Criticism of ‘The Game Awards 2023’ points to little room for developers

O ‘The Game Awards 2023‘, an annual event that celebrates the video game industry’s notable achievements, has been the target of harsh criticism this year.

Many point out that the award, which was supposed to honor developers and their creations, gave more prominence to celebrities and advertisements than to the true protagonists of the night.

The winners’ speeches were one of the most criticized points, with reports of abrupt interruptions, as in the case of Larian Studios during the Game of the Year award.

As CEO Swen Vicke paid tribute to a deceased developer, a warning on the big screen urged the speech to end quickly, which sparked outrage and discomfort. The attitude caused negative reactions among notable figures in the industry.

The public was visibly uncomfortable with the lack of tact from the TGA team – Image: Twitter/Reproduction

Lack of space and recognition

Josh Sawyer, veteran responsible for renowned games such as Pentiment, Pillars of Eternity and Fallout: New Vegas, pointed to the celebration as a desperate attempt to seek validation through stardom, by putting developers in the background.

Another point of contention was the disparity in exposure time between figures such as Hideo Kojima, who had more than six minutes to present the new project, and the winners themselves, limited to a mere 30 seconds or even less for thanks.

Former Vambleer, Rami Ismaill, expressed discontent when comparing the brevity of the award winners’ speeches with the long presentation of a project that, according to him, “literally has nothing to show yet”.

Developers shared the feeling that the event treats the winners as mere commercial breaks to favor advertisements and jokes of dubious taste.

Although the commercial aspect of ‘The Game Awards’ is inherent, the 2023 edition apparently exaggerated this bias.

This opened up space for criticism and the possibility of the emergence of alternative awards that give greater value to creators and their achievements.

While the event continues to be a reference in the video game industry, this edition has sparked debates about the importance of giving voice and time to the true protagonists: the developers.

The challenge for the future it will be finding a balance between entertainment, advertising and deserved recognition for the brilliant minds behind the games we love.