Yesterday, an independent, crowdfunded gaming award ceremony made its debut, specifically aimed at gamers who are fed up with the ideological invasion of the industry. This event raised over $25,000 in funding, driven by a desire to stand against the growing influence of feminist developers pushing ESG and DEI mandates.
In today’s interconnected world, where everyone has easy access to information about video games, both big and small, there seems to be no real need for an annual “Game of the Year” award. However, given the increasing intrusion of forced diversity and inclusivity into gaming, at the expense of enjoyment and authenticity there is a growing need for a more genuine and unbiased alternative.
As mainstream media outlets ramp up their attacks on gamers, labeling them racist or sexist for not supporting politically-motivated games with repulsive, androgynous queer characters or historically revisionist narratives, like Ubisoft’s “pro-Black” portrayal of feudal Japan, they continue to scream about how games are misogynistic for daring to have attractive women.
Meanwhile, they insist that every game must conform to their strict standards of diversity and inclusivity, pushing for all games to be drenched in shades of brown. Developers are pressured to toe the line or face public backlash, with journalists leveraging the power of the organizations they write for to rant and rail against anything that doesn’t suit their tastes over allegations of sexism and or racism.
The rise of Geoff Keighley’s Game Award ceremony has exposed how biased and skewed mainstream awards have become. These events are controlled by a panel of judges from gaming journalism outlets and other progressive groups, who push certain titles while deliberately snubbing others.
A prime example is the snubbing of Hogwarts Legacy at the 2023 Game Awards, despite it being one of the few games to outsell Call of Duty, a rare feat. With over 20 million sales, the game received zero nominations.
This was largely due to the outcry from feminists and radical trans activists against J.K. Rowling’s views on biological sex, despite the author having no involvement in the game’s creation. The boycott against the game from these groups was reflected in its exclusion from any awards, further exposing the industry’s growing political agenda.
In response to the nepotistic collusion propping up the mainstream narrative and artificially elevating games filled with propaganda, the “Real Game Awards” were born.
Hosted by Stuttering Craig, it provided gamers with an authentic opportunity to celebrate the gaming industry in 2024, free from the influence of deranged ideologies.
Of course, there was a nominal fee to participate. While the concept of paying to vote or suggest categories might seem odd, unlike the official Game Awards, your vote actually counts here, and popular titles won’t be deliberately overlooked by biased access media representatives.
The inaugural event took place in a barcade, featuring a mix of live broadcast and pre-recorded clips. Awards were given in categories like “Waifu of the Year” (won by Stellar Blade’s Eve), “Biggest Cash Grab” (won by The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered), “Worst Bait and Switch” (won by Dragon Age: The Veilguard), “Shitty Ass Game” (won by Dustborn), and “Best Jiggle Physics” (won by Stellar Blade).
The ceremony also saw appearances from figures like James Rolfe (AVGN) and other anti-woke voices, including Itsagundam, Kirsche, SmashJT, Archcast, and Razorfist. In essence, the unofficial “Real Game Awards” served as a bold, unapologetic middle finger to the sanitized, politically-correct industry events dominated by access media and corporate sponsorships.
One of the standout moments of the show was the inclusion of indie titles in the trailer segments, some of which, it seems, the developers weren’t made aware of, among them was Selaco, an indie FPS from Altered Orbit Studios.
Rather than embracing the free exposure from the unofficial Real Game Awards audience, the studio chose to publicly distance itself from the event, revealing where their true priorities lie.
What few fans there were of Selaco were likely thrilled to see the game get attention on a stage presented to thousands of likeminded people watching an event that actually catered to the gaming audience, rather than the typical media-driven narratives fixated on diversity, inclusivity and homosexuality.
However, their excitement quickly turned to disappointment when lead developer Nexxtic took to social media to publicly reject the inclusion.
“We paid for nothing. I don’t even know about this show,” Nexxtic posted on Bluesky. “The more I look into this, the more I want to distance myself lmao.”
The official Selaco Twitter account further emphasized this stance in response to a user pointing out that the game was essentially turning down free promotion.
“When it comes to potentially damaging the brand we built from nothing? Yes, absolutely – and that’s perfectly justifiable. There’s more to my life than making money, and I’ll gladly sell fewer copies if it means not being associated with a hateful individual.”
While Selaco‘s left-leaning following on social media cheered the decision, gamers however were aghast. Why would an indie developer intentionally burn bridges like this, turning down a golden opportunity to reach new players?
If anything, this reaction makes it crystal clear: Selaco is being developed by people more focused on pleasing mainstream media activists than on earning the support of the players who would actually back independent creators with their wallets.
Since its Early Access launch in June 2024, Selaco has sold over 105,000 copies, while it’s no MiSide it’s still an impressive feat for an indie title never the less. A throwback to classics like DOOM and F.E.A.R., the game features a female protagonist who hasn’t been beaten to death with the bat of woke idealism.
It delivers exactly what any honorable gamer desires: fun and enjoyment, without being wrapped in a forced package of androgyny and inclusivity.
The success of Selaco could have been even greater if Altered Orbit Studios hadn’t been so eager to alienate potential new buyers. Indie developers, more than anyone, welcome all exposure, especially since negative PR primarily harms major corporations, while lesser-known studios and individuals often benefit from the attention even if controversial.
Yet, instead of seizing the opportunity to reach a broader audience, they chose to distance themselves from an event that was founded on rejecting the mainstream gaming press and pushing back against the industry’s cultural takeover.
This isn’t about avoiding controversy; it’s about political allegiance or what activists like to call being on the “right side of history.” The Selaco team has made it abundantly clear that their loyalty lies with the ideological activists who have wormed their way into the industry over the past decade, rather than with the original core gaming audience, the very people who play and pay for games.
The result? A self-imposed ceiling on their potential growth, and a statement that they care more about maintaining an industry-approved reputation than simply making a great game and letting it speak for itself.
To be clear, Selaco is an impressive FPS built on GZDoom, drawing inspiration from F.E.A.R. and DOOM. It features destructible environments, an engaging campaign, and a fluid combat system that channels the golden age of shooters. But all of that gets overshadowed by the fact that its developers are willing to alienate a massive audience just to avoid upsetting the industry’s self-appointed moral gatekeepers.
For those who prefer developers that actually respect their audience rather than the countless major studios like Obsidian Entertainment, Ubisoft, CD Projekt Red, and Crystal Dynamics, who openly express their disdain for gamers, there are plenty of indie shooters that won’t sneer at the very people keeping the industry afloat.
Unlike other corporations, which rant about there being “too many White men” in gaming, prioritize hiring based on race, fantasize about assaulting their own player base, and defend blatant lore revisionism in the name of enforcing a global ideological agenda, few developers still understand that gaming thrives on passion, not politics.
At the end of the day, Selaco may be a solid game, but Altered Orbit Studios has made their stance crystal clear, they’d rather court favor with access media than connect with actual gamers. And as always, consumers will have the final say where it matters most: with their wallets.
