Megabonk Withdraws From Game Awards Nomination Following Debate Over Indie Status
Los Angeles, CA – November 15, 2024 - Megabonk, a recently released indie title, has been withdrawn from consideration for the Best Debut indie Game award at The Game Awards, following discussions regarding its eligibility. The decision comes after developer Vedinad accepted a request from Game Awards founder Geoff Keighley to remove the game from the category.
The nomination sparked debate about the definition of ”debut” and “autonomous” within the context of the awards. The Best Debut Game from a New Independent Studio category aims to recognize fresh talent,but the lines are often blurred as teams rebrand or developers with prior industry experience launch new projects. Previous years have seen similar discussions, including nominations for dave the Diver (developed by a Nexon subsidiary) in 2023 and Sifu (nominated for Best Fighting Game despite being an action beat ’em up). Keighley previously stated that ”indie can mean different things to different people.”
Megabonk‘s developer, Vedinad, operates largely as a solo creator, though the game benefited from contributions including a soundtrack by Miguel Angel, Steam art by Giovanni Fim, and playtesting assistance.While not a customary studio launch, Vedinad has released games under other names previously.
Keighley announced the withdrawal on X (formerly Twitter) on November 14, 2024. A new update for Megabonk is reportedly coming soon, according to Vedinad.
The full list of Game Awards 2025 nominations can be found at https://nl.ign.com/clair-obscur-expedition-33/161052/news/dit-zijn-alle-game-award-2025-nominaties.
