Summary
The Game Awards 2023are set to cap off an incredible year of gaming on December 7, as the final five nominees for its Players' Voice category have been revealed. Thoughmany seeBaldur’s Gate 3as the favoriteto repeat the success it had at the Golden Joystick Awards, many other games deserve a mention for making 2023 such a delight for video game enthusiasts across the globe.
The first half of the year saw titles such asHogwarts Legacy,Jedi: Survivor,Final Fantasy 16,Resident Evil 4, andTears of the Kingdomestablish themselves as thrilling releases. The latter half was marked by thedebut ofAlan Wake 2,Lies of P,Marvel’s Spider-Man 2,Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, and, of course,Baldur’s Gate 3. Even by listing all the aforementioned titles, far too many still feel left out. While winners at The Game Awards are determined by a mixed vote between its jury and the public, the Players' Voice is entirely decided by fan votes, split into three separate rounds.
The games that made it to the final round of voting were announced by The Game Awards on Twitter, and players have a chance to pick their favorite title of 2023 byvisiting the Players' Voice categoryon the official website, logging in to their account, and casting their vote. Unsurprisingly,Baldur’s Gate 3andCyberpunk 2077: Phantom Libertyare two of the finalists, butMarvel’s Spider-Man 2,Tears of the Kingdom, and evenGenshin Impactsurvived until the final round as well. WhileGenshin Impactwas not released in 2023, theimpressive debut of Fontaineproved why this gacha game is still at the top of its genre.
The Game Awards 2023: Players' Voice Finalists
In addition to seeing their favorite games snag a couple of awards, the show will also feature trailers, teasers, and announcements for upcoming titles. According to Geoff Keighley, The Game Awards will have a similar runtime compared to 2022 – almost three hours long – which certainly sounds promising considering how little is known about themajor video game releases of 2024.Death Stranding 2, aMonster Huntersequel, or a new trailer forStar Wars Outlawsare all strong possibilities.
The Game Awards 2023will be a great way to cap off another prosperous year of gaming. However, the commercial success that publishers have enjoyed should be underscored by the massive layoffs that occurred across the gaming industry, as over six thousand developers have been laid off globally since January 2023. Hopefully, 2024 will restore job security in the video game industry, especially in the wake of all the wondrous titles that made 2023 so special.
