Highguard wasn’t the only disappointment at the Game Awards finals

While the announcement of Highguard as the finale at the last Game Awards event was widely discussed as a major disappointment, player reactions gradually turned into a broader debate. Comparisons reveal that finale announcements in the history of the Game Awards have often fallen short of expectations, and Highguard is no exception.

The Game Awards Finale Tradition Has Actually Been Controversial for a Long Time

A comprehensive compilation on Reddit, placing the finale announcements of the last 10 Game Awards events side-by-side, revealed a striking picture. Looking at the list, it is seen that there are very few announcements that generated a lot of buzz and could be considered “worthy of a finale.”

For example, Fast & Furious Crossroads, which was featured in the 2019 finals, has been completely removed from stores today. Mass Effect Andromeda, announced in 2016, became one of the most controversial games in the series due to the intense criticism it received after its release. These examples clearly show that final announcements don’t always guarantee quality or success.

The situation is not much different in more recent years. While The Matrix Awakens stood out as a technical demo, it didn’t become a lasting gaming experience. Metro Exodus, even though it was a quality production, fell short as a final announcement when compared to other major projects shown that same year. Therefore, the perception that the final slot creates the impression of “the biggest game of the year” often doesn’t reflect reality.

In this context, the reactions to Highguard’s inclusion in the finals are more understandable when considering past years. While Highguard’s lack of interest is a separate issue, the fact that the Game Awards finals tradition has long been associated with disappointments makes the game being singled out as the sole target debatable.

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