media have voiced worries that the inclusion of DLCs and remakes skews the competition. Many argue that expansions inherently build on pre-existing content, making them incomparable to the challenges faced by studios creating standalone experiences. This perspective highlights the potential for genre bias, as RPG and open-world games frequently release robust expansions that could dominate nominations. Furthermore, if you haven’t even played Elden Ring before, you can’t even access the DLC until you get to a certain point in the game by defeating Mohg, Lord of Blood. Which for a new player to Elden Ring, or soulslike in general, could take a very long time. 
  

On the other hand, supporters of the new ruling point out the increasingly blurred lines between full games and expansions. DLCs like Phantom Liberty and Shadow of the Erdtree introduce new mechanics, environments, and narratives, offering content comparable to standalone games. Fans argue that dismissing such works based solely on their format overlooks the labor and creativity involved in their development. Even with this perspective, the potential solution still remains: simply creating new categories would suffice to give truly glorious DLCs the recognition they deserve. Something simply feels wrong about giving Elden Ring another shot at the title when it took GOTY in 2022 and we have experienced so many other incredible games this year.    

Further positive takes see this shift in criteria might also signal a more inclusive future, where a wider variety of gaming experiences receive recognition. Ultimately though, the decision represents a shift in how the gaming industry defines excellence at its core, but its implications for the awards’ integrity are still unfolding. As gamers and industry professionals alike debate its merits, one thing is clear: this year’s Game Awards will be closely watched for its handling of this new approach. 
 

Do you support the new inclusions in the GOTY category? Or do you think they unfairly tip the scales? Let's chat about it in the comments! 

And if you haven’t already and would like to vote for this years’ Game Awards, head to the official Game Awards website and cast your votes!