LogInThe creator said that he would not compete in the Best Debut Indie Game category as he had previously created games under a different name.
vedinad
Solo Developer of an action roguelike Megabonk, a nominee for Best Debut Indie Game at The Game Awards, announced that he would withdraw from participation in the event, as, according to the developer, the game was not his first project.
The developer Venidad, also known as John Megabonk, took to X/Twitter and announced the news, saying that it's an "honor and a dream for Megabonk to be nominated for TGA," but expressed the opinion that the game might not qualify as "Debut Indie Game." John Megabonk shared that he "made games in the past under different studio names," which prevents him from competing in the category.
The dev expressed gratitude for the nomination, support, and votes, and, in addition, shared that Megabonk would receive an update in the near future.
The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley commented on the situation, confirming Megabonk's withdrawal. He said that now Mehabonk's developer presents himself under the name of Vedinad, but before, he created games under a different name, and thanked the developer for his honesty.
According to the comments on the developer's X/Twitter post, fans reacted with some skepticism – many players point out that the nomination "Best Debut Indie Game" implies that the title should be considered the first release from a particular studio, even if its developers have previously worked on games elsewhere.
One of the most popular comments reads, "Wait until you hear about "indie" games in the indie category that are backed by multi-billion-dollar corps," suggesting that not every title labeled as indie may fit the definition of an independent production. Overall, fans expressed respect and appreciation for the developer's honesty and integrity.
You can find the full list of nominees for The Game Awards 2025 here.
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