The Game Awards bring together a diverse array of titles, from indie gems to gargantuan adventures, and when it comes to the latter, Starfield and Spider-Man 2 are definitely in the conversation. Bethesda takes on the vastness of space, while Insomniac Games tackles the enormous responsibility of protecting New York City. Despite both of them nabbing plenty of accolades before the big night, these PS5 and Xbox exclusives are both leaving with nothing.
Yes, even though both Starfield and Spider-Man 2 are amid the best PS5 exclusives and best Xbox exclusives out there, you might be surprised to see that neither of them are sporting a lovely The Game Awards statue going forward. Insomniac Games’ latest Marvel adventure racks up 5 nominations, while Bethesda sees its RPG titan under the banner of only 1 nomination for Best RPG.
After all that time in production, and serving as a completely new IP for Bethesda, it is more than clear that Larian Studios is holding the crown when it comes to offering a worthwhile RPG experience. The Game Awards made quite the night for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield’s main rival, as Larian Studios walks away with 5 wins, including Best Game of The Year. Not too shabby at all. It also claimed victories for Best Performance (Neil Newbon), Best Community Support, Best RPG, and Best Multiplayer.
In lieu of any wins, we’re surprised to see a lack of any announcements for Starfield at The Game Awards, as news regarding the game’s first DLC is still left unclear. The debut Starfield DLC, Shattered Space, comes with the higher tier editions of the game, but Bethesda is still yet to confirm when players can actually dive into it. But what about one of the best PS5 games of the year?
Spider-Man 2, which emerged as a massive system seller for the PS5 quickly after release, outselling its own franchise, didn’t web up anything to take home. Competition at The Game Awards is always tough, but Marvel fans may have thought Yuri Lowenthal could have snagged Best Performance away from games like Star Wars Jedi Survivor, Alan Wake 2, or Cyberpunk 2077.
However, while Alan Wake 2 co-star Melanie Liburd was nominated, we still think it is a shame that Matthew Porretta didn’t at least join his Wake co-star in a dual nomination. The Academy Awards aren’t afraid to do it, and if The Game Awards is the gaming equivalent of the Oscars, Geoff Keighley shouldn’t be either. Regardless, The Game Awards proves to be a whirlwind showcase again, jumping from strange moments to grand reveals. But most of all, plenty of new PS5 games and new Xbox games to look forward to.