FromSoftware’s Elden Ring was a cultural phenomenon in 2022, earning widespread acclaim and countless accolades. Its upcoming expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, has become one of the most anticipated releases of 2024. However, while The Game Awards has included the DLC in its Game of the Year (GOTY) nominations, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has excluded it from its prestigious Best Game award. This decision raises questions about how the industry defines and rewards expansions.
BAFTA’s Best Game Rules: Why Expansions Don’t Qualify
BAFTA’s rules for its Best Game award are explicit: only standalone games released for the first time within the eligibility period qualify. A BAFTA spokesperson explained, “Our Best Game category specifically recognises full games which have released for the first time in the past year.” Under these guidelines, expansions, remasters, and additional content like Shadow of the Erdtree are ineligible.
Instead, BAFTA recognizes expansions in its Evolving Game category. This category acknowledges games that continue to grow and innovate after their initial release, celebrating live-service updates, expansions, and other forms of post-launch content. While this ensures that DLC is acknowledged, it also limits the scope of recognition available to transformative expansions.
The Game Awards Takes a Different Path
In contrast to BAFTA, The Game Awards has included Shadow of the Erdtree in its GOTY category, reflecting a more inclusive approach to expansions and downloadable content. This decision acknowledges DLC as a legitimate contender alongside standalone games, but it has also highlighted inconsistencies in how The Game Awards applies its criteria.
For example, in 2023, Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty expansion—widely praised for its narrative depth and stellar performances—was excluded from GOTY nominations. Instead, it was nominated in other categories, such as Best Narrative and Best Performance (for Idris Elba as Solomon Reed), and was recognized in the Best Ongoing Game category. This decision sparked controversy, with fans questioning why Phantom Liberty wasn’t considered for GOTY, particularly when Shadow of the Erdtree received that honor the following year.
The inclusion of Shadow of the Erdtree suggests that The Game Awards sees DLC as capable of delivering a standalone experience worthy of competing against full games. However, the differing treatment of Phantom Liberty highlights the need for clearer and more consistent criteria across award shows.
The Evolution of Expansions: A Challenge for Award Bodies
Post-launch content like expansions and DLC has evolved significantly in recent years. Expansions such as The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine, Destiny 2: The Taken King, and Shadow of the Erdtree often rival standalone games in scope and quality. These expansions introduce new regions, mechanics, and narratives, challenging the traditional boundaries between additional content and full releases.
BAFTA’s exclusion of Shadow of the Erdtree from its Best Game category reflects the difficulty of fitting modern gaming experiences into rigid award structures. As live-service models and expansive DLCs become more prevalent, award organizations may need to adapt their categories to ensure all forms of creative achievement are fairly recognized.
For Elden Ring fans, Shadow of the Erdtree’s exclusion from BAFTA’s Best Game category doesn’t diminish its significance. The expansion is expected to deepen the lore and gameplay of Elden Ring, reinforcing its legacy as one of the most impactful games of the decade. However, the differing approaches between BAFTA and The Game Awards highlight a broader industry debate about how expansions are evaluated.
The treatment of Shadow of the Erdtree and Phantom Liberty demonstrates the growing complexity of recognizing gaming achievements in an evolving industry. As expansions and live-service content continue to blur the line between full games and post-launch updates, award bodies must reassess their frameworks to keep pace with the changing landscape.
For now, Shadow of the Erdtree remains at the center of this debate, challenging the traditional definitions of what constitutes a “Game of the Year.” Whether future awards adapt to accommodate these shifts or maintain their rigid distinctions will shape how gaming innovation is celebrated in the years to come.