The Game Awards 2023 was a whirlwind event that captured the gaming world's attention, blending celebration with controversy in true Hollywood fashion. As the curtains closed on another year of gaming excellence, the night belonged to Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3, which swept major categories including the coveted Game of the Year award. But behind the glittering trophies and emotional acceptance speeches lay a tapestry of behind-the-scenes drama, industry tensions, and moments that would spark conversations for weeks to come. From presenters stealing the spotlight to developers feeling slighted, the evening proved that in gaming's biggest night, nothing ever goes exactly according to script.
The Baldur's Gate 3 Dominance 🏆
Baldur's Gate 3 wasn't just a winner—it was the story of the night. The CRPG masterpiece from Larian Studios achieved what many considered impossible: beating out heavy hitters like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 for the top prize. With eight nominations and multiple wins including Best Performance for Neil Newbon's portrayal of Astarion, the game proved that depth, player choice, and old-school RPG mechanics could still capture hearts in 2026.
What made this victory particularly sweet was the developers' planned surprise. According to post-award revelations, the Larian team had intended to announce the Xbox Series X/S port during their Game of the Year acceptance speech—a move that would have been the cherry on top of their triumphant night. While timing constraints prevented this reveal (the port would shadow-drop shortly after), it showed the studio's commitment to their fans right up to the final moment.
| Category | Winner | Notable Nominees |
|---|---|---|
| Game of the Year | Baldur's Gate 3 | Alan Wake 2, Spider-Man 2 |
| Best Performance | Neil Newbon | Multiple actors from nominated games |
| Players' Voice | Baldur's Gate 3 | Community-voted category |
Presenter Problems and Time Crunches ⏰
If there was one consistent complaint about The Game Awards 2023, it was the glaring imbalance between presenter time and winner recognition. Celebrities and industry figures—many of whom seemed, as one observer put it, "like they'd been forced there"—took up substantial stage time, while actual award winners were often rushed through their 60-second acceptance speeches. This created an awkward dynamic at what should have been a celebration of developers' achievements.
The most egregious example came from host and producer Geoff Keighley's handling of the event's pacing. Despite promises to "move away" from world premieres and focus on awards, the show still felt bloated with trailers and celebrity appearances. Hideo Kojima's lengthy presentation for his mysterious new game OD received as much stage time as multiple award categories combined, leading to frustration among viewers and winners alike.
"Game developers deserve to feel safe and celebrated on stage at events," one editorial noted in the aftermath, capturing the sentiment of many who felt the human element of the awards had been overshadowed by spectacle.
The Christopher Judge Controversy 😬
Perhaps the most talked-about moment of the night came from an unexpected source: Christopher Judge, the voice of Kratos in the God of War series and a presenter for the Best Performance award. Judge, known for his marathon acceptance speech at the 2022 ceremony, decided to poke fun at himself—and ended up sparking an industry feud.
After joking about sticking to the script this time, Judge delivered the line that would echo through gaming circles: "My speech was actually longer than this year's Call of Duty campaign." The audience roared with laughter, but the reaction from Call of Duty developers was anything but amused.
The backlash was swift and pointed:
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A former Infinity Ward developer fired back: "'Funny' but yeah the metrics that CoD absolutely destroys all of the God of War games (probably combined tbh) in is also equally laughable"
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A current developer added salt to the wound: "Imagine having $hort user engagement once your game is consumed… can't relate"
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Even Barry Sloane, Captain Price himself in the Modern Warfare reboots, tweeted sarcastically: "That Christopher Judge writes all his own material I hear. Talented" followed by a clown emoji
Judge's additional comment—that Activision was now "another company he won't work for"—only poured gasoline on the fire. The incident highlighted the thin ice of industry ribbing at public events, where jokes that land with audiences might sting those in the developer trenches.
Snubs and Surprises 🤯
No awards show is complete without its share of shocking omissions, and The Game Awards 2023 had several head-scratchers:
The Hogwarts Legacy Mystery
Despite being one of the bestselling games of the year and a cultural phenomenon, Hogwarts Legacy found itself mysteriously absent from major categories. While some cried conspiracy, most analysts pointed to the game's controversial association with J.K. Rowling as the likely culprit—a reminder that in 2026, cultural context matters as much as commercial success.
The Starfield Disappointment
Bethesda's space epic, once touted as a surefire Game of the Year contender, failed to even make the Players' Voice vote—a category determined entirely by fan voting. This was particularly embarrassing given the game's massive marketing budget and years of hype.
Cyberpunk 2077's Redemption Arc
In a surprising twist, Cyberpunk 2077 earned more nominations in 2026 than it did at its disastrous launch in 2023—a testament to CD Projekt Red's years of post-launch support and the game's remarkable turnaround through updates and the Phantom Liberty expansion.
What Was Announced: The Future of Gaming 🔮
Between awards, The Game Awards 2023 served as a massive showcase for upcoming titles. The announcements ranged from exciting to perplexing:
Major Reveals:
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Hideo Kojima's OD - The enigmatic creator returned with another teaser that left everyone confused and intrigued
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Monster Hunter Wilds - Capcom's next entry in the beloved series, coming 2025
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Arkane Lyon's Blade - A surprise Marvel collaboration from the Dishonored creators
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Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth - New trailer featuring an emotional theme song
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Black Myth: Wukong - Finally, a release date for the stunning action RPG
Smaller but Significant:
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God of War: Ragnarok free roguelike DLC
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Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown demo announcement
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Metaphor: ReFantazio gameplay deep dive
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New Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio games from Sega
The Aftermath and Industry Reflection 🤔
In the days following the ceremony, a consensus began to form: gaming might need a new awards show. The criticisms were numerous:
The Commercialization Problem
Many felt the event had become too focused on trailers and advertisements rather than celebrating artistic achievement. "The best trailers were the ones you weren't paying attention to," one post-awards editorial quipped, suggesting that the most genuine moments happened off the main stage.
Security Concerns
Following 2022's stage invasion incident, security was noticeably ramped up—but the fact that last year's invader claimed he was "kicked out again" suggested the measures might have been more about optics than actual safety.
The Indie Identity Crisis
A recurring debate throughout the lead-up to the awards was Geoff Keighley's comments about "moving away" from world premieres, which many saw as contradictory to the show's actual content. This sparked broader conversations about what constitutes an indie game in 2026, with massive-budget "indie" titles blurring the lines.
Looking Forward: Can The Game Awards Change? 🔄
As the gaming community processes another Game Awards ceremony, questions linger about the event's future. The 2023 edition highlighted several tensions:
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Celebration vs. Commercialization - Can the show balance honoring developers with its role as a marketing platform?
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Inclusion vs. Exclusion - With so many great games released annually, how can the awards properly represent the medium's diversity?
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Tradition vs. Innovation - Should the categories and format evolve to match how games are made and played in 2026?
One thing remains certain: for all its flaws, The Game Awards continues to be gaming's biggest night. The controversies, the triumphs, the snubs, and the surprises all contribute to a cultural moment that transcends the awards themselves. As Baldur's Gate 3's developers celebrated their well-earned victory, and as Call of Duty developers stewed over a joke that hit too close to home, the gaming world was reminded that this industry—for better or worse—is never boring.
The 2023 ceremony may be over, but its conversations are just beginning. And somewhere, Geoff Keighley is already planning how to top it next year—hopefully with a bit more time for the actual award winners to speak.