Honestly, if you missed the live show, you probably think The Game Awards 2024 was just a big victory lap for a certain blue robot. And sure, Astro Bot taking home Game of the Year was a massive moment for Team Asobi. But that’s barely half the story.
The night was weird. It was loud. It felt like the industry was trying to figure out what it wants to be when it grows up. Between the 154 million people watching and the absolute chaos of the announcements, there was a lot to chew on. People are still arguing about whether a DLC should even be in the running for the top prize.
The Night Astro Bot Stole the Show
Sony basically had a perfect night. Astro Bot didn't just win the big one; it grabbed four trophies total, including Best Game Direction and Best Action/Adventure Game. It’s a bit of a throwback win. We’re so used to "prestige" games with sad dads and cinematic camera angles winning everything.
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Seeing a pure, joyful platformer win felt like a shift. It’s the kind of game that reminds you why you liked playing things in the first place. Nicolas Doucet and the team at Team Asobi looked genuinely shocked on stage. You could tell this wasn't just another corporate milestone for them.
Why Everyone is Talking About Black Myth: Wukong
Then there’s the Black Myth: Wukong situation. It was the first Chinese-developed game to ever get a GOTY nomination. That is a huge deal. It ended up winning Best Action Game and the Players’ Voice award, which is the one decided entirely by the fans.
But things got spicy online. Game Science CEO Feng Ji shared some pretty blunt thoughts on social media about not winning the main award. Some folks thought it was just competitive fire; others felt it was a bit much. Either way, the "Wukong" fan base is massive and they made their voices heard.
The DLC Controversy: Shadow of the Erdtree
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree was nominated for Game of the Year.
A lot of people hated this. The argument is simple: How can an expansion compete with full, standalone games? If we let DLCs in, does FromSoftware just win every time they drop a map update? On the flip side, people argued that "Shadow of the Erdtree" has more content than most $70 releases. It didn't win the big one, but the fact that it was even there changed the rules of the show forever.
The Best Trailers You Actually Missed
While everyone was focused on the awards, the "world premieres" were hitting like a freight train. The Witcher 4 (officially The Witcher: A New Saga) finally showed up with a cinematic featuring Ciri. No gameplay yet, which is a bummer, but seeing her back in action was enough to set the internet on fire.
Naughty Dog finally broke their silence too. They aren't doing The Last of Us Part 3 yet. Instead, they revealed Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. It looks like a massive sci-fi departure for them.
Here is the stuff that actually got people screaming:
- Elden Ring Nightreign: A standalone co-op spinoff that looks like it’s going to ruin my sleep schedule.
- Borderlands 4: We saw four new Vault Hunters and a planet that isn't Pandora.
- Okami Sequel: Hideki Kamiya is back at the helm. Nobody saw that coming.
- Virtua Fighter: Sega is finally reviving the king of 3D fighters.
The Indie Revolution is Real
If you aren't playing Balatro, what are you doing? This poker-themed roguelike was the darling of the night. It won Best Independent Game and Best Debut Indie. It was even nominated for Game of the Year, which is wild for a game made by one person (LocalThunk).
It proves you don't need a $200 million budget to dominate the conversation. You just need a gameplay loop that makes people forget to eat or sleep. Metaphor: ReFantazio also cleaned up, winning Best RPG and Best Narrative. Atlus basically proved they can make a "Persona-style" game without the Persona name and people will still lose their minds over it.
What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
The show was long. Like, four hours long. Geoff Keighley kept the pace moving, but the "rapid-fire" awards still feel a bit disrespectful to the developers. Some of the most important categories, like Best RPG, were announced so fast you’d miss them if you blinked.
There was a heavy Hollywood presence too. Harrison Ford showed up. Aaron Paul and Laura Bailey revealed a new project called Dispatch. Snoop Dogg was there. It’s clear The Game Awards 2024 wanted to be the Oscars of gaming, but sometimes it feels more like a four-hour commercial.
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Actionable Insights for Players
If you’re looking at the aftermath of the show, here is how to actually navigate the fallout:
- Check the "Games for Impact" list: Neva won this year. If you liked Gris, you need to play this. It’s short, beautiful, and will probably make you cry.
- Don't sleep on the "Players' Voice" nominees: If a game like Wukong or Zhenless Zone Zero has millions of people voting for it, there’s usually a reason. Even if you aren't into gacha games, the production value is worth a look.
- Wishlist the indies now: Games like Animal Well and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes lost to Balatro, but they are top-tier experiences.
- Watch the "Game Changer" segment: Amir Satvat won an award for helping thousands of laid-off devs find jobs. In a year where the industry felt like it was crumbling, that was the most important five minutes of the broadcast.
The industry is changing. The gap between "Indie" and "AAA" is blurring, and the fans are becoming more vocal than ever. Whether you think the winners were "safe" or well-deserved, the show proved that gaming is the biggest entertainment force on the planet right now.