Starfield Receives Minimal Nominations
This has been a monumental year for the gaming industry, with numerous outstanding releases captivating players worldwide. However, with so many exceptional games vying for the Game of the Year award, it was inevitable that a few would be overlooked. One notable snub came in the form of Starfield, which was only nominated in the Best Role-Playing Game category.
Xbox Games Underappreciated
Unfortunately, Xbox seemed to bear the brunt of disappointment this year, as some of its most highly anticipated games were hardly mentioned at the awards event. Starfield, in particular, was expected to sweep multiple categories but received minimal recognition. In contrast, Redfall, another Xbox title, received lackluster reviews.
Xbox's Surprise Hit
On the bright side, Xbox did have one surprise hit that received well-deserved recognition. Hi-Fi Rush, released on the same day it was announced, garnered four nominations for Best Art Direction, Best Score & Music, Best Audio Design, and Innovation in Accessibility.
PlayStation Triumphs
PlayStation, on the other hand, had a much more successful showing at the awards. Final Fantasy 16 and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 were both nominated for multiple categories. Final Fantasy 16 received nods for Best Narrative, Best Role-Playing Game, Best Score & Music, and Best Performance, while Marvel's Spider-Man 2 secured six nominations, including Game of the Year and Best Action/Adventure Game.
Nintendo Takes the Lead
As expected, Nintendo emerged as the biggest winner among the "Big Three" console manufacturers, receiving a total of 13 nominations for its first-party games. This includes nominations in the prestigious Game of the Year and Best Direction categories for Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
Most Nominated Games
The two games with the most nominations this year are Alan Wake 2 and Baldur's Gate 3, both receiving eight nominations.
If you'd like to explore the full list of Game Awards categories, nominees, and winner predictions, be sure to check out our comprehensive coverage.
Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.
