In quite an unprecedented move, a game has withdrawn from The Game Awards after being nominated. That game is Megabonk, created by solo developer vedinad, which sold more than a million copies just weeks after launch.
Considering its success, you wouldn't necessarily see a problem with Megabonk being nominated for Best Debut Indie Game. However, vedinad over on X/Twitter said they were withdrawing from the category.
"It's an honor and a dream for Megabonk to be nominated for TGA, but unfortunately i don't think it qualifies for the category 'Debut Indie Game,'" he explained. "I've made games in the past under different studio names, so Megabonk is not my debut game."
<social>https://x.com/MegabonkGame/status/1990856468615061603</social>
It's sound logic, but that would likely mean other nominees in the same category such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Dispatch would be invalid. It seems more about the game being the studio's debut title than it being a game made by complete novices, but each to their own.