The gaming community was taken by surprise when Vedinad, the mind behind “Megabonk,” decided to pull his game out of The Game Awards. This unexpected move followed its nomination for Best Debut Indie Game, with Vedinad expressing that “Megabonk” doesn’t truly fit the category’s criteria.
Developer’s Insight on the Withdrawal
In a recent post from the official Megabonk account, Vedinad shared his thoughts: “I’m withdrawing from The Game Awards. While being nominated is an honor, I don’t believe ‘Megabonk’ qualifies as a ‘Debut Indie Game.’ I’ve developed games previously under different entities, meaning this isn’t my first creation 🥸. I deeply appreciate the recognition, support, and votes, but it’s time for another deserving title to shine among the debut nominees. All are exceptional games! Thanks once more, and stay tuned for an exciting new ‘Megabonk’ update soon ✌️.”
Update 2.23pm PT: Despite being listed alongside other nominees like Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Despelote, and Dispatch, Vedinad’s request for removal was acknowledged by The Game Awards’ creator, Geoff Keighley, who confirmed the game’s removal in a statement. At the update’s time, “Megabonk” still appeared on the awards’ website as a nominee.
“@MegabonkGame reached out to clarify his status as an established solo developer presenting as a newcomer, Vedinad. We appreciate his honesty, leading to ‘Megabonk’ being excluded from this category. Vedinad plans to share more about his journey soon, but for now, we respect his choice not to overshadow other debut teams, recognizing the game’s exceptional quality.”
Navigating the Definition of a Debut Indie Game
The Best Debut Indie accolade aims to honor a “first game from a new independent studio,” but defining what constitutes a new studio can be complex. Development teams constantly evolve, merging talents and rebranding. “Dispatch” by AdHoc Studio exemplifies this, as it’s their first original game, yet the studio was formed by ex-Ubisoft and Telltale developers. Similarly, “Cocoon” from Geometric Interactive, which won in 2023, was created by former Playdead developers. Thus, the question arises: how many “first games” genuinely make it to The Game Awards considering initial projects are often small-scale or experimental?
For Vedinad, his reasoning as a primarily solo developer is understandable, having worked previously under other names. Yet, even solo projects have contributions—Miguel Angel for the OST, Giovanni Fim for the Steam art, and several playtesters received thanks, including a heartfelt nod to Vedinad’s mother. So, what truly defines a game studio?
The Ever-Evolving Nature of Game Award Categories
Ultimately, the situation highlights ongoing ambiguities within The Game Awards’ categorization. This isn’t the first instance of confusion. In 2023, “Dave the Diver,” developed by a Nexon subsidiary, faced scrutiny when nominated for Best Indie. Geoff Keighley responded by acknowledging that indie can “mean different things to different people,” a sentiment echoed by the game’s director who also found the nomination puzzling. Previous debates include “Sifu” being nominated for Best Fighting Game in 2022, despite its action beat-em-up nature, and the surprising nomination of “Monster Hunter Wilds” as Best RPG this year.
However one defines these categories, Vedinad has spoken, and so has Keighley. For those interested, you can find the full list of 2025 nominees here. Stay tuned for our early insights on “Megabonk” here.