Players have mixed feelings about controversial The Game Awards DLC rule ahead of nominations reveal

THE Game Awards are happening next month, and the nominees will be announced later today.

With plenty of great games this year, fans are eager to know which titles will get recognition at gaming’s equivalent to the Oscars.

In a recent trend, this year we saw quite a few remasters and remakes of beloved games, as well as massive expansions and new seasons to titles that have already received awards.

Elden Ring won Game of the Year in 2022, and this year, it received its Shadow of the Erdree DLC, which has been equally praised by players and critics.

This and other releases had many fans wondering whether these expansions, DLC packs and seasons can and should be nominated for Game of the Year.

The Game Awards has stated on its FAQ page that “expansion packs, new game seasons and DLCs, remakes and remasters, are eligible in all categories.”

The rule opens the door for Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion to receive a nomination and win in TGA’s most coveted category.

Some players see this as controversial because, despite its merit, Elden Ring’s excellent DLC is not a full standalone game.

In a  on the topic, many players felt the Game of the Year award should focus only on recognising brand-new titles.

Commenters also pointed out that Elden Ring had already received its fair share of accolades by winning in 2022.

With this rule in place, players predict that Shadow of the Edtree would be nominated and could likely win for Game of the Year, which would be a first in the award show’s 10-year history.

User 00nonsense wrote: “Oh it’s 100% winning, I think that’s why they made it a point to release a statement about DLC being eligible for GOTY.”

Fans of Shadow of the Erdtree defended the decision, noting that the expansion is an excellent follow-up to an already great game.

We will know if Elden Ring’s DLC makes it into the list shortly, as The Game Awards 2024 nominees are expected to be revealed later today.

The nomination announcement live stream is scheduled for November 18, 2024, at 5pm UK time / 9am PT.

Fans can tune in live on the award show's official website or YouTube channel to learn which games will be nominated.

The Game Awards 2024 ceremony will be broadcast live from Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on December 12, 2024, at 5pm UK time / 9am PT.

For more on Elden Ring's DLC, check out our Shadow of the Erdtree review.