The Game Awards 2023 has concluded. Some games were sure winners prior to the event, but there are also some surprising titles that got the recognition they deserve. If you have not watched the two-hour-plus livestream, don't worry! Here are the five best things that happened in this year's Game Awards:
Game of the Year
This year's game of the year winner is none other than Baldur's Gate 3. Larian Studios' beloved RPG is deserving of this title because of how well the game was received. On top of that, Baldur's Gate 3 earned other accolades, including Best RPG, Player's Voice Award, and Best Community Support.
In a surprising move, Larian Studios released the Xbox version of Baldur's Gate 3 shortly after the Game Awards 2023 event concluded. This means that those who were waiting for this beloved title to be available on the Xbox platforms can now rejoice!
Although the Xbox Series S version does not come with split-screen co-op due to hardware limitations, Series X users can enable the feature if they want to.
Congratulations to the folks at Larian Studios!
New Entry to the Franchise
Capcom has revealed the new entry to the Monster Hunter series, Monster Hunter Wilds. You can see the video below:
Although not much is said about the game itself, you can see in the reveal trailer that the main character was riding what appears to be a small version of the bird boss, Kulu-Ya-Ku. Of course, you will see the terrifying Rathalos flying in the sky at the end.
Fans have speculated that Monster Hunter Wilds might be an open-world title. If this ends up being true, then it will be a first for the franchise! Monster Hunter Series Producer, Ryozo Tsujimoto, said that more details about the game will be revealed in August 2024.
Read Also: Here's the Complete List of the BAFTA Games Awards 2022 Winners - This Year's Best Game Is..?
Strong Second Place
Baldur's Gate 3 deserved the Game of the Year award, but Alan Wake 2 was raking in a few awards of its own in the recently concluded event. Remedy Entertainment's popular survival horror game got awards for Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction.
In addition, Remedy Entertainment has something that fans can look forward to in the near future. On December 11, the company is set to release the game's New Game Plus Mode called "The Final Draft."
The Final Draft contains a new ending and some new additions to the plot that can only be uncovered if you play the New Game+. "Additionally, there is new lore to be found in the form of a few new videos and manuscript pages that have been added to the New Game Plus experience, along with other subtle additions," the company said.
A Nod to a Long-Forgotten Genre
Most role-playing games that you can find today revolve around fast-paced action. Gone are the days when people would talk for hours about turn-based RPGs, but thankfully, Sabotage Studio has something to say about that.
The company's Sea of Stars is a nod to a long-forgotten genre. It is a beautiful pixel-art 2D turn-based RPG with a captivating plot and a cast of characters that will run you through the entire emotional spectrum.
This title won the Best Independent Game award, beating other noteworthy contenders, such as Dave the Diver and Cocoon.
Funny Yet Shocking
One of the most notable things that happened at the Game Awards this year was Christopher Judge's dig at Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. Judge, who was the voice actor of Kratos in the recent God of War games, said that his speech last year was "longer than this year's Call of Duty campaign."
That statement shocked everyone, including past and current developers of Call of Duty games. Nelson Plumey, Associate Art Director of Treyarch, said: "Imagine having short user engagement once your game is consumed. Can't relate."
So, what struck you the most in the Game Awards 2023? Let us know in the comments!
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