2025 TGA (The Game Awards) Thoughts and reactions...

[dxchase]

YT link (live at time of posting)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-BDeU3R5ic



So, MY biggest highlight so far was the dropping of The Paladin class for Diablo 4 which i get to jump into in roughly an hour from now. Blizzard moved the season start from tuesday to tonight but didnt say why. A lot of speculation was the Paladin class but there was also this sense that Blizzard would just move the season because they were just announcing the next expansion at this award show.

Obviously feel Claire Obscur deserves all their awards

As for a new game, i was most interested in No Law so far. I thought it looked like cyberpunk meets fallout and its literally the two games suggested on steam for me lol.

And i noticed that the whole cast of Street Fighter showed up except for Curtis Jackson AKA 50 Cent.

EDIT (since its live): Happy to see ARC RAIDERS win MP of the year, swooping in the last 2 months of the year to take the title and then give a straight-forward thank you and moved on. Loved it, good job.

 

[Pifanjr]

I'm surprised Hollow Knight: Silksong didn't win more awards.

It's also pretty amazing that Counter-Strike (2) is still winning awards. That's pretty amazing for a game that, as far as I'm aware, hasn't really changed all that much in the 25 years since the original was released.

As for the announcements, I am curious about the new Total War game set in the Warhammer 40k universe.

 

[Frindis]

For me, the Divinity trailer from Larian took the cake. I'm confident they will nail it this time around, but there are a couple of things I hope they change up: While Divinity Original Sin 2 was dark themed, there was a lot of childish humor in it. Not as bad as you have in Borderlands 3, but I always thought they could have done that part much better taking into consideration it is an 18+ game.

I also hope they manage to fix their messy inventory system and actually make us be able to move stuff around easier. I also hope the camera zoom option is a bit better, because I thought it was a bit too close in Original Sin 2. I'm talking maybe 5 to 10% more zoomed out and it would have been perfect for me.

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

Total Warhammer 40K and Control Resonant for me. Ive been hoping for a 40K flavoured Total War since the first Warhammer game in 2017 so this is really exciting. The Control trailer is just incredible, and I cant wait to play it.

I liked the Divinity trailer as well, it was really dark, maybe suggesting theyre moving away from the tone of the Original Sin games which I think was a bit lighter, in my mind anyway. I never played any of the older games so dont know how they compare tonally.

Happy Clair Obscur: E33 won a lot of awards. I didnt really play much else released this year that was nominated anywhere.

 

[Johnway]

Looking at the award winners i think the right winners were picked. Sure, i would have liked a few more wins from other games like hollow knight but overall i think it was ok.

The trailers i only looked at the total war one and again, its fine. it looks like it should work mechanically, but whether it would be too basic or doesn't work in the TW method we'll wait and see. first impressions is that it looks like Company of Heroes but with much denser formations. would be more interested in the strategic elements at this point. How the story/strategy elements blend together (the Astra militarium and SM should techincally be on the same side) and the nuiances for each faction.

if there are only 4 factions to play with, prepare to be fleeced with DLC like Gladius was. i certainly expect cosmetics being a major nuisance along with the blood/gore dlc that CA is bound to make us pay for. perhaps it will take the Warhammer route and give us a few factions here and the next game gives us the next batch etc etc.

 

[dxchase]

The only award i think was given unfairly or the one i think didnt deserve one, would be content creator of the year.

It was given to a guy who goes by the name moistcr1tickal. First, he was saying the whole time before he got the award "not me" "not me". Then wins and has this "oh, oh well.." kinda of reaction to it. This sentiment is just trashy to me and its also coming from the same person who said he doesn't understand why people pay content creators by subscribing, and now this streamer gets to have this award. They should have honestly just gave it to someone else.

If he feels this way i have no idea why he even streams or why he even took all the subs and attention before he made that statement.

It just feels wrong to see this streamer acting the way he does, seeing someone sit there with a terrible reaction to an award that most people that do what he does (stream/create content) would LOVE to get. Again, i ask, why does he even stream? Its not hard to just stop doing that and walk away. If you were so keen on having a terrible attitude towards winning, why are even streaming during the ceremony??

That award was 100% given to the wrong nominee over other great choices like theburntpeanut

 

[BeardyHat]

For me, the Divinity trailer from Larian took the cake. I'm confident they will nail it this time around, but there are a couple of things I hope they change up: While Divinity Original Sin 2 was dark themed, there was a lot of childish humor in it. Not as bad as you have in Borderlands 3, but I always thought they could have done that part much better taking into consideration it is an 18+ game.

I also hope they manage to fix their messy inventory system and actually make us be able to move stuff around easier. I also hope the camera zoom option is a bit better, because I thought it was a bit too close in Original Sin 2. I'm talking maybe 5 to 10% more zoomed out and it would have been perfect for me.

Honestly, the humor is what I loved most about the Original Sin games and the campiness of the first game is what puts it on the top of my list for Larian games. This lives rent free in my head:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JrBQbNFgFU


I played almost 120-hours of 2 and liked it very much, but it never clicked with me in the same way as the first game, though I do still think about going back and giving it a go, especially since it'll run great on Deck.

But one of the things that does keep me away is the godawful inventory management you mention. Each time in the last several years I try to go back to my original DOS2 save, I look at my inventory a Nope right the hell out. Ain't nobody got time for that by Act 3.

if there are only 4 factions to play with, prepare to be fleeced with DLC like Gladius was. i certainly expect cosmetics being a major nuisance along with the blood/gore dlc that CA is bound to make us pay for. perhaps it will take the Warhammer route and give us a few factions here and the next game gives us the next batch etc etc.

It's GW, so 100%

This is the company that releases new models, not because they fill holes in rules, but because they can charge $50 for it. Then they invalidate your old models so you can't legally play them anymore and need the new ones. And also make their model kits proprietary so you can't kitbash them. And release a $60 Codex for your army a literal month before they announce an entirely new ruleset which invalidates that Codex you just bought. Or, because there's infighting within the company, completely nuke an entire army from a game (Beasts of Chaos in Age of Sigmar).

They make some cool models, but I'm all done with GW. Their business practices have left a sour taste in my mouth and I just avoid all things Warhammer now, even the videogames.

 

[neogunhero]

The only award i think was given unfairly or the one i think didnt deserve one, would be content creator of the year.

It was given to a guy who goes by the name moistcr1tickal. First, he was saying the whole time before he got the award "not me" "not me". Then wins and has this "oh, oh well.." kinda of reaction to it. This sentiment is just trashy to me and its also coming from the same person who said he doesn't understand why people pay content creators by subscribing, and now this streamer gets to have this award. They should have honestly just gave it to someone else.

If he feels this way i have no idea why he even streams or why he even took all the subs and attention before he made that statement.

It just feels wrong to see this streamer acting the way he does, seeing someone sit there with a terrible reaction to an award that most people that do what he does (stream/create content) would LOVE to get. Again, i ask, why does he even stream? Its not hard to just stop doing that and walk away. If you were so keen on having a terrible attitude towards winning, why are even streaming during the ceremony??

That award was 100% given to the wrong nominee over other great choices like theburntpeanut

Burnt Peanut was snubbed. I don't watch streamers much, but Burnt Peanut's clips are inescapable on my TikTok, he's actually very hilarious.

I could be wrong about moistcritical, but what I read on some comment sections is that he was mostly upset that Dispatch didn't win any awards. He plays a major role in that game and really wanted it to win some awards, but it didn't take home anything. So some people are saying in a way he feels bad for being the only person associated with the game to win an award.

However, that award was not for the game, it was Best Streamer. His reaction was quite entitled. As you mentioned, he has a job everyone in the world would want, for him to not be at least a little grateful to win the award does leave a bad taste. He could have faked it if he needed to. I used to watch him a lot when he only did YT videos maybe 10-12 years ago, his commentary used to be very funny because of how monotone he would be. But his transition to a full time streamer and content creator doesn't make sense to me, he doesn't have much of a personality. DXChase should have won the award instead

 

[neogunhero]

And i noticed that the whole cast of Street Fighter showed up except for Curtis Jackson AKA 50 Cent.

When is he going to do a remaster of Blood on the Sand???

 

[Zloth]

For me, the Divinity trailer from Larian took the cake. I'm confident they will nail it this time around, but there are a couple of things I hope they change up: While Divinity Original Sin 2 was dark themed, there was a lot of childish humor in it. Not as bad as you have in Borderlands 3, but I always thought they could have done that part much better taking into consideration it is an 18+ game.

Childish!?!? I loved that stuff! (And the Pontious Pirate of DOS1, and the Dragon Terror Patrol of Divinity 2, and...)

I also hope they manage to fix their messy inventory system and actually make us be able to move stuff around easier. I also hope the camera zoom option is a bit better, because I thought it was a bit too close in Original Sin 2. I'm talking maybe 5 to 10% more zoomed out and it would have been perfect for me.

I did not love the inventory system, though. I'm not real sure what to do about it, but I didn't like it.

There's something else here, though... is this even going to be an isometric RPG? The first two Divinity games were more like Diablo. Divinity 2 {which is the third game} is a 3rd person action RPG. Divinity: Dragon Commander is... well, it has RTS elements, though I'm not sure what to call a lot of the game. They've made a LOT of money with isometrics, so there's certainly a good chance, but I wouldn't count on it.

Oh!! Wait! The game actually released back in 2022!

DIVINITY on Steam

A Mystery Puzzle game in First Person. You are a strange visitor in a family. Can you reveal their deepest desires and help them reach divinity?

store.steampowered.com

Wow - way lower production values than I expected...

As you mentioned, he has a job everyone in the world would want...

Oh hell no!!! I want to play how I want, not in a way that's entertaining to my audience. And ESPECIALLY not if those fans are going to demand that I fake my honest responses!

That whole award seemed like a throw-away. "Here are the nominees: A, B, C, D, E, and F. And the winner is... C! The End." From the business perspective, Burnt Peanut won because he's got the most memorable name on the list. If the winner had actually shown up and say something, that would be different.

 

[dxchase]

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/internet-not-convinced-it-should-care-about-another-pvp-hero-shooter-collective-eye-roll-plunges-big-game-awards-finale-reveal-into-a-youtube-dislikes-hole/

I 100% agree with everyone on this. Why was this big game awards ceremony closed with a terrible looking hero shooter? If anything the Divinity trailer should have ended it, at least that was "shocking" to the audience when it dropped.

 

[neogunhero]

Oh hell no!!! I want to play how I want, not in a way that's entertaining to my audience. And ESPECIALLY not if those fans are going to demand that I fake my honest responses!

I meant in general, he gets paid to play video games. Who wouldn't want that job? Though the streaming aspect isn't for everyone. Most people don't seem to be interested in watching a streamer savescum and play games on easy, they want something actually entertaining. The award was definitely a throw away, none of the streamers seemed to even be at the show.

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/internet-not-convinced-it-should-care-about-another-pvp-hero-shooter-collective-eye-roll-plunges-big-game-awards-finale-reveal-into-a-youtube-dislikes-hole/

I 100% agree with everyone on this. Why was this big game awards ceremony closed with a terrible looking hero shooter? If anything the Divinity trailer should have ended it, at least that was "shocking" to the audience when it dropped.

I personally wouldn't say it looked terrible, but absolutely not end-of-show worthy. I'm optimistic for any new online multiplayer game, I may not play them all but I would like to see the most popular games get shaken up a bit. CS, OW, Valorant, League and more have dominated the top esports slots for too long in my opinion.

It seemed okay... I mainly just liked how you could ride a horse and throw grenades while riding. The creator of L4D and JJ Abrams seems like such a weird combo. Were they both were Meta Raybans on stage??

 

[Colif]

The only award i think was given unfairly or the one i think didnt deserve one, would be content creator of the year.

how is that even a category in a game awards show... are we stretching here? Trying to get more viewers?

Awards don't mean anything to me... if anything, I see a game with multiple awards and unless its the re release of Skyrim, I don't believe most are truly earned. Awards for people who talk about games... if they not journalists, why?

The words I would use to describe most of that I cannot repeat here

 

[Frindis]

I think I deserve an award also, so I gave one to myself

 

[Zloth]

If anything the Divinity trailer should have ended it, at least that was "shocking" to the audience when it dropped.

Remember, they have to think about who's eating for that video. I think they managed to get dinner time out over the Pacific, but lunch was moving in fast on Japan and Australia...

I think I deserve an award also, so I gave one to myself

!! Are you part of the upper echelons of FIFA, by chance?

 

[Frindis]

!! Are you part of the upper echelons of FIFA, by chance?

Would you believe it! FIFA just gave me an award!⚽