BAFTA Excludes Elden Ring DLC Expansion from Best Game Award Consideration
FromSoftware’s Elden Ring DLC expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, will not be eligible for BAFTA’s Best Game award. This decision is based on the criterion that the award is reserved for full games only.
Debate has arisen regarding whether expansions should be considered award-worthy, with The Game Awards acknowledging their eligibility. BAFTA, however, has taken a different stance, confirming to Eurogamer that the Best Game award is exclusively for full games. DLC and other updates are considered in the Evolving Game category instead.
A BAFTA spokesperson clarified, “Our Best Game category specifically recognizes full games which have released for the first time in the past year. DLC, along with other updates and enhancements made to games originally released before 25th November 2023, are part of the consideration in our Evolving Game category.”
The announcement coincides with the release of BAFTA’s longlist of nominated games for the upcoming awards ceremony. The list comprises 58 games vying for 17 awards, all released between 25th November 2023 and 15th November 2024. Remasters are ineligible for consideration, while full remakes are only eligible in craft categories.
While DLC is excluded from the Best Game category, it remains eligible for recognition in the Evolving Game category and certain craft categories.
This decision stands out as The Game Awards, scheduled for this week, has nominated Shadow of the Erdtree in multiple categories, including Game of the Year. The Game Awards clarified to Eurogamer that there have been no specific rule changes this year, although the public announcement of DLC eligibility was recently added to its website.
Shadow of the Erdtree is currently a finalist in the public-voted Players’ Voice award, competing against Black Myth: Wukong, Genshin Impact, Wuthering Waves, and Zenless Zone Zero. Many observers have noted the dominance of ongoing gacha games and DLC in this category.
BAFTA aims to maintain a diverse lineup of nominated games. From the longlist, 10 titles are contending for Best Game, including Animal Well, Astro Bot, Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Helldivers 2, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Thank Goodness You’re Here!, and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2.
Tara Saunders, chair of BAFTA’s Games committee, expressed, “The BAFTA Games Awards longlist is our opportunity to celebrate a wide range of outstanding games ahead of the BAFTA nominations on 4th March next year. Today we’re shining a light on 58 games, as voted for by our wonderful BAFTA members – 1300 industry professionals whose work brings games to life.”
Baldur’s Gate 3 emerged as a major winner at last year’s BAFTA Game Awards. Cyberpunk 2077 received the Evolving Game award, partly due to its Phantom Liberty expansion.
Eurogamer will soon unveil its Game of the Year list, where DLC and expansions will not be eligible for consideration. Apologies to the fans!