The Game Awards were more infuriating than usual in 2023 | Kaser Focus

At first blush, The Game Awards 2023 was not very totally different from earlier occasions. Many of the complaints I might degree at Geoff Keighley’s tenth present are ones I might make towards the ninth, the eighth and so forth. The present was overly targeted on Hollywood actors over game-based performers. Kojima’s sport reveal that wasn’t a sport reveal went on for solely too lengthy. The orchestra virtually jumped down the throats of any award recipient who mentioned greater than a cursory “Thanks” on the mic (Keighley even agrees with me on the final one).

In another 12 months, I’d be aggravated, however not upset. Whereas I hate Keighley’s propensity to fawn over anybody from the movie and TV trade who reveals up at these occasions and I want the precise awards got extra focus, I’m settle for that this Simply How It Is. However in 2023, that felt like much more of a kick within the tooth than it normally does. The Sport Awards have all the time been industrial, however watching Keighley and firm wallow in that facet of the present whereas the precise trade that’s propping up the occasion is on hearth put my hackles within the air.

Am I speaking concerning the layoffs once more? You wager I’m. Even by essentially the most conservative estimates, over 7,000 folks misplaced their jobs within the video games trade this 12 months. I’m not saying I anticipated The Sport Awards to pay direct tribute to them. Heck, I’m not even saying The Sport Awards wanted to be a downer. I might have settled for the naked minimal of simply acknowledging how many individuals have been screwed over this 12 months and a few lip service to the truth that the present wouldn’t exist with out their work.

As an alternative, what we obtained was a present the place the individuals who have been really a part of the video games have been performed off the stage after 30 seconds whereas barely being allowed to specific their gratitude. Among the awards weren’t given on the stage in any respect. The Sport Awards has all the time been a advertising and marketing gimmick disguised as a celebration, however the reality the disguise was so clear on this 12 months, of all occasions, makes extra upsetting than ever. If 2023 has taught us something, it’s that saying, “That’s Simply How It Is” is not an ample justification — if it ever was within the first place.

What to play this week

What’s new:

• Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
• Sonic Dream Workforce
• LEGO Fortnite
• Arizona Sunshine 2
• Whereas the Iron’s Sizzling
• Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Dealer
• Kingpin Reloaded
• Born of Bread
• The Day Earlier than
• Puzzle & Dragons Story
• Plumbers Don’t Put on Ties: Definitive Version

New on subscription providers:

• Rise of the Tomb Raider (Xbox Sport Go)
• World Struggle Z: Aftermath (Xbox Sport Go)
• Goat Simulator 3 (Xbox Sport Go)
• In opposition to the Storm (Xbox Sport Go)
• Chivalry 2 (Xbox Sport Go Core)
• Completely Dependable Supply Service (Xbox Sport Go Core)
• Lego 2K Drive (PlayStation Plus Important)
• Powerwash Simulator (PlayStation Plus Important)
• Sable (PlayStation Plus Important)
• Deathloop (Prime Gaming)
• Agatha Christie – Homicide on the Orient Categorical (GeForce Now)
• BEAST (GeForce Now)
• Dungeons 4 (GeForce Now)
• Farming Simulator 22 (GeForce Now)
• Hole Knight (GeForce Now)
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps (GeForce Now)
• Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Version (GeForce Now)
• Spirittea (GeForce Now)
• Harvest Moon 64 (Nintendo Swap On-line)
• 1080° Snowboarding (Nintendo Swap On-line)
• Jet Power Gemini (Nintendo Swap On-line)
• Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Version (Apple Arcade)
• Turmoil+ (Apple Arcade)