Baldur's Gate 3 Faces Review Bombing After The Game Awards 2024
Baldur’s Gate 3 is currently being review bombed on Steam by fans of Black Myth: Wukong following the Game Awards 2024. The incident appears to stem from a misunderstanding of a speech made by Larian Studios’ Swen Vincke while presenting the Game of the Year award, which went to Astro Bot instead of Black Myth: Wukong.
What Happened?
Black Myth: Wukong, an action-adventure title released earlier this year, has seen massive success, selling over 20 million copies globally and receiving critical acclaim. Despite winning Best Action Game and Players Voice awards at The Game Awards 2024, the game lost out on Game of the Year to Astro Bot, which upset a segment of Black Myth’s passionate fanbase.
The controversy intensified during Swen Vincke’s speech while delivering the Game of the Year award. Vincke mentioned that the winner "didn't have to meet arbitrary sales targets" and "didn't treat developers like numbers on a spreadsheet." While the comment was intended to praise Astro Bot and celebrate industry values, some fans interpreted this as a slight against games like Black Myth: Wukong. Reports suggest a mistranslation of Vincke’s words in the Chinese broadcast exacerbated the misunderstanding.
Targeting Baldur's Gate 3
Instead of directing their frustrations at Astro Bot, Black Myth fans began review bombing Baldur’s Gate 3 on Steam. The reason for targeting BG3 is unclear but likely connected to Vincke’s role at the ceremony. Social media users noted a sharp increase in negative reviews for Baldur’s Gate 3 immediately after the awards show, with many comments written in Chinese accusing Vincke of downplaying the importance of sales.
This incident also comes on the heels of Black Myth producer Feng Ji questioning the criteria for Game of the Year. Ji expressed disappointment, stating he had prepared a winning speech two years ago and lamented that the game's achievements weren’t recognized as expected.
A Growing Pattern of Review Bombing
Unfortunately, review bombing has become a recurring issue in the gaming industry. Recent examples include Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which faced backlash over LGBTQ+ representation, and now Baldur's Gate 3, despite the game not being directly involved in this year’s Game Awards outcome.
While review bombing can be fueled by misunderstandings or fan frustrations, it remains a disruptive trend, often unfairly targeting games and developers who are not directly at fault.
Conclusion
The backlash against Baldur’s Gate 3 is rooted in a misunderstanding and misdirected frustration. As Black Myth: Wukong continues to enjoy worldwide success, it highlights how award shows, cultural divides, and passionate fandoms can sometimes collide in unexpected and chaotic ways.
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