I mean, there is a precedent of games scored in the low 80s replacing other games with an score in the 90s; granted, those games all had the common denominator that they were all PS exclusives at the time, and The Veilguard doesn't share that element with them, but I think The Veilguard might have what it takes to be the first non-PS exclusive game with an score in the low 80s to be nominated.

Changing the rules right before it happens just for Elden Ring is pretty ridiculous.

Not for goty, but for action

I would have used RE Village as an example instead. Returnal got robbed that year, especially considering more polarizing games like DS only tend to get nominated for the big award when they excel in art, direction, or both.

The Veilguard, however, has neither.

I agree.

Stellar Blade should win the best action. But hey this is a shitty commercial pretending to be an awards show despite being rigged.

Off-topic, but how on earth did Death Stranding win GotY 2019? According to another post on here, the decision for the award lands almost entirely (90%) in the hands of mainstream review outlets such as IGN, yet DS got *far less* acclaim than Sekiro and REII. (Not to mention, DS released within *one week* of nominations being closed...opinions didn't even have time to settle. Red Dead 2 & GTAV lost their respective years due mostly to releasing so late into the year, but DS is an exception?) Am I missing something? I wasn't paying too much attention during 2019, so maybe DS was **really** loved by the community at launch...idk.

Shadows Erdtree is indeed two levels above anything released this year

But doesn't sit me well a DLC getting nominated let alone winning the award

In this case, they need to change for next year because current rules states SoE can be nominated (and win )

I mean if current rules allow SoE to win, and people vote for it, so be it. It's idiotic but rules are rules. Hopefully with the backslash they will change the rules and prevent future DLCs from winning 

I will probably never understand why Elden Ring (and a lot of games like it) get that much praise from critics and players. It feels like the perfect video game, but for me it's just a flawed experience with slow controls and high difficulty.

Now that DLCs are allowed, yeah, it will get the GOTY again this year. I doubt it won't. I want to be wrong, though.

Well, you indeed are missing something. Sekiro won in 2019.