Astro Bot was named Game of the Year

PlayStation’s colorful and cute platform game Astro Botachieved great success at The Game Awards 2024 held in Los Angeles. The game left its mark on the night by winning a total of four awards, including the Game of the Year award. These awards include Best Action/Adventure, Best Family Game and Best Game Direction categories. Thus, Astro Bot has cemented its place in the platform game genre, which is usually dominated by Nintendo’s icons such as Mario.

This victory reveals that the game is not just a production that appeals to children, but is loved by a wide range of players and received full marks from critics. Nicolas Doucet, leader of the developer studio Team Asobi, made remarkable statements in his award speech about how competition in the game industry shapes the development processes. However, its indirect nod to Nintendo also resonated with viewers.

Diversity and surprises in the game world

The Game Awards 2024 was an event where not only major studios but also independent productions took the stage. Balatro, the poker-themed independent game, attracted attention with the three awards it won. Among these awards was the Best Mobile Game category. The game’s ability to compete with big-budget productions set an inspiring example for independent developers.

Another outstanding production is from Japanese developers. Metaphor: ReFantasia happened. This role-playing game won three awards on the same night, proving that the Japanese gaming industry is still in a strong position. In addition, inspired by Chinese mythology Black Myth: Wukong won the Player’s Voice award, which is determined by the votes of the fans. The fact that the game is supported by a large fan base shows how cultural diversity contributes to the gaming industry.

However, the production that was the disappointment of the night Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth happened. The game, which was nominated in seven different categories, had to settle for only the Best Music award. While this caused controversy among fans, it increased the number of people who thought that the game did not meet high expectations.

The award ceremony attracted attention not only with the winning games, but also with surprise announcements and the participation of famous names. Naughty Dog, its long-awaited new project Intergalactic: The Heretic ProphetHe created great excitement by introducing . This announcement was made accompanied by an impressive trailer set to the song “It’s a Sin” by Pet Shop Boys. In addition, the sequel to Capcom’s popular series Okami and CD Projekt Red’s Witcher 4 project, which is under development, were among the other major productions announced at the event.

On the other hand, Hollywood’s legendary name Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones Taking the stage with Troy Baker, who played the leading role in the play, was one of the unforgettable moments of the night. Surprises like these show that game awards have become a feast not only for game lovers but also for popular culture fans.

The Game Awards is not only entertainment, but also a platform that draws attention to the problems of the industry. This year, a new category, the Game Changers award, was introduced at the event. This award is given to those who contribute to meaningful changes within the industry. The first award went to Tencent Games executive Amir Satvat, who helped laid-off game developers.

During the ceremony, ongoing discussions on layoffs in the industry and the effects of artificial intelligence were also brought to the agenda. However, it is also true that the organization has received some criticism. Especially Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree‘s nomination for the Game of the Year category has reignited the debate about whether expansion packs will be included in this category.

As a result, this event, where awards were distributed in 30 different categories, once again revealed the diversity and dynamism of the gaming world. The rise of platform games such as Astro Bot and the success of independent productions can be considered as a sign of a new era in the industry.