This coming Monday, the Game Awards 2024 will announce its list of nominees, selected from votes submitted by video game publications, including those conducted here at Polygon. Today Geoff Keighley and company published a statement of the candidates’ qualifications. Previously, the rules did not explicitly prohibit nominations for video game DLC and expansion packs, but some may have incorrectly assumed that DLC would not compete for these awards.
An update posted today to the FAQ on The Game Awards website includes a new question: “Are DLC, expansion packs, and remakes/remasters eligible?” The answer is:
The Game Awards aims to recognize the best creative and technical work each year, regardless of the format of content release. Expansions, new game seasons, DLC, remakes, and remasters are eligible in all categories, provided the judges deem new creative and technical work worthy of nomination. Factors such as content freshness and price/value must be considered.
we are not sure Edtree’s Shadow You’ll probably get a GOTY nomination or some other nomination. Previously we might have expected Elden Ring “Best Games in Progress” (where the top games for outstanding DLC and expansion packs tend to be nominated, used as a way for extras to be recognized). Now you can end up anywhere. I liked the DLC itself.
correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly suggested that The Game Awards voters may not have been aware of this rule. Voters were informed about this before submitting their ballots, according to a source at The Game Awards.
