GOTY Gong Show: Shroud Wades In, Cries 'Rigged!' and Backs ARC Raiders
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Popular streamer Shroud has stirred the Game of the Year pot, urging fans to back the multiplayer shooter *ARC Raiders* over the acclaimed RPG *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*, claiming The Game Awards are 'rigged' against multiplayer experiences. This sets the stage for a heated debate as other contenders like *Hollow Knight: Silksong* and *Hades 2* also vie for the industry's top accolade.
Alright, mates, gather 'round the digital campfire, 'cause something's brewing in the wild west of gaming awards, and our favourite digital wizard of aim, Shroud, has apparently had a bit of an accidental reality tear and stumbled right into the heart of the Game of the Year debate. According to Michael Brandon Ingram over at Game Rant, Shroud's not just politely suggesting; he's rallying the troops, chucking a digital spanner in the works by urging fans to vote for *ARC Raiders* for GOTY, rather than the critically adored *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*.
Now, for those of you who've been living under a rock (or perhaps deep-diving into an unexplored dungeon), The Game Awards' 'Game of the Year' gong is pretty much the most coveted digital crown going. Last year, *Astro Bot* swooped in and grabbed the prize, and this year, it looks set to be a proper showdown.
On one side of this glittering, pixelated battlefield, we've got *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*. This game, from French studio Sandfall Interactive, apparently walked in, did a little turn, and utterly revolutionised the turn-based RPG genre – a feat not unlike teaching a dragon to knit, if you ask me. Critics are raving, fans are swooning, and it's already shifted millions of copies. It's a proper frontrunner, fair dinkum.
But then Shroud, bless his irreverent heart, drops a bit of a bombshell. During a recent stream, he wasn't just 'not voting' for *Clair Obscur*; he was actively pushing *against* it. Why, you ask? Because he reckons The Game Awards unfairly skews its main award towards single-player experiences. He's telling multiplayer gamers, who he considers a 'minority' in the voting audience, to 'band together' and not let 'that Expedition game win.' He even went so far as to claim the awards are 'rigged'! Bloody hell, strong words from the man.
Now, his fervent defence isn't coming out of nowhere. Shroud's been properly immersed in *ARC Raiders*, that shiny new multiplayer shooter from Embark Studios. And fair play, it's had a cracking start since its late October launch, boasting over a quarter of a million players on day one and garnering plenty of praise. They've even already dropped a post-launch update, squashing bugs and adding a new 'Hidden Bunker' event. So, he's got skin in the game, so to speak.
While The Game Awards haven't spilled the beans on their official nominees yet, *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* is pretty much a lock, having sold five million copies by October. But it won't be an easy ride. We're also expecting titans like *Hollow Knight: Silksong* and *Hades 2* to be in the running, making 2025's GOTY a truly tight-contested award. It's a proper brouhaha shaping up, isn't it?
So, what does this all mean? Is there a smidge of truth to Shroud's claim that TGA leans a bit too heavily on the single-player side of the ledger? Or is it just the classic underdog rallying cry, spiced up with a bit of a 'rigged' conspiracy for good measure? Either way, it's going to be a fascinating watch to see if the multiplayer faithful can actually shift the digital tea leaves this year. Stay curious, mates!
Tags: GameAwards, Shroud, ARCRaiders, ClairObscur, GOTY
Original article: Game Rant