The 2023 Steam Awards: A Joke?

After the winners of the 2023 Steam Awards were announced, questions arose regarding the validity of the results. Bethesda’s Starfield won for the most “Innovative Gameplay,” a decision that sparked skepticism among some onlookers. Is the voting process being trolled?

Red Dead Redemption 2 and the Award for Developer Support

Red Dead Redemption 2 also came away with an award for “Continued Developer Support,” despite apparent abandonment by its developers. Players had organized funerals in lamentation of the game’s state, which raises questions about the legitimacy of the game’s win.

Chinese Gaming Regulator Fired

In other news, the head of China’s video games regulator was fired after proposed rules led to billions in stock losses. The rules aimed to prevent excessive spending within online games by enacting restrictions on daily logins, purchases, and luck-based mechanics for minors. The aftermath saw the firing of the regulator and significant stock value fluctuations.

Tim Cain on The Outer Worlds 2

Tim Cain, co-creator of the Fallout series, revealed that he is consulting on The Outer Worlds 2. His insights from decades in the gaming industry are expected to bring significant value to the game, enhancing its appeal to fans of the original Fallout CRPGs.

Quick Bits

For the back half of the news coverage, here are some quick bits; A 13-year-old Tetris player reaches a remarkable high score, Masahiro Sakurai confirms he is still creating games, a fan remake of The Elder Scrolls 2 Daggerfall in Unity has been completed, an Xbox-inspired toaster has hit the market, and Jack Black is set to star in the Minecraft movie alongside Jason Momoa.