"It's a very difficult needle to thread, because on one level, it is a celebration of the industry. But the games are made by incredible developers, and it's been a challenging period overall. I don't have all the answers about the right way to [address it]."
"How we square that is something that we think a lot about. Some people online think that we're oblivious to it. We're definitely thinking about the right way to represent the industry to the wider world. Do we always get it right? No. It's a very complex situation to figure out exactly what to do."
The Game Awards faces the challenge of balancing celebration of games with recognition of widespread industry hardships. The industry in 2025 experienced numerous developer layoffs, canceled projects, and further consolidation, including EA's planned sale to Saudi investors. The Game Changer award debuted in 2024 to honor efforts supporting laid-off workers, with Amir Satvat receiving the inaugural prize. The award's return in 2025 is unconfirmed. Organizers feel pressure to use the show's large platform responsibly while preserving celebratory moments and major announcements. Critics argue award shows often function as marketing events rather than purely honoring achievements.
Read at GameSpot
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