The Game Awards, a significant event in the gaming world, announced its list of nominees on November 14. These nominees include some of the most highly anticipated games of 2024, such as “Astro Bot,” “Balatro,” “Black Myth: Wukong,” “Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree,” “Final Fantasy VII Rebirth,” and “Metaphor: ReFantazio.” The inclusion of “Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree” has sparked quite a bit of controversy online, as reported by video game blog Destructoid.

About The Game Awards

The Game Awards was founded in 2014 by its host and producer Geoff Keighley, a renowned Canadian video game journalist and television presenter. Neil D’Souza, the programming lead of the game-developing club Gaming for Real at the University of Wisconsin, and alumnus Milo Koenig, a former staff member of the Wisconsin Union Directorate Games, shared their insights about The Game Awards, the controversy surrounding “Shadow of the Erdtree,” and downloadable content (DLCs). They emphasized that the awards are on par with other large award ceremonies like the Oscars, specifically focused on games. In recent years, The Game Awards have also emerged as a major source of gaming advertisements and news. According to Koenig, although the quality of the awards has somewhat declined over the years, it still remains an enjoyable event that people look forward to.

The Cultural Relevance of The Game Awards

D’Souza pointed out that while The Game Awards have been increasing their emphasis on advertisements, it has weakened the effectiveness of the awards themselves. “The Game Awards ceremony is definitely cool for trying to bring a [large-scale] ceremony … to the games industry … [but have focused on advertisements] as opposed to the actual game developers,” he said. The controversy behind “Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree” partly stems from it being a DLC game. DLC refers to additional video game content that players can download and add to a game after its initial release. It can include new characters, storylines, challenges, and more. D’Souza and Koenig believe that the quality of DLC varies, but the style of the product is not inherently harmful to the gaming industry. Factors influencing the quality of DLC include price, content quantity and quality, release date relative to the full game’s release, and the developing conditions. DLC can be misused to make money with a weak product, but it can also support games with smaller communities by providing necessary income for developers to continue their work. It can also enable the creation of unique content, like very short and low-priced video games. Koenig stated that most DLC is executed well, especially when it adds substantial content comparable to the “base release” of a game. DLC fails when it is rushed due to a company’s deadlines or released almost immediately after a game’s initial launch.

The Inclusion of “Shadow of the Erdtree” in Game of the Year Awards

D’Souza and Koenig agree that “Shadow of the Erdtree” DLC should be included in the Game of the Year Awards if it is rich in content and highly relevant in the year’s gaming culture. They suggested that having a separate category for DLC in The Game Awards would be welcomed but not mandatory. Critics of including “Shadow of the Erdtree” argue that it is unfair for “Elden Ring” — which has already received multiple Game of the Year awards — to receive another distinction through its DLC. They worry that if “Shadow of the Erdtree” wins the award, it could lead to a situation where the same developers win awards every year.

The Future of DLC in the Gaming Industry

Regarding the future of DLC in the gaming industry, both D’Souza and Koenig believe it will likely remain an important aspect for years to come. Koenig is optimistic about DLC’s future as gamers hold it — and its developers — to a higher standard. DLC is useful for developers who want to enhance a product but lack the financial resources. It also helps developers who aim to improve the game based on feedback and criticism. “No matter how you change [a game], you have to be conscious of the people who have already bought it and how [changing it] makes them feel.” D’Souza said. As for how video game fans can impact the trajectory of DLC, they can choose to engage with downloadable content they believe is of high quality.The Game Awards will take place on December 12 at 6:30 pm and will be broadcasted on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and X.