At the 2024 Game Awards, Astro Bot emerged victorious, capturing the highly coveted Game of the Year title. This charming platformer, developed by Team Asobi, outshined notable contenders such as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Black Myth: Wukong, and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. In an acceptance speech, Nicolas Doucet, the studio head, graciously acknowledged Nintendo, highlighting the spirit of camaraderie in the gaming community. Besides the top prize, Astro Bot also secured three additional awards: Best Family Game, Best Action/Adventure, and Best Game Direction.
The night was notably successful for the indie title Balatro, a poker-themed game that garnered three awards, including Best Mobile Game. Metaphor: ReFantazio also had a strong showing, winning three awards and showcasing the robustness of Japanese game developers. Meanwhile, Black Myth: Wukong, inspired by ancient Chinese myths, took home the Player’s Voice Award, which is determined by fan votes. Although Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth entered the night with seven nominations, it only managed to clinch the award for Best Music.
The event featured not only awards but also extravagant performances, including an appearance by Snoop Dogg, who presented the Best Ongoing Game Award to Helldivers 2 and treated the audience to a new song. Noteworthy celebrity moments included Harrison Ford sharing the stage with voice actor Troy Baker, known for his portrayal of Indiana Jones in the latest video game adaptation.
Critics often deem The Game Awards as excessively commercial, but the event thrives on building excitement for the gaming community. Last year, it attracted an impressive 118 million livestream viewers. Although significant announcements for titles like Grand Theft Auto 6 were absent, a highlight of the evening was the reveal of Naughty Dog’s new project titled Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, wrapped in an engaging trailer set to Pet Shop Boys’ “It’s a Sin.” Capcom confirmed a sequel to Okami and CD Projekt Red announced that The Witcher 4 is in development.
In response to criticism regarding industry issues, this year introduced the Game Changers Award. Winner Amir Satvat from Tencent Games was recognized for his initiative to assist recently laid-off developers in finding new opportunities. His heartfelt acceptance speech emphasized the value of kindness and community in the gaming industry. Larian Studios’ Swen Vincke also took the opportunity to address the importance of making games that developers are passionate about, rather than just focusing on market performance.
This year’s ceremony unfolded amid ongoing strikes by video game actors advocating for AI protections and labor rights, with SAG-AFTRA and Game Workers of Southern California distributing information outside the venue.
Despite some controversies surrounding certain nominations and voting processes, the Game Awards continues to celebrate the creativity and talent in the gaming industry, offering a platform for recognition and hope for both developers and fans alike.
Overall, while the Game Awards faced challenges and critiques, it also showcased the vibrant and evolving nature of the gaming landscape, revealing a commitment to creativity, community, and innovation.