What's Happening?
Warhorse Studios, the developers behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, faced a complete shutout at the recent Game Awards, losing in every category they were nominated for to the French RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The categories included Best RPG, Best Narrative, and Game of the Year. Despite the losses, Warhorse Studios took the outcome in stride, having prepared humorous memes for both winning and losing scenarios. The studio's communications director, Tobias Stolz-Zwilling, humorously tweeted about being 'robbed' after the Game of the Year announcement. The team maintained a light-hearted attitude, as evidenced by a post-award selfie featuring both Warhorse and Clair Obscur developers, indicating no hard feelings.
Why It's Important?
The outcome of the Game
Awards highlights the competitive nature of the gaming industry, where even well-prepared and popular games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 can face unexpected outcomes. The success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 underscores the growing influence and recognition of international developers in the gaming community. This event also reflects the importance of maintaining a positive public image and sportsmanship, as demonstrated by Warhorse Studios' humorous and gracious response to their losses. Such attitudes can enhance a studio's reputation and foster goodwill among fans and industry peers.
What's Next?
While Warhorse Studios returns home without any awards, the positive interaction with Clair Obscur's team suggests potential for future collaborations or friendly competition. The gaming community may anticipate further developments from both studios, as they continue to innovate and produce new content. The Game Awards results could also influence future game development strategies, encouraging developers to focus on narrative and RPG elements that resonated with the judges and audience.
Beyond the Headlines
The event highlights the cultural exchange and camaraderie within the international gaming community, as developers from different countries come together to celebrate their achievements. It also raises questions about the criteria and decision-making processes behind major gaming awards, potentially prompting discussions on how to ensure diverse and fair recognition of talent across the industry.
