Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Look, I’ve watched a lot of gaming award shows from my couch, but being there for the Golden Joysticks 2024 was something else entirely. The moment Ben Starr walked out on stage, you could tell this wouldn’t be your typical stuffy awards ceremony.
That Opening Though…
The opening video, where everyone pretended not to know Ben, was a riot. The room erupted in laughter at the lines, ‘Who the f*** is Ben Starr?’ and ‘He paid me 150 quid to be here.’ But it was Ben’s opening monologue that truly set the tone for the night. His bold declaration that ‘Final Fantasy VIII is and always has been an S-tier Final Fantasy game’ was met with thunderous cheers, setting the stage for a night of laughter and fun.
Then came what everyone was thinking but nobody had said out loud – that whole bit about the Golden Joystick trophy looking like, well, you know. “A golden joystick. It’s just a giant wang. Like, we’re not even being subtle about it. ‘Ooh, nice game you made. Here’s a willy.'” I nearly spit out my drink.
The Awards Start Rolling
The Best Storytelling category kicked things off. Watching Square Enix accept for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was a moment. The developer speaking in Japanese about handling Aerith’s iconic scene gave me chills – even through translation, you could feel how much care went into that game. Ben couldn’t resist following up with a Shinra Corporation joke: “Putting the family back into family-run global exploitation.” Classic.
When Black Myth Wukong won Best Visual Design, Yang Qi from Game Science delivered a speech that tugged at the heartstrings. His words about their six-year journey and the game’s representation of their collective imaginations of the galaxy were filled with pride and passion. It was a moment that resonated with everyone in the room, highlighting the emotional connection that developers have with their creations.
The Multiplayer Mayhem
Samantha Bayard presenting Best Multiplayer Game as Karlak from Baldur’s Gate 3 was pure gold. She threatened to set fire to the place “unless you’re feeling tasty like you were last year” – totally in character and absolutely perfect. When Helldivers 2 won, Ben’s quip about democracy being the real winner in 2024 had everyone who’s played the game dying of laughter.
Technical Difficulties? No Problem!
Even the technical hiccups turned into entertainment. Ben went full improv mode during one delay, getting the entire audience to participate in this ridiculous “I AM CAT” chant. Split the room into three sections and everything. By the end, even the most serious-looking industry folks were shouting “CAT!” at the top of their lungs.
When Show Went Wild – Neil Newbon
You know how some presenters just own the room? Neil Newbon walked out there and absolutely killed it. “Hello darlings,” he says, introducing himself as “TikTok’s most accessible vampire” and “a cowardly fish in a jar” – referencing his various gaming roles. But then he dropped this truth bomb about AI in gaming that had everyone nodding: “These roles breathe life into our hero’s journey… and that’s another reason why we shouldn’t be replacing them with AI.” Mic drop moment right there.
The Cody Christian Confusion
The Best Lead Performer category turned into this amazingly awkward but hilarious moment. Someone starts with “Hi, my name is Cody…” then immediately goes “No, no, I’m not Cody, I’m the director, I’m Naoki Hamaguchi.” The whole room lost it. When they finally got Cody Christian’s video message playing, everyone was already in tears from laughing.
Multiple Wins Make History
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was cleaning up – Best Storytelling, Best Soundtrack – and they seemed more genuinely touched every time the Square Enix team came up. During one acceptance speech, the director admitted he cried at his game’s music during an orchestra performance. That’s the kind of honest moment you can’t script.
Hardware Gets Its Moment
When the Steam Deck OLED won Best Gaming Hardware, Valve dropped this casual bombshell about expanding SteamOS to more devices. The whole room started buzzing – you could feel the tech nerds (myself included) getting excited about the possibilities.
The Most Wanted Showdown
The Most Wanted Game category was intense. When Grand Theft Auto VI won, Ben couldn’t resist: “Congratulations to Rockstar on their upcoming indie game.” Then he adds, “If, and I mean if, it becomes a successful launch, please remember who got you there.” The Rockstar rep was crying with laughter.
Making History with Black Myth Wukong
The Ultimate Game of the Year announcement was something else. Black Myth Wukong becoming the first Chinese-developed game to win had everyone on their feet. The acceptance speech hit hard – about crossing mountains and rivers to get there. You could feel the weight of what this meant for global game development.
Those “I Am Cat” Moments
Throughout the night, ‘I Am Cat’ became this running gag. Every time they showed a new trailer, Ben would pop up after and go ‘I am Cat, Game of the Year 2025, you heard it here first.’ This playful repetition not only added a light-hearted tone to the event but also created a sense of unity among the audience, as it felt like an inside joke we were all part of.
The Technical Whoopsies
Even the technical difficulties became memorable. During one particularly long pause, Ben started riffing about the trophy design again: “I let my family hold it. I let them pass it around and remark on its substantial weight, its striking yet awkward appearance from some angles…” It made the delay better than the planned content.
Community Vibes
The whole night felt like a massive celebration of gaming culture. 12 million votes – the highest in the show’s 41-year history. You could think this wasn’t just an awards show and a massive community get-together. Indies sitting next to AAA devs, mobile games competing with console blockbusters, and everyone just genuinely happy to be there.
Looking Ahead
As someone who loves gaming, seeing the lineup of upcoming titles had me hyped. Black Myth Wukong, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, that mysterious “I Am Cat” – the next few months will be wild. But what really stuck with me was something Ben said near the end: “Video games aren’t just products. They are life-changing vectors of joy.”
The Final Countdown
When Ben was wrapping up, he looked genuinely exhausted but happy. “Before I fall to my knees in exhaustion…” he started, and the audience’s supportive applause cut him off. This perfect, unscripted moment captured the whole night – a bunch of people who love games coming together to celebrate them.
Looking back, this was a great awards show. It reminded us why we love games in the first place – they bring us together, make us laugh, move us to tears sometimes, and keep us excited about what’s coming next. And bit of frustration sometimes, which part of the “game”. Also, I’m definitely wishlisting “I Am Cat.” Just saying. See you folks next on next year 2025 awards , game on.
