Gaming Fans Divided As Elden Ring Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC Gets Unprecedented GOTY Nomination

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Following the announcement of 2024's Game of the Year nominees at The Game Awards, the inclusion of has audiences divided over its eligibility. Released as an expansion for, which itself won Game of the Year in 2022, launched to critical acclaim, despite some complaints about the DLC's especially high difficulty. Despite being one of 2024's biggest releases, however, audiences are calling into question 's status as a «full game».

Following the announcement of 's nomination, which puts it up against,,,, and, gaming audiences are relatively split on the legitimacy of the DLC's inclusion. Critics of the decision argue that shouldn't be eligible in the first place, while others argue that, as one of the best releases of 2024, deserves its spot. Notably, has also been nominated for Best Game Direction, Best Art Direction, and Best RPG.

After the announcement, has proven to be the most controversial GOTY nominee of 2024, and possibly the most controversial pick in the history of The Game Awards. Critics of the decision, like those replying to the GOTY nominee announcement tweet from @thegameawards on X, have argued that shouldn't be an eligible pick since it isn't a full game — especially since it requires heavy investment into the base game of to be played at all.

's case especially hasn't been helped by the timing of the announcement that DLC would be eligible for GOTY, which came just days before the nominees were announced. The sudden announcement has been perceived by critics, both before and after the nominees were revealed, as a change in the rules that shows blatant favoritism towards . This, in turn, has sparked accusations that the awards are rigged — accusations which will only worsen if actually wins.

Not everyone is angered by 's inclusion, however, as some fans of the game have argued, on platforms like Reddit, that despite being a DLC, is still one of 2024's best releases, and deserves to be recognized for its high quality. Furthermore, although no DLC has