Geoff Keighley explains why Dave the Diver has been nominated as an indie game

The annual The Game Awards ceremony is coming up, and thanks to the amazing titles we’ve received this year, the competition is tight. Host Geoff Keighley recently had a Twitch stream where he addressed questions from the public and spoke a bit about why Dave the Diver has found itself in the Best Independent Game category.

As Keighley highlights, people interpret the term indie differently. While some might consider a game’s budget, others will look at the team’s size, and it’s also possible to focus on the aesthetic or scale of the game. Consequently, some have argued that Baldur’s Gate 3 is an indie game, or even Death Stranding which was created by an independent studio despite receiving major funding from PlayStation.

In the case of Dave the Diver, the game is made by Mintrocket which is a small, South Korean group. The group is a part of Nexon which is a very large publisher. Keighley explains that you could argue both ways, as the game could be considered indie in spirit, as it is made by a small team that likely had a relatively small budget. However, this doesn’t cancel the fact that it is still from a larger entity.

Ultimately, Keighley concludes that there are no set rules, and The Game Awards allows people to “use their best judgment.” Although TGA judges have decided that it is an indie title, this is certainly not a viewpoint shared by all.

As Zoey Handley argues, the indie category should be available for smaller developers without major financial backing to still receive the spotlight. Dave the Diver‘s nomination potentially signals “that any major corporation can produce a game with pixel art graphics to buy away that recognition.” One can easily see how this could end up pushing genuinely small creators out of their own category.

Geoff Keighley answers your burning The Game Awards questions

Keighley touched on several other topics as he addressed questions posed to him on Twitch. He confirmed that the security will be tightened this time around. This is to be expected, as troublemakers have found their way onto Keighley’s stage a few times prior, including at this year’s Gamescom Opening Night Live where a troll ran on stage demanding GTA 6. Though he wouldn’t go into details for security reasons, he states the following: “we definitely have plans and we’re trying to do all we can to keep me safe, but also everyone watching the show, the audience, people participating in the show and everything.”

He speaks about the possibility of new categories being added to the event and confirms that it is something that is always being discussed. Categories that have been proposed include Best DLC and Best Remake, but Keighley explains that one of the problems is that there may not always be 5 or 6 great remakes a year to fill the category.

Keighley also mentions that there won’t be any “world premier” title cards this year. This doesn’t mean there won’t be big announcements. Instead, because of the nebulous nature of the phrase “world premier,” they’d rather just treat it all as great gaming content.

He speaks a bit about his relationship with FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki. He explains that he has worked with the Elden Ring director and that he is very grateful for his contributions to Summer Game Fest. A viewer asks Keighley what the trophies are made of. Interestingly, Keighley explains that they’re “steel plated” and made in New Zealand.

For more traditional indie titles, check out the Best Indie Debut category. As Keighley explains, this category typically features games from small teams with minimal funding. These games aren’t receiving help from large corporations which perhaps makes them indie in the purest sense.

The Game Awards stream globally on December 7, 2023. You can watch it on YouTube and Twitch.