BAFTA Game Awards Send Clear Message That Counters TGAs

We are only two days away from the arrival of The Game Awards 2024. This year is allegedly going to be a “special event” beyond the usual pomp and circumstance due to it being the show’s 10th anniversary. Host Geoff Keighley has already been making waves with certain revelations about the show, and it’s clear that other game award shows have already taken notice of what he and the “panel of judges” alongside him have done. In the case of the BAFTA Game Awards, the British show has released its own list of the best games of 2024, and it made it very clear that it won’t be following The Game Awards’ path.

By that, we speak of how The Game Awards is allowing DLC to be in the “Game of the Year” category, with Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree breaking many years of tradition by being “allowed” in by the judges due to it being “worthy of the honor.” In contrast, the BAFTA Game Awards are doing the opposite. They noted clearly that things like DLC, remasters, and even remakes aren’t allowed in most award categories, not the least of which is “Best Game.” There are other very specific awards that some of these kinds of titles could get nominated for, but they are much smaller categories.

The ”longlist” of first nominations was revealed by VGC, and they include Animal Well, Astro Bot, Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Helldivers 2, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Thank Goodness You’re Here!, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.

That’s truly a unique set of games to nominate for “Best Game,” but it is their award show, so they’re allowed to nominate who they want, just like Geoff Keighley and his judges are able to nominate whomever they want for their awards show.

The reason that The Game Awards decision about DLC is so controversial is many-fold. First, as many have pointed out, it’s hard to take a DLC title seriously in the “best game” category when it’s not a complete game. It’s reliant on the main game to play. Thus, it’s an extension, not a new title. Second, over the past couple of years alone, there have been incredible DLC that haven’t been considered for “Game of the Year” despite being among the highest-rated titles of the year.

Finally, making a move like this basically spoils that Keighley and his judges are more than likely going to give the game the award just so they can have a “sweep” with this title.