As the final days of 2024 slip through my fingers like the last grains of sand in an hourglass, a familiar, electric buzz fills the air. It's that time of year again—the video game award season. The Golden Joysticks have had their say, but all eyes, including my own, are turning toward the grand spectacle: The Game Awards, orchestrated by the ever-present Geoff Keighley. On December 12th, the virtual stage will light up, but the drama, I feel, has already begun brewing in the quiet announcement of nominees. It's a peculiar year, one where the boundaries of what constitutes a 'game' for recognition are being stretched, and honestly, it's got me feeling some type of way.

Let's be real, 2024 wasn't exactly a bumper crop year for the big console titans. Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft—they all brought some solid first-party titles to the table, but the release schedules felt… lighter. A bit of a dry spell, you could say. Normally, that's no biggie. Indie darlings and third-party powerhouses always rise to fill the void. But this year, a colossal shadow was cast, and its name is Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. This isn't just any DLC; it's a phenomenon, a beast of content so vast and masterfully crafted it feels like a sequel in all but name. FromSoftware didn't just add a new area; they built a new world within a world. And its acclaim? Off the charts. This left The Game Awards in a pickle—a real 'between a rock and a hard place' situation.

So, they made a move. A rule shift that's set the community ablaze. In a quiet update to their FAQ, they declared that for 2024, expansion packs, DLC, remakes, and remasters are eligible for nomination in all categories, including the holy grail: Game of the Year. The subtext is as clear as a 4K resolution: this ruling exists to legitimize Shadow of the Erdtree's place among the contenders. Sure, other expansions like Destiny 2: The Final Shape or Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred might duke it out in 'Best Ongoing Game,' but Shadow of the Erdtree is primed to crash the main event. And that, my friends, is where the plot thickens.

On one hand, I totally get it. Shadow of the Erdtree is a masterpiece. It's not just an add-on; it's a full-blown experience. It stands shoulder-to-shoulder with legendary expansions like StarCraft: Brood War or last year's incredible Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. These are rare birds—DLCs that transcend their status and become essential gaming landmarks. To ignore Shadow of the Erdtree in the year of its release would feel… wrong. It would be a snub to the artistry and sheer volume of work poured into it. It deserves recognition, and plenty of it. Period.

But on the other hand… wow, this is a can of worms.

Let's break down the potential fallout, because the implications are huge:

The Pros 🎉	The Cons ⚠️
Recognizes exceptional, game-sized expansions as the art they are.	Risks sidelining deserving, complete new IPs or sequels in a limited nomination field.
Reflects what players are actually passionate about and playing in 2024.	Blurs the line between a full product and additional content, potentially devaluing base games.
Rewards ongoing support and ambitious post-launch development.	Sets a precedent that could lead to future controversies with less-deserving DLC.

My heart is divided. I cheered my lungs out exploring the Land of Shadow. Every new boss, every cryptic lore fragment felt like a gift. Nominating it for Best Score, Best Art Direction, Best RPG? Absolutely, 100%. But Game of the Year? That's the big leagues. That award has always been for the complete package, the fresh start, the new journey. If Shadow of the Erdtree shares Elden Ring's GOTY nomination slot, does that mean a piece of content, however magnificent, is being favored over another studio's full, self-contained labor of love? It feels like comparing a sublime, perfect symphony (the DLC) to an entire, groundbreaking opera (a new game).

The discourse is inevitable, and it's already simmering. Forums are lit, timelines are divided. Some say, "Let the best experience win, regardless of format!" Others argue, "This isn't the Oscars nominating a director's cut; it's a different category of creation."

As I sit here, controller in hand, I can't help but feel that The Game Awards 2024 is about more than just handing out statues. It's a reflection point for our industry. What do we value? Completeness or content? The new spark or the perfected flame? This decision will set a precedent, a new normal. And once that genie is out of the bottle, there's no putting it back.

So, on December 12th, I'll be watching. I'll cheer for the indie devs getting their moment, for the actors whose performances moved me, and yes, I'll hold my breath for the GOTY announcement. Whether Shadow of the Erdtree takes it or not, this year's show has already secured its place in gaming history—not for who won, but for the fundamental question it forced us all to ask. And in the end, maybe that's the most valuable award of all. The conversation itself is the real winner, and we're all just players in it.

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