The Game Awards rule change puts Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree expansion in GOTY race

What just happened? It's that time of year again when the nominations for The Game Awards are revealed. 2024 could be the first time in the event's 10-year history that an expansion wins Game of the Year, thanks to a rule change that makes these non-standalone games eligible for the GOTY category. It means Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree could walk away with the top prize. Elsewhere, indie title Balatro has been nominated for five awards, including GOTY, while Dragon Age: The Veilguard appears in just one category: Innovation in Accessibility.

Compared to 2023 when we saw the likes of Baldur's Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Marvel's Spider Man 2, there haven't been as many obvious GOTY contenders in 2024. It could be why The Game Awards now allows expansions in the category, given that ...