The Game Awards: Still Big, But Is It Still Relevant?

The Game Awards has been a staple in the gaming community for a while now. It's that time of the year when gamers and developers come together to celebrate the best in video games. But lately, it's been feeling more like a commercial break with a few awards thrown in rather than the other way around. In 2023, the awards show faced criticism for how it handled acceptance speeches. Developers were often cut off after just 30 seconds, while others, like Hideo Kojima, were given much more time. This inconsistency left many feeling like the show was more about flashy presentations than genuine celebration. The gaming industry has been going through a tough time, with many developers losing their jobs. Yet, the 2023 Game Awards didn't acknowledge this crisis at all. This silence didn't go unnoticed and upset many in the industry. Last year, the show tried to make amends by addressing the labor issue and introducing a new category called Game Changer. However, since then, there have been more allegations of poor treatment towards the very people the show is supposed to celebrate. The Future Class initiative, which was meant to support up-and-coming game makers, seems to have fizzled out. After an open letter from the Future Class demanding recognition of the war in Gaza, there was no response. Now, it looks like the program might be shutting down entirely. Despite all this, the Game Awards is still a huge deal. It pulls in millions of viewers and can give a big boost to any game featured. It's also a place where gamers can come together and share their opinions, even if it's just to complain about their favorite game not winning. So, while the Game Awards might be losing some of its shine, it's still the go-to event for gaming news and drama. Whether that's a good thing or not is up to you.