The Game Awards 2024 nominees spark debate as DLC enters Game of the Year category, but did the right expansion make the cut?

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The Game Awards has always been a bit of a wild ride, but this year’s Game of the Year nominations just cranked the controversy up to eleven. With Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree making the cut, we’re witnessing something unprecedented in the show’s decade-long history—a DLC competing for the biggest prize in gaming.

Gameplay screenshot from Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.Not all expansions are created equal, according to The Game Awards. | Image Credit: FromSoftware

While everyone expected some surprises in the Game of the Year category, no one could have predicted that The Game Awards would completely rewrite its own rulebook. And in doing so, they might have just opened Pandora’s box—or should we say, Pandora’s DLC?

The real kicker? While FromSoftware’s massive expansion made the cut, another equally deserving DLC was left out in the cold. And boy, do we have thoughts about that.

When DLC Becomes GOTY Material

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The Game Awards dropped their nominations bomb earlier today, and let’s just say it’s raised more eyebrows than a FromSoftware difficulty spike:

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Shadow of the Erdtree. Yes, it’s fantastic. Yes, it’s probably bigger than some full games. But here’s the thing—it’s still DLC. By that logic, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty could have moonwalked its way to last year’s GOTY if they’d bent the rules back then.

And speaking of rules being more flexible than a Souls character’s dodge roll, where’s The Final Shape in all this? Bungie’s epic conclusion to Destiny 2‘s Light and Dark saga is basically the Avengers: Endgame of gaming—a massive finale that caps off YEARS of storytelling. But apparently, that’s not enough to make the cut, even though we’re now apparently cool with DLC competing for the big prize.

The precedent this sets is particularly concerning for the industry as a whole. If DLC can compete for Game of the Year, what’s stopping publishers from chopping up their games into smaller pieces, knowing they could potentially score multiple GOTY nominations across different years?

It also raises questions about pricing and value. Shadow of the Erdtree, priced at $39.99, is competing against full-price titles that cost $69.99 or more. Are we saying that a $40 expansion pack can deliver the same impact as a full-priced game? If so, what does that say about the industry’s pricing model?

The Great DLC Debate

A close-up of the antagonist of Destiny 2: The Final Shape, The Witness, against an ominous dark purple background.“We are not bound by logic. We define its shape.” | Image Credit: Bungie

This isn’t just about one expansion getting the spotlight while another gets the shaft. It’s about what even counts as a “game” anymore. Are we really at a point where DLC—sorry, “Downloadable Content” for those who remember what it actually stands for—can go toe-to-toe with full releases?

Let’s be real: Shadow of the Erdtree is riding high on Elden Ring‘s coattails. Would it have gotten the same attention if it wasn’t expanding on 2022’s Game of the Year? Meanwhile, Balatro somehow snuck onto the list—not bad, but GOTY material? Really? For the sake of “variety,” maybe.

On the other hand, The Final Shape didn’t just expand Destiny 2; it wrapped up a saga that’s been running longer than some of this year’s nominees have been in development. It delivered an ending worthy of gaming’s own MCU-style epic, but apparently, that’s not enough to qualify for GOTY consideration—unless you’re FromSoftware, apparently.

This whole situation sets a dangerous precedent. What’s next? Battle Pass Season 4 getting nominated for Best Narrative? Premium Skin Collection 2025 for Best Art Direction?

This debate extends beyond just awards shows. The gaming industry has increasingly blurred the lines between DLC and full games, with some expansions offering more content than their base games. Look at Monster Hunter World: Iceborne or Witcher 3‘s Blood and Wine—both could arguably stand as their own games.

But there’s a crucial difference between “could be its own game” and “is its own game.” By including DLC in the GOTY category, The Game Awards risks diminishing the achievements of developers who pour years into creating entirely new experiences from scratch, rather than building on existing foundations.

What do you think about this year’s GOTY nominations? Should DLC be eligible for Game of the Year? And did The Final Shape deserve a spot on that list? Let us know in the comments below!