The Game Awards 2023 Nominations Announced: See the Full List

The Game Awards 2023 nominations are now out in the wild. Two of the biggest titles this year, Baldur’s Gate 3 and the more recent Alan Wake II lead the pack with a whopping eight nods each, including Game of the Year. Despite being considered one of the best years for gaming, the show host and organiser Geoff Keighley is sticking to his rule of including only six names for the prestigious award. The remaining GOTY contenders include Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Resident Evil 4 remake, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The latter two were big hits during the first half of the year, with Zelda players showing off their mechanical creations in the lands of Hyrule, while the RE4 PC players messed around with sultry mods.

HBO’s The Last of Us series was a no-brainer inclusion in the Best Adaptation category, thanks to a very faithful adaptation that focused on the humane aspects of a post-apocalyptic universe, in a way that resonated with both the new TV audience and fans of the original video game. The $1.36 billion (about Rs. 11,321) grossing The Super Mario Bros. Movie also competes in that field, alongside the Twisted Metal Peacock show, Netflix’s Castlevania: Nocturne, and the David Harbour-led Gran Turismo movie. Now that the actors’ strike is over, the performers will also be present at The Game Awards show, with my personal favourite Neil Newbon earning a Best Performance nod for his portrayal of Astarion the Vampire Spawn in Baldur’s Gate 3. We’ve also got Cameron Monaghan for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Ben Starr for Final Fantasy XVI, and Idris Elba for Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty amongst others.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Review

It’s odd that Cyberpunk 2077 got nominated as the Best Ongoing Game, considering Phantom Liberty was simply post-launch expansion content and not a live-service experience. Over a 100 different games are spread across the list for The Game Awards 2023, with Nintendo emerging as the most-nominated publisher this year with 15 nominations.

As usual, the event will play host to countless game reveals and trailers, live musical performances, and its dedicated on-stage orchestra conducted by returning composer Lorne Balfe. The winners will be announced on December 7 (December 9 in India, running from 6am to 9:30am IST), live from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. It will be available to stream across YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook Live, Instagram Live, and Kick. Fans can cast their votes until D-day through the official TGA website.

With that, here’s the full list of nominees for The Game Awards 2023:

Game of the Year

Alan Wake II (Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games Publishing)
Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games/SIE)
Resident Evil 4 remake (Capcom)
Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)

Best Game Direction

Alan Wake II
Baldur’s Gate 3
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Narrative

Alan Wake II
Baldur’s Gate 3
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (CD Projekt Red)
Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix)
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Best Art Direction

Alan Wake 2
Hi-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks/Bethesda Softworks)
Lies of P (Round8 Studio/Neowiz Games)
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Score and Music

Petri Alanko, Alan Wake 2
Borislav Slavov, Baldur’s Gate 3
Masayoshi Soken, Final Fantasy XVI
Shuichi Kobori, Hi-Fi Rush
Nintendo Sound Team, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Adaptation

Castlevania: Nocturne (Powerhouse Animation/Netflix)
Gran Turismo (PlayStation Productions/Sony Pictures)
The Last of Us (PlayStation Productions/HBO)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Illumination/Nintendo/Universal Pictures)
Twisted Metal (PlayStation Productions/Peacock)

Best Audio Design

Alan Wake 2
Dead Space (Motive Studio/EA)
Hi-Fi Rush
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4 Review

Best Performance

Ben Starr, Final Fantasy XVI
Cameron Monaghan, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Idris Elba, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Melanie Liburd, Alan Wake 2
Neil Newbon, Baldur’s Gate 3
Yuri Lowenthal, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Innovation in Accessibility

Diablo IV (Blizzard Entertainment)
Forza Motorsport (Turn 10 Studios/Xbox Game Studios)
Hi-Fi Rush
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Mortal Kombat 1 (NetherRealm Studios/WB Games)
Street Fighter 6 (Capcom)

Best Ongoing Game

Apex Legends (Respawn Entertainment/EA)
Cyberpunk 2077
Final Fantasy XIV
Fortnite (Epic Games)
Genshin Impact (HoYoverse)

Games for Impact

A Space for the Unbound (Mojiken Studio/Toge Productions/Chorus)
Chants of Sennaar (Rundisc/Focus Entertainment)
Goodbye Volcano High (KO_OP)
Tchia (Awaceb/Kepler Interactive)
Terra Nil (Free Lives/Devolver Digital/Netflix)
Venba (Visai Games)

Baldur’s Gate 3
Cyberpunk 2077
Destiny 2 (Bungie)
Final Fantasy XIV
No Man’s Sky (Hello Games)

Best Independent Game

Cocoon (Geometric Interactive/Annapurna Interactive)
Dave the Diver (MINTROCKET)
Dredge (Black Salt Games/Team 17)
Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio)
Viewfinder (Sad Owl Studios/Thunderful Publishing)

Best Debut Indie Game

Cocoon
Dredge
Pizza Tower (Tour de Pizza)
Venba
Viewfinder

Best Mobile Game

Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis (Applibot/Square Enix)
Honkai: Star Rail
Hello Kitty Island Adventure (Sunblink Entertainment)
Monster Hunter Now (Niantic/Capcom)
Terra Nil

Best VR/AR Game

Gran Turismo 7 (Polyphony Digital/SIE)
Humanity (tha LTD/Enhance Games)
Horizon Call of the Mountain (Guerrilla Games/Firesprite/SIE)
Resident Evil Village VR Mode (Capcom)
Synapse (nDreams)

Best Action Game

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco)
Dead Island 2 (Dambuster Studios/Deep Silver)
Ghostrunner 2 (One More Level/505 Games)
Hi-Fi Rush
Remnant 2 (Gunfire Games/Gearbox Publishing)

Best Action/Adventure Game

Alan Wake 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Resident Evil 4
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best RPG

Baldur’s Gate 3
Final Fantasy XVI
Lies of P
Sea of Stars
Starfield (Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks)

Starfield Review

Best Fighting Game

God of Rock (Modus Studios Brazil/Modus Games)
Mortal Kombat 1
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 (Ludosity/Fair Play Labs/GameMill Entertainment)
Pocket Bravery (Statera Studio/PQube)
Street Fighter 6

Best Family Game

Disney Illusion Island (Dlala Studios/Disney)
Party Animals (Recreate Games)
Pikmin 4 (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
Sonic Superstars (Arzest/Sonic Team/Sega)
Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Best Sim/Strategy Game

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (WayForward/Nintendo)
Cities: Skylines II (Colossal Order/Paradox Interactive)
Company of Heroes 3 (Relic Entertainment/Sega)
Fire Emblem Engage (Intelligent Systems/Nintendo)
Pikmin 4

Best Sports/Racing

EA Sports FC 24 (EA Vancouver/EA Romania/EA Sports)
F1 23 (Codemasters/EA Sports)
Forza Motorsport
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged (Milestone)
The Crew Motorfest (Ubisoft Ivory Tower/Ubisoft)

Best Multiplayer

Baldur’s Gate 3
Diablo IV
Party Animals
Street Fighter 6
Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Most Anticipated Game

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)
Hades II (Supergiant Games)
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega)
Star Wars Outlaws (Massive Entertainment/Ubisoft)
Tekken 8 (Bandai Namco/Arika)

Content Creator of the Year

IronMouse
PeopleMakeGames
Quackity
Spreen
SypherPK

Best Esports Game

Counter-Strike 2 (Valve)
Dota 2 (Valve)
League of Legends (Riot Games)
PUBG Mobile (LightSpeed Studios/Tencent Games)
Valorant (Riot Games)

Best Esports Athlete

Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok (League of Legends)
Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut (CS:GO)
Max “Demon1” Mazanov (Valorant)
Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez (Call of Duty)
Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk (League of Legends)
Phillip ”ImperialHal” Dosen (Apex Legends)

Best Esports Team

Evil Geniuses (Valorant)
Fnatic (Valorant)
Gaimin Gladiators (Dota 2)
JD Gaming (League of Legends)
Team Vitality (Counter-Strike)

Best Esports Coach

Christine “potter” Chi (Evil Geniuses – Valorant)
Danny “zonic” Sorensen (Team Falcons – Counter-Strike)
Jordan “Gunba” Graham (Florida Mayhem – Overwatch)
Remy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam (Team Vitality – Counter-Strike)
Yoon “Homme” Sung-young (JD Gaming – League of Legends)

Best Esports Event

2023 League of Legends World Championship
Blast.tv Paris Major 2023
EVO 2023
The International Dota 2 Championships 2023
VALORANT Champions 2023


Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

Source link

#Game #Awards #Nominations #Announced #Full #List

8 Biggest New Games on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series S/X in March

What are the biggest new games coming out in March 2023? After a jam-packed lineup last month, March 2023 continues heating things up on the AAA front, ensuring a good time for gamers this year. The survival horror genre takes the front row, starting with the Resident Evil 4 remake, transporting us back to a cultist European village on a mission to track down the President of the USA’s daughter. Developer Capcom claims that the timeless classic has been fully rebuilt keeping the original’s essence intact. The RE4 remake is out March 24 across PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X. Chase it down with The Last of Us Part I, which finally comes to PC on the 28th, letting a new array of players experience the emotional zombie apocalypse story of an unlikely duo.

Oil up, flex your muscles, and step into the ring once again in the latest wrestling showdown from 2K. Releasing March 17 — March 14 for early access — WWE 2K23 features the 16-time world champion and DC Studios’ Peacemaker, John Cena as the cover star, whose iconic career can be relived through this year’s 2K Showcase. A brand-new souls-like from the creators of Nioh is also on the menu this month. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty — out now on all major platforms — places you in the fictional dark fantastical realm of the later Han Dynasty as you take on corrupted demons in punishingly difficult combat.

Keeping with tradition, Nintendo comes in clutch with a new offering on the handheld front. Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a take on the Umbra Witch’s early days, and understandably far less racy. This spin-off title puts the trainee witch on a quest to save her imprisoned mother, accompanied by a demonic feline, Cheshire. The game has you take control of both characters in turn and releases March 17 on the Nintendo Switch. Indie darling Dead Cells is also getting a meaty DLC on March 6, Return to Castlevania, which lets you play as vampire hunter Richter Belmont, navigating the courtyards and corridors of Dracula’s Castle. Dead Cells’ paid Return to Castlevania DLC will be available on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch.

With that, here are the eight biggest titles coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X in March 2023:

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

When: March 3
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X

Step into a twisted, war-torn version of ancient China, with the Han Dynasty in its final days as demonic forces drag the formerly prosperous realm into collapse. As a nameless militia soldier, you’re plunged into the battlefield to eradicate the Yellow Turban Rebellion and deadly creatures in fast-paced melee combat that relies on timed parries/ deflects. Cycle between armaments, learn Wizardry Spells, and perform martial arts to overcome all odds. To ease the punishing souls-like experience, developer Team Ninja has added summonable spectral beings and a plethora of flagposts that serve as checkpoints for levelling up and resetting any afflictions.

Expect theatrical boss battles and a high-risk high-reward playstyle, with an emphasis on the Morale system. The higher your Morale, the more damage you deal. Alternatively, if you die, you lose everything until you reclaim it from your killer. Think of it as a passive buff that helps with long-drawn fights. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty also has a free demo available to download on all platforms. In our first impressions of the PC version, we noted how the mouse-based camera controls had detection and sensitivity issues — which explains the game’s negative reviews on Steam. If you’re really looking forward to playing Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty on PC, we would recommend using a controller, for the time being.

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania

When: March 6
Where: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch

Motion Twin’s popular roguelike Metroidvania title Dead Cells is set to get a DLC that will let you embark on a new Castlevania-themed adventure. Step through a mysterious gateway into a gothic-themed castle to defeat an evil vampire, as you fight alongside the warrior Richter Belmont and Alucard.

Reaching the evil Dracula won’t be easy, though — you’ll first have to beat three bosses and several new enemies across two biomes. However, you’ll have access to 14 weapons – including a throwing axe, vampire killer, and holy water — along with 20 outfits for Richter, Trevor, Simon Belmont, Maria Reynard, Sybha Belnades, and the evil Dracula.

WWE 2K23

When: March 17
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X

John Cena is the official cover superstar for the upcoming wrestling title WWE 2K23. The 16-time World Champion stars in an interactive sports documentary that lets you play through his 20-year career while taking on his biggest rivals. You can also face off with other gamers in teams of three or four to wrestle in two rings inside a steel cage with the new WarGames mode.

The game will feature iconic WWE Superstars such as Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Steve Austin, and Cody Rhodes. WWE 2K23 will also have modes called MyRISE and MyGM that let you make decisions that affect your WWE Superstar career and compete against rival general managers, respectively. MyFACTION, on the other hand, lets you collect WWE Superstar cards and upgrade them while competing with other players.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon

When: March 17
Where: Nintendo Switch

PlatinumGames’ Bayonetta franchise stands out for its frenetic hack-and-slash combat, unique visuals, and indulgence in indecent innuendo. After three mainline games, the developers have now worked on a spinoff — one that has spun quite far away from its roots. Revealed at The Game Awards 2022, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon ditches Bayonetta’s edgy art style, third-person Devil May Cry-action, and risque aesthetics to embrace more colourful, indie-like visuals, an isometric camera perspective, and a more family-friendly theme. This game feels more at home in the Nintendo catalogue than the mainline Bayonetta games. Frankly, it’s only Bayonetta in name.

In Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, players control its two titular characters, Cereza (a younger version of the iconic and eponymous witch from the main games) and her demonic companion, Cheshire. Cereza, who is yet to become the leather-clad, corseted, and bespectacled Bayonetta, travels with Chesire through a fantastical forest, where they take on beasts and creatures. Cereza’s powers are, of course, far from fully formed, but you can utilise her magic abilities and Cheshire’s demonic strength to navigate the jungle. The game also offers puzzles and platforming, where teamwork between the two characters is key.

While the game is a departure from Bayonetta’s bawdy adventures, it might just bring new players (including those too young to play the main games) to the franchise.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon and Beyond, Nintendo Direct February 2023 Highlights

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon embraces more colourful, indie-like visuals
Photo Credit: PlatinumGames

Resident Evil 4

When: March 24
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series S/X

Six years since the biological disaster in Raccoon City, series stalwart Leon S. Kennedy has been deployed on a new mission to rescue the President of the USA’s daughter, Ashley Graham. Just like in the original 2005 game, players will be transported to a secluded, ghoulish Spanish village, teeming with hostile villagers who pledge allegiance to the Los Illuminados cult. In addition to upgraded visuals, Capcom has added new several gameplay elements to the Resident Evil 4 remake, expanding on the lore with new side quests, in-depth exploration, and a new parry mechanic that turns Leon’s knife into a limited resource. Knife durability can be upgraded in shops, though players will need to be mindful of using it to deflect attacks from minor enemies.

The captive Ashley has changed in a few key ways as well. Once rescued, Leon can order her to stay close or at a distance while he takes care of larger hordes. Alternatively, she takes charge when unlocking doors for you. Stealth mechanics have been expanded, letting you silently kill enemies with your knife or create distractions and sneak past them. The developers also have some post-launch content in store for us, including a virtual reality mode for the PS VR2. It is currently in development and will be available as free DLC to those who own the base game.

EA Sports PGA Tour

When: March 24
Where: PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X

Featuring 30 golf courses — 28 of the most well-known ones plus two that are imaginary — EA Sports PGA Tour will feature the Masters Tournament, The Open Championship, the PGA Championship, and the US Open Championship. You can step into the shoes of pro golfers including Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Nelly Korda, Tony Finau, Im Sung-jae, and Lexi Thompson. The game features a career mode, challenges and limited-time tournaments, and live service functionality is coming at a later date.

The publisher says high-resolution visuals for EA Sports PGA Tour are only supported on the latest-generation consoles and some PCs. The upcoming EA Sports PGA Tour will feature a private match mode for friends and family, and a social mode with players at your skill level, as well as a competitive mode that matches you with other players.

The Last of Us Part I

When: March 28
Where: PC

At this point, The Last of Us, first released in June 2013, has to be one of the most-played games on PlayStation. From its first innings on the PS3, and its second life as The Last of Us Remastered on PS4, to its final form as The Last of Us Part I on the PS5, Naughty Dog’s this narrative-focused action-adventure title is a stone cold classic of the platform.

These days, it’s hard to miss the story of Joel and Ellie; those who don’t play games now know them through the hit HBO TV adaptation, which has become a phenomenon in its own right. Now, almost a decade after the original game’s release, PC gamers will finally be able to step into the shoes of the two iconic characters and journey through a post-apocalyptic America, fighting off the infected and the unhinged. The game’s PS5 remake, The Last of Us Part 1, is being ported to PC, and arrives March 28. Those who’ve played the original, or have checked out the new TV show, will know that The Last of Us is less about its undead and more about its living.

While the acclaimed story and beloved characters remain the same, the game has been rebuilt from the ground up, with shiny new visuals, quality-of-life changes, an AI overhaul, and more. All this brings it up to modern standards, closer to its sequel, The Last of Us Part II. Riding high on the buzz from its ongoing live-action adaptation starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us Part I on PC will likely attract a whole new audience, including those who don’t necessarily consider themselves gamers.

Crime Boss: Rockay City

When: March 28
Where: PC

A trailer for Crime Boss: Rockay City dropped out of the blue at The Game Awards 2022, showing off an all-star cast that includes Michael Madsen, Chuck Norris, Danny Trejo, Danny Glover, and Kim Basinger. Along with its throwback cast, Rockay City looks like it will offer throwback first-person shooter action.

Developed by In Game Studios and published by 505 Games, this action-FPS title is set in the 90s and takes place in the Miami, Florida-inspired titular city. Players take control of Madsen’s character Travis Barker and set about building their criminal enterprise. Rockay City offers single-player and up to four-player co-op experiences, letting you indulge in turf wars, heists, and all-around general madness. The game also lets you choose your crew, plan missions, and slowly build your empire.

With its Miami Vice vibes and colourful cast, Crime Boss: Rockay City arrives on PC on March 28.


Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

For details of the latest launches and news from Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo and other companies at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, visit our MWC 2023 hub.

Source link

#Biggest #Games #PS4 #PS5 #Xbox #Series #March