Admittedly, yes, it is a tad extreme for me to be broaching the topic of Game of the Year on, checks calendar, 6 January, but I have a good reason to be concerned. I recently took the time to refamiliarise myself with the year’s announced releases both to see what I was personally looking forward to and to professionally gauge an idea of what the year might have in store. It’s an activity that led me to one conclusion; 2025 could be a year for the record books, and we don’t yet know what surprises it may have in store.
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Anyone else championingProfessor Layton and the New World of Steam?
Then there’s pricing, pre-order incentives, previews, and reviews all before fans actually get their hands on the game itself - and that opens up a new wealth of content.Rockstar Games’ developers are masters of their craft. Just imagine the attention to detail we’re going to find inGTA VI’s open world.
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I should stress that, of course, as much as we’re all hoping thatGTA VIis going to be everything we’ve dreamt of and more, there’s nothing to guarantee its greatness until the game is in our hands. Even still, you can understand why I have a sneaking suspicion thatGTA VImight dominate this year’s The Game Awards. Rockstar Games’ rich history, the quality of that reveal trailer, the sheer level of hype … it’s surely a recipe for success?
Which may lead you to wonder why this is something that’s causing me concern. I hope, like everybody else, thatGTA VIis fantastic and if it deserves to win GOTY then I certainly hope it walks away with the trophy. What I’m about to say doesn’t makeGTA VIany less deserving of any praise it eventually accrues. That being said, I’m worried it’ll dominate the year to the point where equally deserving games may be paid a pittance.
Rockstar Games
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Let me takeGTA VIout of the equation for just a moment and name a couple of the other major titles set to launch this year:Civilization VII, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Elden Ring: Nightreign, Crimson, Desert, Avowed, Monster Hunter Wilds, Atomfall, Borderlands 4, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Fable, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Judas, Little Nightmares III, andPokémon Legends Z-A.
And those are just a few of the year’s games coming from big name studios. There’sDirective 8020, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam,Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra… I could go on. Then alongside this, the year will bring us plenty more indie delights, the very best of which will break through and make a mark on the masses. I’ve already got my eye onWoodo. You can already see how this year’s award season might result in some snubs and upsets, and that’s withGTA VItaken out of the equation.
Place it back in and assume that it’ll end up nominated for practically every award going? Well, I simply hope that we’re all there to champion the titles equally deserving of the spotlight that may have just found themselves drowned out in the noise. 2025 could be one of the strongest years we’ve ever seen, but I hope when in the future we look back, it’s because of the breadth of quality - not any single one title.
Topics:The Game Awards,Opinion,Grand Theft Auto,GTA 6,Rockstar Games
