Teleprompter overshadows Baldur’s Gate 3 at The Game Awards and fans are raging
2023's The Game Awards was just as big as everyone expected, and it was largely done without a hitch. There were no stage invasions, the celebrity appearances weren't quite as cringeworthy, and awards went to the most deserving across the industry without feeling particularly unfair.
But, there's one thing that seems to have gripped fans the most - and that's the teleprompter that has been hurrying along the most deserving. Baldur's Gate 3 was the big winner of the night, but before Larian Studios could make the most of its win, the team was quickly shooed off the stage.
The Game Awards' teleprompter was ruthless
The Game Awards was wrought by an evil teleprompter, as fans pointed out that it was incredibly trigger-happy with the phrase, "Please wrap it up." Considering we had extended sections with the likes of Hideo Kojima, cutting the winners' speeches short has ruffled a few feathers.
Perhaps it was Christopher Judge's extended acceptance speech at last year's event that made TGA more willing to wheel out a chance to hurry speeches along. As the Larian team dedicated its Game of the Year win to a sadly now-deceased member, they were met with a notice to keep it moving.
It has caused some offence, and this upset is especially potent as fans have been pointing out how willing The Game Awards is to welcome A-list celebrities to the stage to talk for as long as they like. This comes at the cost of the people TGA are actually meant to celebrate, having to keep things short.
This isn't the first time the TGA teleprompter has stolen the show
The teleprompter at The Game Awards was a hot topic last year, but for very different reasons. Al Pacino took to the stage to present Christopher Judge's Performance of the Year award for his role as Kratos in God of War: Ragnarok.
Pacina famously confessed that he couldn't read the teleprompter and that he doesn't play many video games at all. To be fair, when you're Al Pacino, you can say these things and get away with it. This year, it looks like fans are catching onto Geoff Keigley's hopes of being mates with everybody in showbusiness.
It’s a shame that the teleprompter is back with a vengeance for 2023, albeit on more frustrating terms. One of these days, The Game Awards will remember that it's an award ceremony for games and not just a place for Gonzo from The Muppets to blabber on.
