Astro Bot, the PlayStation 5 adventure game developed by Sony’s Team ASOBI, clinched the prestigious Game of the Year title at The Game Awards ceremony on Friday. The win has ignited a spirited debate among gamers worldwide.
The game, released on September 6, 2024, follows the robotic protagonist Astro Bot on a thrilling space journey. Despite being developed by a relatively small team of 65 people over three and a half years, Astro Bot managed to outshine five other nominees, including the highly anticipated Black Myth: Wukong.
Black Myth: Wukong, the first Chinese game ever nominated in the top category, did not go home empty-handed. It secured two significant awards: Best Action Game and the Players’ Voice Award. The game has seen remarkable success, with 22.5 million copies sold on Steam and total revenues exceeding $1.1 billion.
Reactions to Astro Bot’s victory have been mixed. Some gamers expressed surprise, questioning the decision given the game’s modest sales compared to Black Myth: Wukong. Others praised Astro Bot’s quality as a casual game but admitted they were stunned by its top honor.
“A studio makes a game because they want to make a game they want to play themselves… They didn’t make it to increase market share,” said Swen Vincke before announcing Astro Bot as the Game of the Year.
The Game Awards, established in 2014 and hosted by game journalist Geoff Keighley, celebrates achievements in the video game industry annually. This year’s ceremony highlighted the growing diversity and global reach of gaming, with titles from different cultures gaining international recognition.
