The Game Awards Situation is Crazy

Summary

In this energetic reflection on the 2024 Game Awards, the streamer celebrates record-breaking viewership and dives into the most exciting game announcements, from the *Okami* sequel to the return of *Turok*. Despite these highlights, they express concern about the future of AAA games, particularly Ubisoft's decline and FromSoftware's controversial *Elden Ring: Night Rain* direction. The streamer champions *Black Myth: Wukong* as their Game of the Year, over *Astrobot*, praising its originality and ambition. With a mix of excitement and critical analysis, they provide a candid take on the state of modern gaming.

Takeaways

• 😀 The streamer's biggest stream ever: 110,000 concurrent viewers on YouTube and 20,000 on Twitch.
• 😀 Excitement about the Game Awards reveals, including a new Okami sequel and Virtual Fighter's return after years.
• 😀 Strong enthusiasm for new franchises like Project Century, Berserker Kazan, and the Pac-Man secret level game.
• 😀 Surprise over the Turok announcement, which was a major moment given its long absence since 2008.
• 😀 Criticism of those who dismissed the Game Awards as a failure, urging viewers to appreciate the big announcements.
• 😀 Acknowledgement that AAA gaming is struggling, particularly Western developers, but praising indie and international games for thriving.
• 😀 Disappointment over Ubisoft's recent decisions, including their NFT game, and speculation about their future under Tencent's potential acquisition.
• 😀 Initial hype for the new Elden Ring game, Night Rain, quickly turns to skepticism after learning about its Battle Royale and Roguelike elements.
• 😀 Concern over the direction of Elden Ring's Night Rain, especially the lack of Miyazaki's involvement and the game's shift towards a live-service style.
• 😀 Disagreement with Astro Bot winning Game of the Year over Black Myth: Wukong, which was the streamer's personal pick, despite Astro Bot's praise.
• 😀 Black Myth: Wukong wins the Player's Voice award at the Game Awards, with the streamer arguing it deserved the overall Game of the Year title.

Q & A

What was the speaker's reaction to the success of their Game Awards stream?

The speaker was ecstatic about the success of their stream, reaching a peak of 110,000 concurrent viewers on YouTube and 20,000 on Twitch. They were deeply grateful to their audience and Jeff Keighley for making it the biggest stream of their career.

Which game announcements from the Game Awards excited the speaker the most?

The speaker was particularly excited about announcements for a **sequel to Okami**, a new **Oni Musha** game, a new **Virtual Fighter** after a long hiatus, and a game from the **Shadow of the Colossus** team. They were also thrilled by the reveal of a new **Turok** game, which they hadn't expected.

How did the speaker respond to critics who dismissed the Game Awards announcements?

The speaker criticized those dismissing the announcements, calling them 'naysayers' and 'weirdos.' They felt that the people who believed the announcements were lackluster likely don't actually play games, and they felt the revealed games had a lot of potential.

What concerns does the speaker have about the upcoming **Elden Ring** game, **Night Rain**?

The speaker is concerned about the direction of **Night Rain**, as it combines elements of **roguelike**, **co-op survival**, and **Battle Royale**, which they feel strays too far from the Souls-like formula. They worry that this could be a misstep for **FromSoftware**.

Why is the speaker worried about **Night Rain's** battle royale mechanics?

The speaker feels that the **Battle Royale** mechanics, such as a shrinking battlefield and the concept of a battle bus, don't fit with the established **Elden Ring** and Souls-like gameplay. They express doubts about how well this direction could work and fear that it might be a cash grab rather than an innovative addition.

What is the speaker's opinion on **AAA gaming**, specifically regarding companies like **Ubisoft**?

The speaker is critical of **AAA gaming**, particularly studios like **Ubisoft**, which they feel are out of touch with current gaming trends. They mention Ubisoft's release of a **NFT game in 2024** as an example of how the company is mismanaging its legacy, leading to a decline in its market presence.

How does the speaker feel about the rise of indie games and international releases?

The speaker is optimistic about the future of gaming, highlighting the growing quality of **indie games** and **international releases**. They believe that despite the struggles of some large Western studios, these smaller and global developers are producing great games that are revitalizing the industry.

What were the speaker's top picks for **Game of the Year**, and which game did they feel deserved to win?

The speaker's top picks for **Game of the Year** were **Black Myth: Wukong**, **Nine Souls**, and **Space Marine 2**. They were disappointed that **Black Myth: Wukong** did not win **Game of the Year**, but they were pleased that it won the **Players' Voice** award. The speaker felt **Black Myth: Wukong** was a more deserving winner than **Astrobot**, despite the latter being well-received by critics.

What qualities did the speaker admire in **Black Myth: Wukong** that made it their game of the year?

The speaker admired the style, ambition, and fresh approach of **Black Myth: Wukong**, especially given its origin as a game from a Chinese developer. They appreciated its depth, with over 30 hours of gameplay without the true ending, its challenging but fun mechanics, and the fact that it never overstayed its welcome.

Why does the speaker criticize **Astrobot's** Game of the Year win?

While the speaker acknowledges **Astrobot** as a well-made platformer, they feel it was too safe and predictable. They argue that **Black Myth: Wukong** had a more unique vision and offered a more innovative experience, making it a more deserving candidate for **Game of the Year**.