On December 12, 2024, the gaming community gathered for a memorable evening as Geoff Keighley hosted the 10th annual Game Awards. After years of being critiqued for its concentration on advertisements instead of shining the spotlight on deserving game developers, this year’s show seemed to finally strike the right balance.
Last year’s awards were somewhat overshadowed by a blunder involving a teleprompter, which inadvertently displayed a message that went viral: “Please Wrap it Up.” This embarrassment must have taught Keighley and the Game Awards team a lesson. It was evident that they listened to the audience’s feedback and made adjustments for this year’s ceremony.
The Game Awards 2024 surprised and delighted viewers from start to finish. The event was packed with thrilling announcements, one standout being Elden Ring Nightreign, a fresh cooperative twist on FromSoftware’s legendary Souls-like gameplay. Hazelight Studio revealed Split Fiction, a new cooperative adventure that blends varied mechanics and settings seamlessly, reminiscent of their award-winning It Takes Two from 2021. These reveals hit the mark for those tuning in for groundbreaking news.
A major improvement this year was that developers and award winners were finally given ample screen time. A perfect example was Swen Vincke, the Founder and CEO of Larian Studios, who gave a moving speech about resonating with the gaming community, as evidenced by the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, which won Game of the Year in 2023. His speech, praising the industry’s positive strides while critiquing its pitfalls, quickly made the rounds online.
Another highlight was Astro Bot, developed by Team Asobi and Sony Interactive Entertainment, clinching the Game of the Year 2024 title, outpacing strong competitors like Black Myth: Wukong. This unexpected triumph underlines how Astro Bot managed to connect deeply with both critics and gamers alike. It underscores a gap at Xbox, despite its wide range of offerings.
Astro Bot’s victory emphasizes the need for Microsoft and Xbox to explore the gap in providing engaging, all-ages games that resonate as strongly as this title. Astro Bot, a charming third-person platformer, draws inspiration from Nintendo’s classic Super Mario series, integrating familiar yet innovative gameplay mechanics. Across its levels, players guide Astro and his bots, who personify classic and lesser-known characters from Sony’s history, creating a nostalgic Easter egg hunt.
Despite successfully delivering niche franchises like Age of Empires and Microsoft Flight Simulator, Xbox lacks a standout third-person platformer in its lineup. This oversight seems curious given its vast stable of talented studios and beloved franchises.
Microsoft could leverage its notable IPs to revitalize the lineup. Banjo-Kazooie and even Conker provide opportunities – the former offering a lighthearted angle, the latter a more daring vibe, recalling the controversy-sparking titles of its past.
Considering recent partnerships, like with Toys for Bob, known for reviving Crash Bandicoot and remaking the Spyro trilogy, the potential for a rich platformer is substantial. Such collaborations could spawn a game that captures the nostalgic joy found in Astro Bot, using familiar characters like Crash and Spyro, steeped in PlayStation’s lore as the PS1 classics.
While Crash has seen recent success, Spyro awaits a continuation beyond its remastered trilogy. This presents a chance for Xbox to introduce an all-encompassing adventure, tapping into timeless narratives or rebooting beloved sagas for today’s players.
Why not innovate by creating a new mascot-driven IP imbued with rich cross-references to Microsoft’s iconic franchises? Imagine a family-oriented title featuring beloved characters like Master Chief in fresh contexts, evoking the same joy and nostalgia Astro Bot does for PlayStation fans.
Microsoft and Xbox, with a heritage nearing its 25th year, could harness its history to develop a title that both honors and expands upon its gaming legacy—striking a chord with players old and new. This ambitious undertaking could become a landmark celebration of what makes Xbox an enduring name in the gaming world.
