Palworld’s Community Manager Tells Fans to Tone Down the Drama Over Game Awards Snub

Earlier this week, the list of nominees for The Game Awards was unveiled, and among the community of Palworld, disappointment was palpable as the game didn’t receive any nods.

It’s that time of year again—the Game Awards—a whirlwind of discussions surrounding the games that made the cut and those that were overlooked. This annual event, often seen as a grand showcase rather than a straightforward award ceremony, has sparked debates once more. A particularly noticeable absence this year is Palworld, the quirky blend of Pokémon-inspired gameplay with firearms, which took the gaming world by storm when it launched in January. Despite exceeding sales expectations, Palworld didn’t secure even a single nomination, not even in categories like Best Ongoing Game. This perceived oversight has led some fervent followers to assert that Palworld was unjustly ignored by the awards committee.

Does this sentiment resonate with everyone involved with the game? Apparently not, if John Buckley, the community manager for Palworld, is to be believed. As highlighted by PC Gamer, Buckley took to Twitter to express his views, saying, “No, I don’t think Palworld was snubbed.” In a world where Twitter has become bereft of playful banter, Buckley admonished the gaming community, urging them to dial back the drama, noting, “Not everything is a conspiracy.” While he has a point about the drama, it’s doubtful that one tweet will change the web’s tempers anytime soon. However, he did vent his frustration over another game: “That being said…Satisfactory was 1000% snubbed and I’ll be voicing that opinion ad nauseam at The Game Awards in person.” Consider that his hill to die on!

Meanwhile, there are pressing matters for Pocketpair, Palworld’s developer, to address. In an unexpected turn of events, last September, Nintendo brought legal action against them, citing allegations of patent infringement—certainly not the direction anyone anticipated. Earlier this month, Pocketpair responded with an update, elaborating on the specific patents in question and affirming their resolve to defend their stance through forthcoming legal avenues.