The Game Awards, often dubbed as the Oscars of the video gaming sphere, has traditionally incorporated elements of the broader entertainment industry, with Hollywood often playing a significant role. However, Thursday’s event veered notably closer to its core – the gaming industry. What sets these awards apart is their public voting system and the replacement of traditional advertising slots with promotions for upcoming games, a practice quite unlike the mainstream award shows. Despite this distinct approach, the procession has consistently attracted high-profile personalities from the film industry to endorse their projects, sometimes affecting the time allocated for the actual awardees.
The widespread viewing base of the event’s global livestream, with its audience surpassing 100 million, was a boon for anyone wishing to capitalize on the massive promotional potential it offered. This guaranteed a steady inflow of funds, maintaining the grandiosity of the ceremony. However, the 2023 edition of The Game Awards marked the end of a year that saw a drastic increase in job layoffs in the gaming industry – a trend that only exacerbated in 2024.
As per the recorded data, the gaming sector parted ways with no less than 15,000 employees in the year, with Warner Bros. Montreal announcing the most recent string of redundancies. Oculus Studios, taking home the accolade for the best VR/AR game, made sure to acknowledge the work of both studios, which had previously collaborated on several significant projects.
The issue of job cuts within the industry was addressed in more detail by Amir Satvat, the inaugural recipient of the Game Changer honor. His contribution in assisting the affected employees in finding new employment opportunities earned him a commendable reputation within the gaming community.
Swen Vincke, whose Larian Studios bagged the prestigious ‘game of the year’ award in 2023 for ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’, presented the same award this year. This time, the honor went to Sony’s ‘Astro Bot’. However, in his speech, Vincke couldn’t help but express his concern about the prevailing issues within the industry.
In a moment of levity, he humorously referenced his previous acceptance speech, which had been cut short unexpectedly. He took this opportunity to critique the discernible shift of focus among publishers from creativity and audience demand to sales targets. He jokingly attributed his critical insights to an ‘oracle’ that he had consulted.
Despite the underlying challenges faced by the industry, ‘Astro Bot’s’ victory served as a testament to Sony’s dominance in the gaming world. Garnering no less than four awards, the game brought the spotlight back on Sony. However, the company’s aura of success was somewhat overshadowed by the ill-received launch of ‘Concord’ in August, which was discontinued within a fortnight due to poor engagement.
Adding a dash of Hollywood allure to the event was the presence of renowned actor Harrison Ford. He made an early appearance to present an award and lend his support to ‘Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’, which had its debut earlier the same week.
Joining him was ‘Breaking Bad’ star Aaron Paul, showcasing a trailer for ‘Dispatch’, an upcoming game featuring his voiceover talents. He was joined by the esteemed voice actor, Laura Bailey, in this venture.
Adding to an array of trailers was one for the game ‘Game of Thrones: Kingsroad’. Interestingly, no promotional activities followed for ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’, the forthcoming series in the ‘Game of Thrones’ franchise set to release in 2025.
Finally, one of the event’s highlights was Amazon’s ‘Fallout’. The game earned recognition for the best adaptation, gaining immense popularity over the course of the year.