The Game Awards were last night, and while the ceremony is meant to celebrate the best games of the year, it's getting a lot of backlash for a perceived lack of respect for the developers that actually make said games.
One of the major points of criticism is the short amount of time winning devs were given in their speeches, being told to "wrap it up" via the teleprompter after about one minute, with music being played shortly after that. As many noted, this stood in especially stark contrast to the time that was devoted to celebrities and special guests.
All in all, it reignited a recurring complaint that The Game Awards is more about the announcements than the actual awards. By IGN's estimations, the time spent on the awards and speeches was only about 30 minutes and 42 seconds out of the total two-hour and 52-minute runtime of the show.
"This year’s The Game Awards is an embarrassing indictment of a segment of the industry desperate for validation via star power with little respect for the devs it’s supposedly honoring," wrote Pentiment director Josh Sawyer.
This year’s The Game Awards is an embarrassing indictment of a segment of the industry desperate for validation via star power with little respect for the devs it’s supposedly honoring.
— Josh Sawyer (@jesawyer) December 8, 2023
For his part, host Geoff Keighley responded to the criticism this morning, writing on X/Twitter, "By the way - I do agree that the music was played too fast for award winners this year, and I asked our team to relax that rule as the show went on. While no one was actually cut off, it’s something to address going forward."
By the way - I do agree that the music was played too fast for award winners this year, and I asked our team to relax that rule as the show went on. While no one was actually cut off, it’s something to address going forward.
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) December 8, 2023
It's worth noting, however, that the music cues weren't the only subject of criticism. Photos were shared from the ceremony of the large "Please wrap it up" request winners were greeted with on the teleprompter, while Probably Monsters dev JC Lau posted the terms that said winners were only allotted about 30 seconds for their speeches.
Game workers: *tries to thank fellow game devs or tries to talk about inclusion and representation meaning so much in games*
— Monika Lee (@MnikaLee) December 8, 2023
The Game Awards: https://t.co/4mD5yImeLW
FYI if you are wondering why the acceptance speeches at #TheGameAwards are so short and high level, the nominees were told they only had 30 seconds for an acceptance speech, after which the music would play them off to be “respectful to our time allotment and fellow acceptors” pic.twitter.com/tff2mEA9at
— JC Lau ? The Game Awards (@drjclau) December 8, 2023
"If you make games, you get 30 seconds to talk at the Game Awards. If you make movies, you get 5 minutes to talk at the Game Awards," wrote comedian, writer, and producer Mike Drucker.
If you make games, you get 30 seconds to talk at the Game Awards. If you make movies, you get 5 minutes to talk at the Game Awards. https://t.co/uq8v1dpYwx
— Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) December 8, 2023
One moment that's been called out as particularly unfortunate is from a speech at the end of the evening, when Baldur's Gate 3 won Game of the Year. In a video posted by Javiera Cordero, a countdown clock could be seen before the "please wrap it up" flashed on the teleprompter — right as director Swen Vincke was paying tribute to late Baldur's Gate 3 lead cinematic art Jim Southworth.
"If I won game of the year and was dedicating the award to a member of my team who had died during development and saw the words 'Please wrap it up' I’d be fucking pissed," Cordero wrote.
If I won game of the year and was dedicating the award to a member of my team who had died during development and saw the words “Please wrap it up” I’d be fucking pissed #TheGameAwards pic.twitter.com/be0hLfmfT2
— Javiera Cordero ?? (@javierabegazo) December 8, 2023
Last thought on TGAs, is that between The Muppets, Kojima, Hollywood actors screaming shut up or talking about their broken foot taking up a lot of time… and people like Sam Lake and Swen Vincke, getting shooed off stage as they give emotional thanks.
— Nick Calandra (@nickjcal) December 8, 2023
Well? Priorities.
Additionally, Vincke posted on X/Twitter about the absence of an on-stage announcement of Baldur's Gate 3's massive Xbox Series X/S shadow-drop. Larian had previously said the Xbox release date would be announced at the ceremony, but it was announced by Larian via X/Twitter after The Game Awards that it was now available on the Microsoft Store.
"I had one job and that was to announce this if we won an award — sorry all but happy it’s out there!" Vincke wrote, possibly implying he had to wrap up his speech before he could make the announcement.
I had one job and that was to announce this if we won an award - sorry all but happy it’s out there! https://t.co/61hhIc1I2Y
— Swen Vincke @where? (@LarAtLarian) December 8, 2023
When Keighley asked for feedback on The Game Awards, one of the most common requests was to offer more time to hear from the devs rather than from celebrities.
Less non games folks wasting time, more game folks talking on mic, don't you dare rush people off stage giving heartfelt talks about the games industry, fix your co streams drops, worst year yet for the game awards
— Pupsker (@Pupsker) December 8, 2023
What makes the criticism all the more intense is the incredibly rough year the games industry has had, with numerous major layoffs, reports of poor work environments, and much more. Many were hoping that the awards might acknowledge those layoffs, but there wasn't one mention of them, either in Keighley's opening remarks or throughout the evening.
"Now that the hype window is over, it's important to note that The Game Awards yesterday treated some developers and artists unfairly with a clear favoritism for other individuals," wrote @horrorvisuals on X/Twitter. "It's also embarrassing to see that not a single person acknowledged the layoffs in the industry."
Now that the hype window is over, it's important to note that The Game Awards yesterday treated some developers and artists unfairly with a clear favoritism for other individuals.
— Horror Games Community (@horrorvisuals) December 8, 2023
It's also embarrassing to see that not a single person acknowledged the layoffs in the industry.
My thoughts on The Game Awards
— Parris (@vicious696) December 8, 2023
As a reveal event it excelled, excited for the future of games
As an awards show it disappointed, major categories like best Indie or best RPG were afterthoughts and the winners who did make it on stage were rushed in their acceptance speeches but…
"Devs that felt erased by #TheGameAwards: the folks that love and perform in your games see you," wrote voice actor Ashly Burch. "We know what a devastating year this was. You deserved to talk about those losses. You deserved to celebrate your wins. You deserved to feel seen. And we see you."
Devs that felt erased by #TheGameAwards: the folks that love and perform in your games see you. We know what a devastating year this was. You deserved to talk about those losses. You deserved to celebrate your wins. You deserved to feel seen. And we see you.
— Ashly Burch ?️? (@ashly_burch) December 8, 2023
We watched 3 hours and 37 minutes of @TheGameAwards.
— Andy Cortez (didn't pay) (@TheAndyCortez) December 8, 2023
That's a long time.
But honestly, what's an extra 15 minutes to have time for more devs to accept awards and celebrate themselves? ESPECIALLY in a year that's had our industry hit with thousands of layoffs.
I do wish we got to hear more from creators at the Game Awards.
— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) December 8, 2023
I love awesome new reveals as much as the next guy, but all the amazing games you saw onstage tonight weren't made by AI or some magic, but humans with their own stories. None of it would be possible without them.
Keighley was also criticized for not addressing a letter from members of The Game Awards Future Class, made up of young professional in the industry. The letter, signed by nearly 3000 people, asked The Game Awards to acknowledge the ongoing conflict in Gaza, call for a ceasefire, and "express support for the protection of Palestinian human rights."
Earnestly, between this feeling like a slight against all those in the Future Class who signed that letter asking to speak up for Palestine at the event and the game awards, and the treatment of award winners during the show; this Game Awards left a super bad taste in my mouth. https://t.co/y9GjTTwcuZ
— Jessie Earl (@jessiegender) December 8, 2023
As celebrations over the winning games continue to roll in, so do the criticisms over how the ceremony was handled. IGN has reached out to Keighley and The Game Awards for further comment.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
