Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has been ruled ineligible for BAFTA’s prestigious Best Game award. According to BAFTA’s criteria, this category exclusively recognizes full games released for the first time within the past year. Expansions, updates, and downloadable content (DLC) fall outside this scope but are considered under the Evolving Game category instead.
A BAFTA spokesperson clarified this approach in a statement to Eurogamer, explaining, “Our Best Game category specifically recognises 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.”
This policy aligns with BAFTA’s broader vision to distinguish full game experiences from updates and expansions while still acknowledging the latter’s contributions to the gaming landscape. In contrast, other awards ceremonies, such as The Game Awards, allow expansions like Shadow of the Erdtree to compete in multiple categories, including Game of the Year.
BAFTA recently unveiled its longlist for the upcoming awards ceremony, featuring 58 games across 17 categories. The list includes notable titles such as Black Myth: Wukong, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, with ten of them competing for Best Game. Interestingly, remasters are excluded from all major categories, though full remakes are eligible within specific craft awards.
Expansions and DLC, like Shadow of the Erdtree, may still shine in categories such as Evolving Game, which celebrates ongoing games and significant post-launch updates. Last year, Cyberpunk 2077 secured this award thanks to its Phantom Liberty expansion.
While Shadow of the Erdtree is absent from BAFTA’s Best Game shortlist, it remains a finalist in The Game Awards’ public-voted Players’ Voice award, competing against titles like Black Myth: Wukong and Zenless Zone Zero.
