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An Unusual Move During a Highly Competitive Awards Season
The Game Awards 2025 is already being described as one of the strongest editions in the event’s history, with an exceptional spread of AAA and independent releases competing across dozens of categories. Yet amid the excitement, one indie title made an unexpected and widely discussed decision. Megabonk, a breakout hit of 2025, has voluntarily withdrawn from the Debut Indie category.
The move surprised many players, particularly because Megabonk had enjoyed a strong reception and appeared to be a legitimate contender.
Why Megabonk Opted Out
Shortly after nominations were announced, developer Vedinad posted a message on the game’s official social channels explaining that Megabonk should not be considered a debut project. Although the game is the first release under his current studio banner, Vedinad revealed that he had previously worked on other game projects under a different studio name.
Because of this earlier experience, he felt accepting a nomination in a category reserved for first-time releases would be inappropriate. He thanked The Game Awards jury for the acknowledgement, but encouraged voters to support the other nominated titles.
Community Praises the Decision
The community’s response has been overwhelmingly positive. Many players and fellow developers commended Vedinad for his honesty and fairness, noting that voluntarily stepping back from a major awards nomination is rare in an increasingly competitive industry.
Some fans pointed out that The Game Awards typically interprets “Debut Indie” as the first release under a specific studio, which would technically still include Megabonk. However, Vedinad maintained that his previous work meant the recognition should go to teams truly entering the scene for the first time.
The Remaining Competition
Before its withdrawal, Megabonk was nominated alongside a strong group of debut indie titles:
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Dispatch
- Despelote
With the game stepping aside, the category now focuses entirely on studios releasing their first project in the industry. The Game Awards 2025 ceremony will take place on December 11, with public voting currently open across all categories.
