With the highly anticipated announcement of The Game Awards nominees just around the corner on November 18, gaming enthusiasts have been feverishly forming their prediction lists. However, a controversial new rule has emerged, potentially shaking up the landscape and allowing a certain game that many initially believed was ineligible for the major awards to become a front-runner.

Establishing The Oscars of Video Games

When Geoff Keighley and The Game Awards parted ways from Spike TV and the VGX Awards, it carved out a unique space as the premier event for the video game industry. Each year, the best of the best, from indie gems to massive AAA titles, receive the recognition they deserve in a single night. As the industry evolved, the Game of the Year category remained a highlight, showcasing the crème de la crème, whether it was a brand new intellectual property, a remake, or a sequel/prequel. But it seemed that only new full games were nominated until now.

Expanding Eligibility with DLCs

On the official website of The Game Awards in the FAQ section, several rules are in place, including deadlines and judging criteria. One particularly interesting rule pertains to the eligibility of DLCs for the Game of the Year award. The rule states, "The Game Awards aims to recognize the best creative and technical work each year, irrespective of the format of that content’s release. Expansion packs, new game seasons, DLCs, remakes and remasters are eligible in all categories, if the jury deems the new creative and technical work to be worthy of a nomination. Factors such as the newness of the content and its price/value should be taken into consideration."This means that beloved remakes like Silent Hill 2, Persona 3 Reload, and Paper Mario and the Thousand-Year Door are now eligible. Remasters like Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, Luigi’s Mansion 2, and Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster also fall under the purview. It's great news for fans of these games, providing them with a fair chance at recognition.For example, the addition of Messmir, a new boss found in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, showcases the potential impact of this rule change.

The Controversy Surrounding Elden Ring

The reason this rule is causing such a stir is that with expansions now eligible for the big awards, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree potentially becomes eligible for the Game of the Year. Although the expansion was well-received, the base game of Elden Ring was released in 2022 and has already won several Game Awards, including the coveted Game of the Year title, beating out heavyweights like God of War: Ragnarok, A Plague Tale: Requiem, Horizon Forbidden West, Stray, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3.Previously, during the Spike Video Game Awards, there was a Best DLC category, but it was discontinued after Keighley founded The Game Awards. Since then, it seemed that DLC and expansions, regardless of their acclaim, would have their own separate category, similar to Best Ongoing Game. It's important to note that DLC can still be nominated for other major categories, as seen with Cyberpunk: 2077 Phantom Liberty's nominations for Best Narrative and Best Actor (Idris Elba) and its win for Best Ongoing Game.For some, this decision may have cost them a chance at the biggest awards. While Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree isn't guaranteed any nominations, it's highly likely to earn some, such as Best Game Direction. Games like Metaphor: ReFantazio, Astro Bot, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth were once considered sure-fire frontrunners for the title, but now their leads are shaky, especially in categories like Best RPG and Best Narrative.

The Big Day on December 12

The Game Awards 2024 will be live-streamed on YouTube and Twitch on December 12 at 4:30pm PT/ 7:30pm ET/ 12:30am GMT. Voting will also open to the public on the official website after the nomination announcement on November 18 at 9am PT/ 12pm ET/ 5pm GMT. This gives gamers around the world an opportunity to have their say and determine the winners of this highly anticipated event.In conclusion, the controversial rule change at The Game Awards has opened up new possibilities and added an element of uncertainty to the award season. Gaming enthusiasts will be eagerly watching to see how the nominations play out and which games emerge victorious.