Shroud sparked a wave of discussion across the gaming community after reacting to The Game Awards 2025 nominees live on stream, where he accused the show of being unfair toward Embark Studios’ ARC Raiders.
The former Counter-Strike professional had been vocal about his support for the sci-fi shooter in the days leading up to the announcement, encouraging viewers to rally behind it and praising its ambitious use of AI technology. When the list appeared on Nov. 16 without ARC Raiders in the Game of the Year category, his disappointment was immediate and unfiltered.
During the stream, Shroud reacted with disbelief, telling viewers, “Biased. Biased. Paid off Nintendo,” after seeing titles like Death Stranding 2 and Donkey Kong Bananza among the nominees. He went on to explain why he believed ARC Raiders was overlooked, saying: “The world is just not ready for AI in video games, not yet. They’re just not ready.”
He also suggested the awards committee hesitated to highlight the game because of potential controversy, adding: “I genuinely thought they weren’t going to nominate it for anything, because they were afraid to get backlash.”
ARC Raiders did secure a nomination for Best Multiplayer Game, something Shroud acknowledged on stream, though it did little to change his view of the larger outcome. His comments quickly spread across social platforms, with fans debating whether his criticism reflected concerns about bias within major award shows or simply his personal attachment to the game.
The Game Awards 2025 nominees for GOTY
The official Game of the Year nominees at The Game Awards 2025 are:
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
The Game Awards 2025 will broadcast live on Dec. 11, giving fans a chance to participate through public voting at TheGameAwards.com. Fan votes contribute to 10 percent of each category’s final result, while a global jury of more than 100 media outlets determines the remaining 90 percent.
