PUBG absolutely can (and maybe should) be Game of the Year

Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds is one of the finalists for Game of the Year in The Game Awards, which has caused a fair bit of controversy due to the fact the game is still in early access. It’s worth revisiting these thoughts on why PUBG is fair game for this, and other, game of the year nominations. This post’s timestamp has been updated.

[Gazondaily]

Absolutely. Why not? If a game generates so much fun and enjoyment then why shouldn't it win?

PubG is responsible for millions of gamers having great fun and also has loads of people enjoying watching the proceedings on Twitch etc.

So Yeah, why shouldn't it win GoTY?

[Tobse]

"It’s hard to find anything that’s matched PUBG in hours played, streamed and discussed this year. Popularity isn’t a replacement for quality, but games that last this long on the playlists of so many players is certainly an indication of it. It’s unfair to disqualify a game for awards due to the fact that it might change later, as if most popular games these days aren’t always in active development"

This is so true. I love the game, never had so much fun with any title and all of my friends over at steam are playing it. It should be Game of the year 100%

[Prince_TFK]

A beta and early access game wins GOTY. Lmao. While you’re at it, why not nominate Battlefront 2 as well.

If it is a finished game then that’s one thing, and maybe it would deserve GOTY. But in its current state, it doesn’t deserve anything.

[Gazondaily]

"A beta and early access game wins GOTY. Lmao."

Oh PubG is just a beta, or early access game? That.......sold 20 million.?

"While you’re at it, why not nominate Battlefront 2 as well."

Why?

"If it is a finished game then that’s one thing, and maybe it would deserve GOTY. But in its current state, it doesn’t deserve anything."

Yeah according to you. What about all those who enjoyed this game more than any other 'finished game' this year?

[Ricegum]

Woolly

Are you and septic the same person?

[senorfartcushion]

Because it isn't a finished product.

Between the nomination and the win, they will have added vaulting and a significantly hired bullet-drop system. That is not the same game.

[Goldby]

i didn't realize Pubg officially releases as of November 24th. because that is the cut off time for eligibility for the game to be considered.... wit a second.

official release of the game is December 12th...

You dont see 2018 movies being considered for 2017 oscars, so why is it different here. if the game awards want to be taken seriously they need to follow their own rules.

unifinished game being nominated for a 2017 game of the year award.

hey Geoff. i have a game where you can not only shoot monsteres and other players in fps style, byut there ground combat as well as deep space combat, mixed with revolutionary RPG mechanics that will make every encounter unique and different from the last.

its in early developement. can i get nominated now?

[Cyro]

Not a finished game for one.

[Toby_1981]

Yeah it can be the PC game of the year. But I actually think Fortnite Battle Royale is is a better game with more depth than PUBG. I remember when World of Warcraft first came out it generated a lot of players but never won GOTY

[morganfell]

"So Yeah, why shouldn't it win GoTY?"

Tell us why not. Below you stated, "It wouldn't get my GOTY vote..."

So why shouldn't it win?

[Gazondaily]

“So why shouldn't it win?”

I said it wouldn’t get MY vote? There are games that I personally enjoyed a lot more. Zelda: BOTW is one of them.

Also, PubG is a great concept but I still think its lacking in many areas. The gunplay isn’t super robust and generally the mechanics need some work, aside from vaulting etc.

I also think it needs more content.
But others might not care too much for the above and would have enjoyed this far more than any other titles.

Does that answer your question?

[morganfell]

It does but do you really need to stoop to weak attempts to salvage the game from your opinion?

"But others might not care too much for the above and would have enjoyed this far more than any other titles. "

Seriously, if PUBG wasn't an X1 title you wouldn't have bothered with that part. Sometimes your efforts are so anorexic, so thin and easy to see through they might as well be saran wrap. Others do not think it even needs to be on the list but you discount them. Plenty of PC gamers played it and found it to be Not Recommended. It currently trends with Mixed Reviews on Steam.

https://imgur.com/a/tQSOP

[Gazondaily]

"Seriously, if PUBG wasn't an X1 title you wouldn't have bothered with that part."

There it is; the bullshit. So you ask me a question, I answer and provide my opinion and the only real retort you have basically amounts to "bbbut Xbox"? You talk about anorexic efforts but you have obviously starved yourself of oxygen before making your post.

Come back when you actually have something of substance to say. Otherwise, sit there writhing around in your ill-fated logic and loose conjecture.

I gave you the courtesy of a response. One day you will give me the courtesy of replying with something that is actually worth my time reading.

[morganfell]

Well you obviously did read what I wrote and you speak with the sting of someone who just had a comment hit close to the bone. If there was any doubt to my estimation your reaction removed that and wiped it clean. Looking at your remarks in this thread it is obvious that the comment to which I replied was something of a one off as you were entirely in a different camp for the rest of your remarks. Inconsistency is a bitch, isn't it. That is why it is best to hold a single line. Maybe you do not even realize that you act like you do and this is why you are suddenly angry when you realized you tripped up and were caught be tween a rock and your own words. It matters little. What does is your own posts stand as your prosecutor. Maybe one day you will actually be capable of the objectivity you claim. And before you even try, let me mow you down. I never made such a claim. In fact the opposite.

[Toby_1981]

Sounds like you want this to be goty because it's coming to Xbox. Don't forget it's also coming to PS4 😁

[Gazondaily]

Wtf is wrong with You? I've got this on PC:

https://imgur.com/a/BnViE

I even said here that it wouldn't get my GOTY award

[Toby_1981]

@Doggy123 I also got it on PC. You can delete your argument. Let me remind the fanboys on N4G I own a PC, Switch and PS4. The best combo this generation imo

@Septic Fair enough

[TankCrossing]

Ahahaaa that's the one time that Septic has ever won. He's gonna use that screenshot everywhere.

"What do you mean Ubisoft's Q3 fiscal results show a year on year increase of 0.8%? Look at this screenshot where I won a game of PUGB!"

[HeisenbergX]

@Woolly you are pathetic and we all know your agenda i mean good lord just stop.

@Septic you are just saying that and defending this BETA game that apparently should win just because many people are playing it cause the other four amazing real GOTY contenders aren't on your precious xbox.

[Toby_1981]

Facts

[Steveoreno1]

I'm sure this comment has nothing to do with it coming to Xbox first /s

[OMGitzThatGuy]

The joy I will feel when Sony's and Nintendo's overhyped games are destroyed by an unfinished game is gonna be sooo sweet.

[DialgaMarine]

Found the person that doesn’t actually play games lol

[XStation4pio_Pro]

Looks like the fanboys are wrestless again with all those disagrees there. Xb1 is getting a little too many wins recently for their comfort and since this is hitting xb1 next month well.... can’t have that!.

In all seriousness, it’s one of the biggest games in the world right now and as a new IP it’s unmatched for the time released. That should absolutely be rewarded.

[Foraoise]

It's good... It's not AMAZING

[Tobse]

How do you explain the millions of Players that play it every hour

[UCForce]

It's still in early access. Which is not a complete game. So no, it doesn't deserve GOTY.

[Tobse]

The game came out this year and millions have fun with it every day even 8 months after its ea release. And the game is only 30$. If this isnt goty I dont know what is. Gaming is about fun and pubg is pure fun.

[UltraNova]

Then by that logic counter strike or Dota should be the automatic and undisputed GotY winner, every year.

[Themba76]

millions also play fortnight so whats your point

[Cohagen420]

You mean the ones mainly in China and Korea, lmao

[Gazondaily]

@UltraNova

"Then by that logic counter strike or Dota should be the automatic and undisputed GotY winner, every year."

Eh??? When was the last time a counter strike or Dota came out? Lol wtf are you on about?

[Yohshida]

@UltraNova

Did they release that year? No
Are they #1? No
gg

@Themba76

spread out through the day, millions play PUBG every minute for 8 months straight

[thisismyaccount]

https://is.gd/TYsfXO

... now suddenly = lot´s of people playing = must be da best geim in da wurlt. Thought you all had enough already , with dem cheatahs ... how long, til the next DayZ "clone, look-alike" pops up and everyone jumps onto that?

A typical PC game with no substance, played by tons (though not concurrently) ...

[Toby_1981]

Just like when World of Warcraft first came out it generated millions of players. Still didn't win GOTY. Just popular to PC gamers including myself I still play that game.

[WickedLester]

That there isn't jack shit else to play that's worth a darn on PC right now?

[Foraoise]

NailheadGames:

That means nothing, fucktard.

[Tobse]

Oh, why so angry?
It means people enjoy the game for 8. Month straight. What other game can keep Players in that long?

[Bjorn-c-blocker]

Dr Disrespect.

[corroios]

its not a finish product. Should not even be in the contest. Its not about being fun or not. The game isnt finish

[yarbie1000]

practically every game I buy isn't finished and continuously gets patched. They just call it finished so they can throw it out the door and start making money

[MrMagz]

But every other game nominated for GOTY was a finished product when released. Mario, Zelda, Persona, and Horizon are all being touted as some of the best (if not the best) single player experiences of all time, and I feel that they all should get the credit they deserve. I'm not saying that PUBG is not good/fun game (especially since I haven't played it), but considering that the game isn't even technically out yet and is still evolving, I feel that any of the others on the list deserve it more than PUBG.

[BlackTar187]

Are you saying that when PUBG is released as a finished product it will be bug free?

[DialgaMarine]

Patching in bug fixes/ small features is NOT the same as having to add in whole segments because the game isn’t finished. You do realize Bluehole already has more maps, as well a single player campaign, planned right? How can you claim a game is the best when you have no idea what the final product is going to be? How about actually playing the finished peodhct before claiming it’s better than other finished products? If the full game releases next year, and it still holds up as a great title, then by all means it should be considered for GotY next year.

[TekoIie]

@dialgamarine

Assuming it gets finished too. A lot of popular early access titles tend to like staying within the early access program.

[DJStotty]

i think the last "finished" game i purchased came on a cartridge

[maybelovehate]

Yep, it has definitely earned it. So many other games trying to copy it, which is the biggest sign of respect haha

[Goldby]

except the real "earned" part is going gold with the game, and being approved by MS in this case to make it available on their system to play.

You dont see 2018 unfinished movies being nominated for oscars

[maybelovehate]

Sure they have. Return of the King theatrical version won the oscar even though we all know the Extended Edition which came out later was the real version.

All games today are constantly getting updated. Look at GTAV

[Goldby]

being updated and completing a game are two very different things.

one is still in an unfinished state, not ready for the consumer without first informing them that there are issues in the game and that it is being worked on. the other is one that is already made gold, met the requirements of the publisher and platform to make sure it was in a playable state.

Pubg should be considered next year for Goty. as its releasing after the cut off date and releasing after the dam awards

The theatrical release was what was nominated, not the extended, as one of the rules for the oscars is that the movie has to be shown in theatres with a paid admission.

any other excuses you wanna try using.

[maybelovehate]

If a game gets an update it wasn't completed. Sorry. Just telling it like it is. And if PUBG wins, this is the version that will win. But keep up with the excuses

[Why o why]

..mate, a fanbase needs to reach;)... let em... its not even their fault they have to shoehorn. Maybe it will be considered for a year it actually gets released like normal:)

[Goldby]

@maybe

so are you telling me that all those OG xbox games as well as Xbox 360 games aren't completed as they are getting updates to work with Xbox one X?

do you honestly see how absurd that sounds?

[maybelovehate]

That is correct, any game that gets updated wasn’t complete.. I mean obviously lol. Software in general is never complete. At least until it is abondoned forever.

[Goldby]

@Maybe.

your ridiculous. if a game goes gold (you do know what that means right) it is ready and available to the consumers at retail, it is officially released and is out of developement.

again, an update, and finishing development are two very different things.

but of course, you gotta ride that PUBG D* all the way to the market.

The game isn't finished, isnt complete, its full of bugs and have lobbies full fo AFK people just farming gold. sounds like a true winner of GoTY /s

[j15reed]

You also don't see unfinished movies go on to sell over 20 million either so....

[Goldby]

@j15reed

well if the movie industry started pre selling movies that may be released in a years time you would definitely see those numbers, if not more.

[Razzer]

Wow....dreaming up excuses for an unfinished game to be GOTY. Imagine what maybelovehate would be saying if PUBG were slated for PS4 and not Xbox.

[Cyro]

PUBG isn't the first of it's kind.

[maybelovehate]

never played a game like PUBG but if there is one kudos to them. Battle Royale games, sure but not on this scale. Well until Fortnite copied them lol

[UCForce]

You are not helping. GTV 5 SP and GTA online have released date. PUGB hasn't a released date and it's still in early access. There was another Ballte Royal Game before PUGB. It was called H1Z1 King Of The Hill and Minecraft The Hunger Game, even those two games are just a mode, but they did it before PUGB was a thing.

[maybelovehate]

You can buy PUBG right now. Those games are major reaches. Maybe influence but not similar.

[Goldby]

@Maybe

doesn't matter if you can buy it. they have to inform customers that it is an unfinished product before purchase.
That alone is reason enough to take it out of the nomination.

Pubg is successful, theres no denying that, but it should be put in the 2018 nominations as it is officially released after the cut off period for 2017 game awards by like 18 days.

[Liqu1d]

Copy? Lol, PUBG is a copy itself.

[Automatic79]

I think PUBG has earned it stripes to be among the Elite Game of the Year nominations. The popularity, hours played and the amount of gamers playing shows why you shouldn't discredit games because of early access or game preview. In my opinion congratulations to all games nominated for GOTY.

[xPhearR3dx]

Because it's not a game. It's an incomplete product. They have an unfair advantage because no matter what you say about the game the response is always the same. "It's in early access, the game isn't finished yet, give them time". Which is fair, but not when your competing for awards. It's not fair because there's no "set it stone" time frame for early access titles. They could sit in early access for 3 months, 6 months, or 5 years. They could completely scrap the game and remake it in a new engine. Rust did it. Hell, Rust is still in early access 5 years later. If that game won GOTY 4 years ago and you played it today, you would be asking if your playing the right game.

I do think if can award a game for most anticipated, that we should be able to award early access games. But they shouldn't be up against fully completed titles, a few of which are some of the highest rated games this generation. They should have their own category or multiple categories.

[GamingCentaur]

Eww

[StormLegend]

Should replace this game with Nier or something else. And for those people who keep trying to downplay Horizon Zero Dawn, you can shut up since it's one of 2017 best selling games on both Amazon and PSN. The sales are pass 5 million sold and it's a brand new IP.

[Ricegum]

Doggy

That's was immature.

[Aenea]

Maybe wait until it's finished?

[Goldby]

exactly, this should be a 2018 nomination as it releases after the cut of of November 24th

[Bennibop]

I really hope it isn't, it's not even a complete games at this point and we don't want to open the doors for incomplete games being given awards as ea and Activision will jump on the opportunity.

[Reefskye]

No it shouldn't be game of the year, the amount of effort thats gone in to pubg is 0, its running Unreal engine, yet it stil suffers from all the arma engine issues even down to the gun play, its nothing that hasent been done in a mod for arma 2 or 3 before, it was just a mod turned game in the right place the right time, i own it spent over 90 hours on it and it just felt i was just playing an arma mod

[Movefasta1993]

It’s a game,people love it ,and it’s the biggest game of the year potentially.nioh is the best tho so screw the awards

[Natversion1]

Shall we give out Oscars based on trailers too?

[Goldby]

only if they are being released after the oscars....

[kevnb]

this wont go over well with the folks on n4g.

[Ricegum]

What?

[kevnb]

read the comments...

[Oschino1907]

Quote from kevnb a few days ago.

"of course console gamers are going to call it a fad, the game wont work on console in its current form."

"i doubt it will be popular for long on console. The game simply isnt something console players will like."

[yomfweeee]

If Ubisoft or EA released a game this buggy (which they have), you all would have roasted them for months or years.

Then you turn around and say this game deserves GOTY?

It is a beta game, so bugs are expected... but you can't say it is GOTY with it like that. Wait until this game is finalized and released, then it can become eligible and we give a final judgement.

[TheColbertinator]

Lets give GOTY awards based on demos and betas? Why not. Seems like most AAA games these days are unfinished.

[HeisenbergX]

It shouldn't be on the list and no it won't win anything.

[Vasto]

It should be GOTY.

No other game was as successful.

[Razzer]

Then create a new category. Call it PC Early Access GOTY.

[Asuka]

its not even a finished game... There are plenty of better Game of the Year contenders this year. HZD, BotW, Nier: Automata, Persona 5, Mario Odyssey, and etc. All of which were finished products and amazing. But if game sales is all it takes to be GotY then yeah maybe PUBG would win in which case it'll be pretty sad imo...

[Last_Boss]

Not doubting fun factor at all, it's the presentation that also factors in.

[Gaming_Guru]

It can get player’s choice award or something along they lines of a “popular award” title but I think a game that’s gets GOTY award needs to be finished. Else this can promote other developers to release unfinished games and use PUBG as an excuse. Consistency is key with awards in my opinion, never any exceptions.

[Liqu1d]

Let's give unfinished movies Oscars too.

[CrimsonWing69]

i don't think so... but hey you do you!

[Usperg]

To be in the shadows of greatness ...maybe!

To win, certainly not!!

PUBG feels more like a mod than a game, with terrible servers!!!

And i see down in the comments, this talking about the fun factor, well going by feedback, the fun factor is wearing off rapidly from the script kiddie horde invasion and it is not good to see a company who has to officially make an apologetic statement about it!!!

[FreddyFazbear]

Putting This game besides Mario Odyssey, Legend of Zelda, Horizon zero dawn and persona 5 is insulting!!. Its a good game, but im sorry its so out of place in that list but whatever. The Game awards is already dead years ago. World of warcraft generates so much fun and the userbase is huge, so is Counter strike and DOTA years ago but it did not win game of the year awards and now this game which is not even original, just borrowed from another game deserves a nomination? seriously the gaming industry has gone
mad, along with news of EA star wars battlefront 2.

[OMGitzThatGuy]

Sony fanboys and Nintendrones dont care if the game is finished or not. They care that this unpolished game is going to give their cherished games a deep dicking. Lol, if your games aren't as fun as a unfinished game then you need to look at the devs you buy from and not blaming people for liking good games.

[Xzviur_Azai]

Xbox fanboys don't care if the game is finished or not. They care that they have something to cover up their pitiful year, even if its a time exclusive.

[ocelot07]

Don't get me wrong PUBG is a good game. Yes I also think it at be in with a chance of being GOTY. But if PUBG is then so should Fortnite. That is also giving many gamers hours of enjoyment for free.

But let's be honest GOTY means noting these days. It seems everything has a GOTY edition these days. I don't know how it works but it seems if any game review website gives a title a GOTY award it seems like that gives the publishers a ticket to release a GOTY edition.

But again lets be honest. The real true GOTY for 2017 is going to be Zelda BOTW. I don't agree with it but it's going to be.

[Antnee534]

Between the four other games in this caterfory there is no way this can come even close to winning. The other games far surpass this game in fun, quality, and actually being finished. The game i want to win is persona 5 but i know it wont win saddly.

[leemo19]

Unfinished games or games still in beta shouldn't be voted for goty. PUBG maybe one of the most popular game, but its in beta right now. You might as well start adding every game that has a beta/demo right now to the list.

[FreddyFazbear]

So a Beta/MOD of a game deserves a nomination?? and who the hell thinks its a good idea?? if this is on the list then fortnite, call of duty, league of legends should also be there. atleast those games are finished. Gosh Pokemon go was so popular doesnt mean its the best so dont say because its so much fun and had many fanbase.

[XStation4pio_Pro]

I haven’t played it yet but I am certainly looking forward to picking it up on the oneX when released. The hype is real and a lot of my pc gaming co-workers are completely hooked on it. They talk about it with football game fan enthusiasm so it probably doesn’t suck.

[StormSailor]

It's not even a finished game, it's stupid and nonsense to compete as game of the year. A dangerous precedent to value incomplete crap

[Xzviur_Azai]

Nope its not finished and the only reason its garnering support from the xbox fans, is because they have no exclusive games to choose from. Hence forth they want to bring down the true qualifiers to satisfy their thirst. Should say Forza be on the GOTY list, you'll here a different tune.

[ALMGNOON]

why is it even nominated anyway ?? the game is a broken mess and it's far from a finished product, when the game goes gold and it actually runs good then go ahead and nominate it.

[DialgaMarine]

An early access game should NOT, nor ever, win Game of the Year. That doesn’t even make sense. If the majority of the content isn’t even there yet, how can you judge the overall quality of the game? Let alone compare it to other finished games. The full game releases next year; if the finished product turns out great, then put it up for GotY.

[Enigma_2099]

Then tell them to FINISH MAKING IT.

[we420]

Player Unknown himself even said it shouldn't have been nominated

[Edito]

No way, this game is super overrated and don't deserve to be game of the year... Let's not forget what makes a game, game of the year, just look at Zelda, Horizon, Mario Odyssey, Persona c'mon PUBG it's not on the same level it's just a popular game and popular doesn't mean good or Game Of The Year contender...

[Bjorn-c-blocker]

I love it but it is not even close to finished. It is one map and is still missing a lot of features. I think it is a great game but when looked at sceptically next to Zelda and Mario it is like a broken mess.

[inxine]

No, it shouldnt be game of the year.im not even sure y its even nominated.
is it fun? fk yes.
but its not even the "full" game yet. awards should go to finished products only imo.

[Tobse]

IMO an award for GOTY should go to the game which made the biggest impact in the gaming community. Maybe it was a novel mechanic, maybe a gripping story, maybe amazing characters - but we have categories for all of those things already.

Regardless though, it needs to cause the entire gaming community to take notice of it and respond. PUBG has done that and then some, setting new records and causing people to take note. There are tons of things wrong with this game and it is far from done, but I don't think you can overstate the impact it has made in the last year.

[Goldby]

but the issue is the game isnt finished. which means it could change for the worse. probably wont but i have seen a game change drastically during beta phase. (Paragon v27 vs V44)

it should simply be removed from the 2017 nominations and put on 2018 if it is officially released next year

[Yohshida]

It looks like a lot of people dont understand why PUBG is so popular and why I and a lot of other think that it should be a GOTY contender. Well, no other game can give players fun and amazing scenes like these:
https://www.youtube.com/wat...