The Game Awards are losing their luster.
It’s Game Awards season, y’all. That special time of the year when we gather together to celebrate video games and the people who make them… by watching expensive commercials briefly punctuated by the odd awards speech or musical performance. For better or worse, The Game Awards is the biggest night on the video game event calendar. But with the way things have been going, lately it’s been more “worse” than it has been “better.”
Between host and industry hypeman Geoff Keighley’s two video game vanity projects, The Game Awards is older and ostensibly more mature than Summer Game Fest. Conceived in 2014 as a way to celebrate both the people who make video games and the fans who consume them, The Game Awards had a clear purpose. Over time, however, it seems to have morphed into something less cohesive and more commercial.
One of the main reasons for this shift is the growing influence of Summer Game Fest. Originally launched as a way for Geoff Keighley to promote his own projects, Summer Game Fest has become a major player in the video game event calendar. Like The Game Awards, it’s a showcase for upcoming games and announcements, but it’s also more focused on community engagement and fan interaction. As a result, Summer Game Fest has become the go-to destination for many gamers, while The Game Awards seems to be losing its luster.
Another factor contributing to The Game Awards’ decline is its growing emphasis on commercial content. With more and more expensive commercials being shown during the ceremony, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for fans to tune in without feeling like they’re being bombarded by advertisements. It’s ironic, really, since the whole point of The Game Awards was to celebrate video games and the people who make them. Now, it feels like an opportunity for companies to shill their products.
So, what’s the solution? Well, one possible approach would be for The Game Awards to refocus its efforts on community engagement and fan interaction. By putting more emphasis on live streaming, social media engagement, and community-driven content, The Game Awards could recapture some of its lost momentum. Additionally, the ceremony itself could be streamlined to eliminate some of the extraneous content and focus on the games and people being honored.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however. Despite its flaws, The Game Awards still has a lot to offer. It remains one of the few opportunities for gamers to come together and celebrate their shared passion. With some tweaks to its format and content, The Game Awards could be revitalized and continue to thrive in the world of video games.
Ultimately, the future of The Game Awards is uncertain. Will it be able to recover from its recent struggles and continue to be a major player in the video game event calendar? Only time will tell. But one thing is clear – the industry needs more events like The Game Awards, not fewer. By learning from its mistakes and focusing on community engagement and fan interaction, The Game Awards can still go the distance.
Read the full story at The Verge.
The Game Awards have a long history of innovation and creativity, but it seems that the event has lost its way over the years. The emphasis on commercial content and the decline of community engagement have made it feel more like an advertisement than a celebration of video games.
In an effort to recapture its lost momentum, The Game Awards should consider shifting its focus towards community-driven content and social media engagement. By doing so, it could attract a new audience and bring back some of the magic that made it so popular in the first place.
The video game industry is filled with talented developers, designers, and artists who are working tirelessly to create amazing experiences. It’s time for The Game Awards to get back to its roots and celebrate these individuals, not just their games.
Awards shows have always had a way of bringing people together, and The Game Awards is no exception. By highlighting the best in video games and recognizing those who are pushing the boundaries of innovation, The Game Awards can once again become a must-watch event for gamers and non-gamers alike.
However, it’s not going to be an easy task. The Game Awards will need to make some significant changes in order to regain its footing and become a relevant force in the industry. But if it can do so, it will be able to continue to thrive and provide a platform for gamers to come together and celebrate their shared passion.
